Reflecting on the Water Environment Federation’s Water Leadership Institute

My colleague Natalie Lenz and I recently had the opportunity to participate in the Water Environment Federation’s Water Leadership Institute – a program that educates, trains and provides opportunities for emerging leaders in the water industry.  

Over 200 water professionals applied, with 84 accepted into the program and divided into two cohorts of 42 participants each. Participants hailed from across the U.S. and internationally, representing various sectors within the water industry, including private consulting, public works, academia, legislature/regulators and non-profit organizations. Participants were also at different stages of their careers, with some new to the industry and others more established in their professions.

The program included two face-to-face workshops – one in Alexandria, Virginia and another during WEFTEC in New Orleans, Louisiana– as well as monthly webinars and team projects. Topics included unconscious bias training, effective public speaking and presentation preparation, developing emotional intelligence and strategies for having difficult conversations. 

One of the most impactful parts of the experience was the small team project. We were divided into groups of seven to develop an article for publication in WEF’s Water Environment & Technology magazine and a webinar presentation for a WEF audience on a specific topic, with a focus on communication and leadership challenges. My group explored aging infrastructure and the challenges of addressing this issue equitably. Our article and presentation emphasized the importance of inclusive community engagement and data collection early in the Asset Management Plan process to ensure equitable solutions across different socioeconomic and environmentally challenged areas. 

The initial face-to-face workshop in Alexandria spanned two days and was exclusive to our cohort. Both cohorts then met at WEFTEC, where we participated in a one-day leadership training workshop, highlighted by a panel discussion. Three panelists shared their career and leadership experiences, including Jacobs’ Global Wastewater Solutions Director Emeritus Julian Sandino. Julian's most memorable advice was, "trust is the currency of consultants." He emphasized the importance of fostering communication and trust with clients, noting that while technical work is crucial, developing close and reliable relationships with clients ultimately leads to the delivery of high-quality work. I find this advice, and many of the lessons learned throughout my WLI experience, to be equally applicable to relationships between project leaders and team members; fostering an inclusive team environment where different strengths are highlighted will ultimately lead to successful project delivery.

This leadership training experience has helped me to better understand my leadership style and strengths, how to develop a successful team dynamic, and provided the skills necessary to develop as a leader. Being able to network and engage with individuals who face the same specific challenges made this experience truly unique, and I would recommend it to anyone in the water industry who wishes to learn more about themselves and develop as a leader. To learn more, you can view the webcast series developed by the 2024 Water Leadership Institute cohorts here.