Favorite Parts Of Working In The High-Speed Rail Industry As A Chief Of Strategic Communications
Melissa, Chief of Strategic Communications at California High-Speed Rail Authority, finds the most rewarding aspect of the transportation industry is seeing "tangible results" of work, citing the physical structures and future train designs as examples. The ability to influence design elements, from station construction to train interiors ("the textures of the seats and the configuration of different components"), makes the work meaningful and impactful.
Public Service, Transportation, Project Management, Communication, Teamwork
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Melissa Figueroa
Chief of Strategic Communications
California High-Speed Rail Authority
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
none
Creative Writing, Journalism
Government & Public Sector
Communication and Marketing
Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Tangible results and public service impact: Melissa highlights the rewarding aspect of seeing the physical results of her work, such as the structures and stations being built for the high-speed rail project. This is a key benefit for those considering a career in transportation.
2. Collaborative decision-making and influence: Melissa describes her involvement in shaping the design of the high-speed rail trains, from the interior design to the selection of materials. This illustrates the potential for collaborative decision-making and influence in such roles.
3. Milestone achievements and career progression: Melissa mentions career milestones and tangible achievements throughout her transportation career, suggesting a focus on long-term career progression and visible accomplishments. This can be motivational for students considering similar career paths.
Transcript
What do you enjoy most about being in the transportation industry?
I love seeing tangible results for our work in public service. That's always very rewarding.
Throughout my career in transportation, there have been different milestones I can point back to. You can see a physical representation of the hard work you've put in.
For example, on this project, the structures we're building will eventually carry high-speed rail trains, and we're building stations. These are things you can touch and feel, and you can say, "I had a hand in that. I had a place in that discussion."
Right now, the conversation is about what people want to see on the insides of their trains. All of the focus groups and conversations over the last year are brought to reality in renderings and virtual reality. Next year, we will see actual representations of those trains.
That's going to be really cool because, even down to the textures of the seats and the configuration of different components of the train cars, we've had a hand in that and a say in that. That's really important work.