Danielle Agajanian

I attribute my success to being a hard worker, always willing to step up and learn, being curious, asking questions, showing people you're willing to be in it with them, and stepping up and putting yourself out there. Being in the right place at the right time doesn't hurt either.

The best career advice I've received is to be a self-motivated self-starter. My last boss encouraged me to see a problem, create a solution for it, and always try to solve the problem in front of you. It's a phrase I say to my daughters a lot: see a problem, find a solution, fix it.

Going into drinking water, just put yourself out there. Be open to taking whatever opportunities you can. Be confident in your abilities. Know that you're there for a reason, work hard, have the knowledge base, stand your ground. We're smart, we're capable.

The biggest challenge is having staff with the right skill sets. In Massachusetts there's a shortage of drinking water operators. The workforce is aging and retiring. Regulations are getting more stringent with more contaminants to remove. We need people willing to get sweaty and dirty but also have the intelligence and knowledge to understand why they're doing what they're doing.

Being responsible is most important, especially in my industry where public health is involved. Taking the lead, taking the responsibility, stepping up. If you make a mistake, speak up about it, never try to cover up anything, always be willing to take on the responsibility.