Reflections on the relationships and projects that shaped my professional growth
By Olivia Hargrave, Senior Engineer
I interviewed at Integral Consulting in 2018, about 6 months after I graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in civil and environmental engineering. I was nervous. But I hit my stride when I got the opportunity to explain the research I was doing: our lake sediment core collection methods, designed to preserve soft sediment strata so we could investigate arsenic distribution and bioavailability. Nerding out with the interviewers was a huge green flag.
It turned out my intuition was right.
A foundation built on people, not just projects
Colleagues were supportive both in nontechnical settings as well as project work. In my first few months, I got pulled into a run of technical projects: a sediment remediation feasibility study, sediment design data collection, and litigation document and data review. But what struck me wasn’t the work itself. It was the number of staff who made an effort to reach out and get to know me. Colleagues passing through the Seattle office for client meetings would make a point to grab a coffee and chat about projects or career goals.
“Colleagues passing through the Seattle office would grab a coffee just to check in, no agenda, just genuinely wanting to know how I was doing.”
That foundation of support has colored my experience of professional development at Integral.
A couple of litigation projects stand out as early catalysts for growth, particularly because they gave me space to advance my technical writing at the quicker pace of a litigation project. I had truly world-class colleagues providing feedback and coaching me through it. That work also opened doors to assignments that pushed my skills further: sharper critical thinking, a keener eye for detail, and stronger technical editing.
Betting on myself, with backup
About 2 years into my career at Integral, I told my supervisor I wanted to pursue a master’s degree. I was thrilled when that goal was met with real support, and I made the decision to get my degree within the next 2 years.
People often ask what it took to make this happen. I think it was having a very specific goal—down to the exact classes I wanted to take—and a genuine desire to dive deeper into environmental engineering with a consulting perspective already in my back pocket. I wouldn’t recommend it for the clout or to add it to a resume. If anything, it reinforced how much my growth was fueled by challenging projects and good people, not credentials alone.
The project that pushed me further than I thought I could go
After I earned my master’s degree, my core litigation project was winding down, and I landed a career-boosting opportunity: project manager on the most complex project of my career—a maintenance dredge for the Duwamish Yacht Club.
Off the bat, that meant planning and executing a roughly 2-week field event collecting sediment core samples for chemical, physical, and biological testing. I wasn’t sure I was ready but I trusted the team behind me, so I jumped in with both feet.
There were plenty of calls with mentors—formal and informal—to discuss the finer points of defining scopes of work or how to communicate effectively with clients, regulators, and project teams. This role put me outside of my comfort zone, and it taught me I can do great work out there.
The takeaway that doesn’t fit on a resume
My resume lists the technical aspects of my project work, challenges overcome, and my degrees and certifications. But the takeaway from those lines is more personal: To grow, do something for which you are not sure you’re ready. To succeed at those things, invest in your support system.
If this resonated with you, I would be happy to have a chat about Integral, careers in consulting, or going back to school after having joined the professional workforce. Please reach out.
Me (left) – 2019, in Texas collecting sediment samples
At Integral Consulting Inc., we are dedicated to recruiting talented individuals who share our passion and drive for innovation. Explore our Open Positions: https://www.integral-corp.com/integral-careers/job-listings/.