Carolyn Stegon Walker, MSCE, PE, DBIA

I attribute my success to a strong foundation of technical and education expertise, supported by my design experience and my ability to lead complex teams through the design and construction process of commercial building design. My growth across diverse roles within a large organization like AECOM has also strengthened my adaptability and broadened my professional capabilities. I am described as someone who has the ability to draw others out and identify commonalities between people, building rapport and connection. I seek to build open, honest and trusting teams through a positive working environment. I believe it is important to share the genuine joy of life leading projects with energy and optimism. I am a connector and a liaison in my role as an Owner Advisor between the Owner and the Contractors, Architects and Engineers. I am well organized and lead by documenting written dialog with clear action items and project details, teams clearly know expectations and key deliverables. I work to understand both sides of the discussion and serve as a facilitator between the owner and the Contractors, Architects and Engineers. This is my favorite role so far in my career as I see clear leadership, the right environment and team work leads to successful projects.

The best career advice I’ve received is to show others respect and kindness prioritizing strong communication, perception, listening, and understanding when leading teams. This approach has reinforced the importance of leading with empathy and being intentional about how I engage with others. I also believe in the quote "Give it a go." I have continued to try new things throughout my career and work to not let fear hold me back from venturing into new opportunities. The Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry is very complex, and I understand I don't know it all, so it is important to lean on the breath of the entire team.

My advice to young women entering the industry is to be prepared to demonstrate your technical capability while also prioritizing the development of strong people and emotional intelligent skills, collaboration, and professional credibility. Equally important is the ability to persist, remain adaptable, and grow with evolving workplace cultures and expectations.

The biggest challenges in my field have been navigating evolving workplace cultures and learning how to lead effectively in complex, high-pressure environments. Early in my career, I often felt I had to prove myself, especially as one of the few women in the room, which shaped my awareness of different dynamics and the importance of resilience. Over time, I’ve learned that success is not only about technical expertise, but also about communication, perception, and strong people skills—knowing how to listen, collaborate, and manage team energy when situations become tense and key decisions need to be made timely. As I’ve grown into leadership, I’ve become more intentional about how I present myself and support collaboration, and I’ve found this aspect of the role to be both challenging and deeply rewarding.

I love being a wife, mother and daughter spending quality time with my family outside of my career. We enjoy time outdoors hiking, mountain biking and going to the beach. We also enjoy traveling and recently went to Hawaii and snorkeled with the sea turtles, a bucket list item for me. My seven-year-old son is the light of my life and my mini me. We both enjoy swimming together and park play dates with friends. During my solo time, I enjoy working out with my personal trainer at Laguna Fitness and going to Radiant Hot Yoga classes over the past ten years. I feel very blessed to live in California with my husband, son and Mom enjoying the beautiful weather year-round.