Significant Career Lesson From a Landscape Designer III at OLIN
A significant career lesson learned is to adopt a proactive mindset, "think about the team and projects beyond just the icy of it," managing upwards by bringing important issues to light and taking ownership—"the buck stops with me"—even when not officially in charge. This approach fosters engagement and project success, even amidst challenges.
Project Management, Teamwork, Leadership, Communication, Responsibility
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Derek Lazo
Landscape Designer III
OLIN
University of Southern California
UC Berkeley, Masters of Landscape Architecture
Environmental & Related Sciences
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Creative
Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Think beyond the immediate task and look ahead to potential issues.
2. Take ownership of your work and proactively communicate with team members and supervisors.
3. Maintain a positive and engaged attitude, even when faced with challenging projects.
Transcript
What is one lesson that you have learned that has proven significant in your career?
I think one of the important things I've learned over time is to think about the team and the projects beyond just the immediate task. I try to ask questions and look ahead.
This also helps in managing up. It's like bringing things to the attention of those ahead of you, who are also supposed to be managing. There are so many moving pieces, and we often work on different projects.
We have to rely on each other to stay focused on what's happening. Some things will inevitably slip through. So, I try to adopt the mindset of "the buck stops with me."
The more practice I've had in thinking "this is my project, I'm in charge," even when I wasn't at the decision-maker level, the better. This sense of responsibility has served me well and is valuable for anyone in the field.
It's really fun to work with engaged and passionate people who want the project to succeed. Bringing that energy is crucial. Even with challenging projects, being able to bring that energy is a powerful skill.