WTS

Activate + Elevate: 2021 WTS-I Annual Conference

By Neela Babu, WTS-DC 

This year’s WTS Annual Conference took place virtually from Richmond, VA. The theme was “Activate + Elevate” which encompasses the mission of WTS. The conference had a strong kickoff with an inspiring and rousing keynote speaker Carla Harris, and with an incredible panel of U.S. DOT administrators.

Carla Harris

Keynote Speaker Carla Harris

Carla Harris has spent over 30 years working on Wall Street. During those years, she climbed the corporate ladder and identified success strategies along the way. When Harris began her career, she was told that the work place was a meritocracy, and she had believed that. As an intelligent and hard worker, she felt she was well-suited to move up within the company. However, within her first year on Wall Street she realized that more was required in order to succeed and advance in her career. Her observations and lessons have resulted in what she calls “pearls” which she shared with the audience:

  1. Be authentic. 
  2. Make sure you have two types of currency.
    1. Performance currency, which is generated by you performing well.
    2. Relationship currency, which is generated by the investments you make in the people within your work environment.
  3. Take risks and don’t let fear hold you back.
  4. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
  5. Use your network and don’t be afraid to ask people in your network to help you.

Harris' pearls can also be found in her books: “Expect to Win” and “Strategize to Win.”

DOT Panel

U.S. DOT Panel:

The U.S. DOT panel included an impressive lineup of speakers:

  • Polly Trottenberg, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation
  • Stephanie Pollack, Acting Administrator, Federal Highway Administration
  • A. Bradley Mims, Deputy Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration
  • Meera Joshi, Deputy Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Paula Hammond, Chair of WTS International, moderated the panel.

Each panelist spoke about their individual priorities for their respective roles. There was an overall focus on equity within transportation policies and projects, and they agreed on the importance of considering climate impacts when making transportation design decisions. A couple of the panelists also discussed the value of having a more diverse workforce citing that there are insufficient numbers of women and people of color working within the department.

All of the panelists expressed enthusiasm for their roles, especially considering how infrastructure is a clear priority for President Biden. They were also grateful to be part of the WTS community.

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