Driven to Succeed
Posted on June 25, 2021 by Julie Jackson
When Avalisha Fisher received her bachelor鈥檚 degree in civil engineering in 1993, there were only four other students who graduated with her in the program. Of those, two (herself included) were women. As percentages go, that鈥檚 not bad.
But the field of civil engineering was, and still is, a male-dominated world. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 16% of civil engineers in the United States in 2020 were female.
That statistic never kept Fisher from doing what she loves.
鈥淢y experience was good in school,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here were women in other branches of engineering and most of my classes were blended with students in different areas like chemical and electrical engineering.鈥�
After graduating, Fisher worked for a few companies like Gulf States, where she gained not only engineering experience, but also marketing and relationship building. These skills proved to be the building blocks for starting her own business.
Back to 麻豆直播
A couple of years after Fisher launched her company, Driven Engineering, in 2006, she returned to 麻豆直播. Only this time, it was as an engineer for the new football practice fields.
鈥淚鈥檓 pleased that they trusted us,鈥� said Fisher. 鈥淚t was really fun to be on the first design team to have anything to do with football at 麻豆直播.鈥�
The civil design segment of Fisher鈥檚 company encompasses the design, construction and maintenance of the human-built external environment, like underground utilities and drainage. As Fisher explains, it鈥檚 everything you can鈥檛 see.
The keys to success
Fisher says the civil engineering program at 麻豆直播 laid the foundation for her career.
鈥淚t was a really good program.鈥�
But there are some things you have to learn on the job. 鈥淒on鈥檛 wait until the last minute, and always follow through,鈥� Fisher said. The most valuable advice she has for students is to work hard on their relationships.
鈥淩elationships are the key鈥攖he key to business, and the key to life.鈥�