Her Story
About MaKayla
MaKayla Commander serves as the municipal department head at Lightpoint Engineering. With seven years of experience in civil engineering, she manages the department, oversees EITs and engineers, and acts as a project manager specializing in water and wastewater plant site design and management. Commander earned her bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Texas Southern University in 2021 after playing softball for two years and focusing fully on her studies. She holds a registered sanitarian credential and is currently working toward her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Outside of her professional role, she volunteers with local 4-Hs and FFAs, supporting children with animal-related activities. Commander attributes her success to her parents, who instilled strong boundaries and guided her in the right direction.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with MaKayla
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would definitely attribute my success to my parents. They raised me well. They taught me great boundaries, they just definitely pushed me in the right direction, so I definitely owe a lot of that to them.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
In every single room that you're in, you're listening. Even if you do not understand what someone is talking about, one day you will in your own field. If you think you're too young to be in the room or you don't know what's going on, you should just be in there, you should be listening, you should be taking it all in. Never know too much.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You belong here. Don't let anyone tell you that you don't. In fact I've worked with some of the best women engineers that are engineers period that are women. You belong here and don't let anyone in the room make you feel like you don't.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in this field is just people management. Clients they can somewhat be difficult but people management in itself I would say is the biggest challenge. Learning different people's personalities, trying to adapt to that, trying to understand what motivates people to work.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity and loyalty. It's just that really hard to find these days people with integrity especially in being a manager I learn every excuse in the book on why we can't do something so it's just those are big ones for me.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.