Her Story
About Michelle
Michelle Kang, PE, serves as Discipline Leader of Telecommunications at Colliers Engineering & Design, a position she has held for approximately two and a half years after advancing through a series of engineering and leadership roles. In this capacity, she leads a team of approximately 130 professionals, including project managers, technical managers, licensed engineers, and production staff. Her responsibilities encompass people management and professional development, financial oversight, profitability and billing, quality assurance, business development, and strategic industry engagement. Kang also plays an active role in identifying opportunities for business growth while helping advance technical practices and standards within the telecommunications industry.
Kang began her engineering career after graduating from The Ohio State University with a degree in Civil Engineering and a focus in Structural Engineering. Her early professional experience centered on the analysis, design, modification, and retrofit of telecommunications infrastructure, including towers and rooftop installations. Over the course of her career, she expanded her expertise from technical engineering into organizational leadership and industry standards development. In 2014, Kang became involved with the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), where she led a committee focused on antenna mounts and contributed to the development of structural standards. Her industry leadership subsequently led to her involvement with the Telecommunications Industry Foundation (TIF), where she currently serves as Chair. She also co-hosts the Telecommunications Industry Therapy podcast with Scott Stecker, further contributing to professional dialogue and knowledge sharing within the field.
Kang attributes her professional success to recognizing opportunities, stepping forward when leadership needs arise, and remaining open to challenges that encourage growth. She credits strong mentorship within her current organization, along with the broad professional network she has developed through industry involvement, as important influences on her career. By intentionally placing herself in challenging situations and embracing opportunities to expand her responsibilities, she has developed a leadership approach grounded in continuous learning, collaboration, and adaptability. Her combination of structural engineering expertise, business leadership, industry advocacy, and commitment to professional development has positioned her as a respected leader in the telecommunications engineering sector.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Michelle
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of recognizing opportunities, embracing leadership challenges, and continuously seeking opportunities to grow. At various points in my career, I stepped into leadership roles when there was a need and learned how to build and grow a business while developing strong teams and client relationships. I have also benefited greatly from the mentorship and guidance I received at my current firm, which has helped shape my leadership approach. Beyond my organization, I became actively involved with the Telecommunications Industry Association, where I led committees, contributed to the development of industry standards, and built a strong professional network that ultimately led to my recruitment to the Telecommunications Industry Foundation board. I also co-host a podcast, which has provided another platform for learning and connecting with industry professionals. Most importantly, I intentionally place myself in challenging and unfamiliar situations, such as presenting to large audiences, because I believe stepping outside my comfort zone is one of the most effective ways to foster personal and professional growth.
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