Her Story
About Olivia
Olivia Weinbaum is a civil engineer whose passion for construction was shaped long before she entered the profession. Growing up, she watched her father build their family home entirely with his own hands, often helping him along the way. That experience sparked her fascination with construction and inspired her to pursue a career in an industry where she could help create lasting infrastructure. Today, she is a Senior Project Engineer at PCL Construction, where she combines technical expertise with a commitment to building projects that improve communities and protect the environment. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, in 2021, Olivia joined PCL Construction full-time following two successful internships. She has worked on several major water and wastewater treatment facilities, including projects in San Luis Obispo, the Orange County Sanitation Plant in Huntington Beach, and the South Bay International Water Treatment Plant in San Diego. As a Senior Project Engineer acting as Engineering Manager, she oversees project engineers, manages engineering processes, reviews contracts and submittals, and will ultimately lead the solids processing scope of work for complex water treatment infrastructure. Her expertise spans civil engineering, construction management, and water resources, with a focus on delivering sustainable projects that serve the public. Beyond her technical responsibilities, Olivia is dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the construction industry. She serves as co-chair of PCL Construction's Civil West DE&I Committee and has been actively involved with the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). Guided by the strong work ethic instilled by her parents, she believes that caring deeply about the work and the communities it benefits is essential to success. Olivia encourages young women pursuing careers in engineering and construction to speak up, persevere through challenges, and confidently pursue leadership opportunities in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Olivia
01What do you attribute your success to?
A big part of it was the way that I was raised. I grew up seeing my dad work on things around the house, with my mom really pushing me in school. Both my parents really gave me the work ethic that I have today.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice is that you just push through, no matter how hard the job is. Because every job is difficult, and you can't run away every time things get tough.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to women is that no matter how nervous you may be, or how you think you may sound, is to speak up, no matter what. Because there have been times when I've been in meetings and I've brought things up that nobody's really ever thought of or considered before.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Biggest challenges is probably the work-life balance. You know, in construction, you work these really long days... In terms of opportunities, I would say the construction industry is growing, and so there is a lot of room for personal and career growth within this industry.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Caring about what you do ultimately helps you do a good job. We're rebuilding water treatment plants that benefit the community and the environment, and it has a direct impact on these local communities.
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