Meet Emily Shibata: North American water/wastewater engineer at Mott MacDonald

Our collaborative culture helps us to combine technical excellence and strategic advice, adding value for clients at every stage, from ideation and delivery to operations and maintenance.  We caught up with water/wastewater engineer Emily Shibata to talk about her role within our North American business and her experiences as an early career professional.

Tell us about your current role at Mott MacDonald

I’m an engineer in the water/wastewater sector in the eastern United States. This is my first full-time position since graduating. I have been mainly focused on wastewater, and I’m involved with various projects ranging from reports, sewer system analysis, linear gravity sewer design, pump station upgrades, equipment upgrades at wastewater treatments plants, and more.

What opportunities have you had to develop your career here?

I’ve been able to work with so many great engineers here at Mott MacDonald, and the opportunity to work with a diverse range of people has taught me a lot. I’ve learned something different from each engineer I’ve worked with and wouldn’t be growing without their help.

What does it mean to you to be trusted to do brilliant things at Mott MacDonald?

Being trusted to do brilliant things means I get to grow. My team trusts me to handle certain tasks, and we all trust each other to communicate if we don’t know something. Being given certain responsibilities and having a good team around me really helps me develop into a better engineer.

What does your typical day look like as an engineer?

In a typical day, I work on a variety of different projects and tasks – two days are hardly ever the same. Because I am able to work on so many different things, I have the opportunity to learn new skills. By learning as much as I can each day, I am always expanding my toolbox, and I feel better equipped to handle new challenges as they arise.

Finding time for health and well-being is important at Mott MacDonald. What are some of the ways you’re balancing personal life and work life?

I focus on my well-being at work by making an effort to spend some time outside to go on a run (or the gym) after work each day. I’ve learned that spending time outside and working out is critical for my well-being and feeling refreshed. By keeping to this routine, it’s easier for me to show up at my best each day.

Collaboration plays such a big role in today’s workplace. How are you able to collaborate with colleagues in North America and across the globe?

Collaboration is a key to success. There are many times a question will come up that relates to a different discipline. By working with so many talented people and such a wide variety of disciplines, I’m able to collaborate with colleagues internally and find the answers to questions I don’t know. I also collaborate and communicate with my direct team each day. By having such open communication, we aren’t afraid to ask questions and have discussions.

As an early career professional, how do you find support from your colleagues?

I feel supported at Mott MacDonald because there are so many people going through the same stage of their career as me. I can meet people who are a few steps ahead of me, who are just starting, or who have been here for a while. Each of these different stages offer different insight, and I feel supported by having people in all these stages to look up to.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start their career with us?

Take it day by day. Some days will be focused on learning specific skills and working with your close team, and other days you will have opportunities to network and meet people you don’t see on a day-to-day basis. Each day matters and will shape your career. When you start, the company may feel very large, but one day you’ll look back and be surprised by how much you’ve grown.