PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
One of my mentors was a drilling engineer and manager, Gordon Walker, who had lost both of his legs in a rig accident. He inspired me, not only because he had overcome his injury, but also because of his leadership skills. He was a very successful negotiator and his guidance helped me as I advanced in my career. He told me: “Don’t take a hard line on an issue. Carefully
ASH KHAN, P.ENG... …carefully weigh all opinions before making decisions
weigh in what others are saying, even if you may not agree with them. Listen to all opinions before making your recommendations.” I spent most of my career working in joint ventures. I could find myself sitting in a room with 20 other people, from companies like Imperial Oil and Shell, hammering out ownership details. But I always followed that advice. Even-handed treatment of everybody’s opinion saw me through some very difficult negotiations over my 30-year career. My own advice to new graduates? Work hard. When you’re starting off in a new job after graduating, if you want to stand out to your managers, make sure you deliver. Do your research very thoroughly. Do your homework regarding your work assignments so you can make an informed recommendation to management about why you chose certain recommendations and on what basis. And once you progress into a more senior role, make sure you recognize the best efforts of your juniors and encourage them to do their best. Dr. Anastasia Elias, P.Eng. Edmonton • assistant professor in chemical and materials engineering at the University of Alberta • recipient of APEGA’s 2015 Early Accomplishment Summit Award • nanotechnology professional, engineering materials for medicine, food packaging, and other areas When a door opens, walk through it. This advice wasn’t actually given to me; rather, it was relayed to me many years ago by a good friend who heard it from her boss. Even so, I have strongly internalized the message, which I think is valuable to new graduates on a number of levels. On the surface: say yes to opportunities that come your way. Try new things. Challenge yourself. Take risks. Live some- place different for a while. Build your skillset, and your network of friends, collaborators, and contacts. On a different level, finishing your degree and entering the workforce can be a daunting transition. When I graduated from university (after both my undergrad degree and my PhD) I worried
ANASTASIA ELIAS, P.ENG… …say yes to opportunities that come your way, even those that might seem risky
about making the right career decisions, and I was anxious about planning a path that would take me where I wanted to go. The advice that my friend related to me was soothing in its simplicity. It does not call for a prescient and rigid long-term plan. It does not advocate hunting down the ideal set of doors. It just calls for recognizing the doors and taking advantage of them. To new graduates: experiences and connections that you establish now will come together or reappear in ways that you can’t begin to predict right now. So get started and see where those doors take you.
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