2022 Women in Construction: Angela Botto, Design Engineer at Merrill Engineers and Land Surveyors

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months? I started my career full time two years ago and in the past year I started managing my own projects. My greatest achievement was managing the first project and seeing it through from the feasibility stage to construction.

Starting out in the construction business, who or what empowered you? I have always had strong female role models as professors in college and project managers at my company. Seeing their accomplishments has provided me with future career goals and has shown me what is possible within this industry.

Within your firm, who has helped you succeed within the industry? How have they helped you? Within my firm I have had a variety of mentors with different levels of experience. I have found having multiple people to go to with different perspectives has created a sense of teamwork in my firm and has helped my success within the industry.

When you’re not busy, what is your go to book or podcast to help you unwind? I love keeping up with what’s going on in pop culture, so I never miss an episode of Chicks in the Office Podcast.

What tips or advice would you offer to other women who are considering entering the construction industry? My biggest piece of advice is to not fall into impostor syndrome because people will look at you and think that you don’t know what you’re talking about, or you’re not supposed to be there. If you’re confident in your own skills and knowledge others will follow suit.