Her Story
About Olivia
Olivia Guo is a multimodal transportation engineer and system engineer with a focus on multimodal transportation systems, aviation, and transportation engineering. She began her professional work in March 2023. Her educational background includes a bachelor's degree obtained in China, undergraduate studies at UC Irvine, and a master's degree in project management from Northwestern University, which she completed in March 2023. Olivia serves as a panel member for the National Highway Cooperative Research Program since November 2023, contributing to federally funded policy and research projects across multiple states. She is also a member of Women in Transportation, one of the largest women's associations in the industry. Olivia values making a positive impact on communities through her work, such as through speed studies and reports that benefit society. She attributes her approach to following guidance from mentors to pursue what aligns with her values. As a woman with an international background, she has navigated cultural challenges in the construction and field sectors but draws inspiration from women leaders in the field.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Olivia
01What do you attribute your success to?
This is a very hard question for me. I don't see myself being successful in this career because there are still a lot of improvement, there are still a lot of room for me to grow.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I have a lot of mentors in different factors. All of them tell me just follow my heart. And do what I think is the best for me, and the best for what I value for.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges as a woman with international background is the culture area. In our industry, especially in the construction or field sector, people may doubt about your working experience or study background without knowing anything about you. Sometimes people will look at your appearance and think you are not senior enough to pick a lead or take more responsibility.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most valuable part for me is how much impact I can make. I value making a positive impact on communities and society, such as through work involving speed studies and reports that benefit the community.
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