I first joined Steer in September 2011 as an intern in Vancouver. I was one year into a PhD in transportation and was eager to start my internship as part of a federal-industry joint scholarship program. I was excited to join a team known for shaping some of the world’s most complex transportation projects but I wasn’t sure whether I should pursue consulting or academia.
Within my first few weeks, I found a culture that combines collaboration and entrepreneurship with creativity and rigour to offer advice that helps communities thrive. From this, I knew I wanted to pursue a consulting career at Steer. I raced through grad school and started as a full-time consultant in 2013.
In 2015, I moved to the Toronto office where I manage projects and work closely with clients on transport strategy and evaluation projects ranging from exploring the potential for High Speed Rail in Ontario to advancing new fare structures for some of Canada’s largest urban regions. While no two projects are the same, collaboration is at the heart of what we do and I am always inspired by the people I get to work with – whether they sit across the office or across the ocean.
In addition to exciting project opportunities, Steer has also invested heavily in my professional development with opportunities to attend training in the UK and USA, publish articles on our work and innovations in our 'Review' publication, and present at conferences, such as the World Conference on Transport Research in Shanghai.
When I started my internship in 2011, I thought it would be a four-month introduction to consulting. Instead, I found much more: a career with inspiring colleagues, a work culture that pushes me to grow and develop professionally and opportunities to contribute to transformative transport projects in Canada and around the world.