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Sebastian, Construction Project Manager at Los Angeles World Airports: Advize Career Interview
A career in construction project management offers exciting challenges and unique opportunities, as evidenced by Sebastian's journey.
A civil engineering degree and a pivotal internship at Turner Construction launched a career marked by diverse experiences at LAX, including pharmaceutical and life science work, culminating in a current role as owner's representative at Los Angeles World Airports.
This path highlights the value of networking and building relationships, a "curiosity mindset," and proactive engagement.
The daily work involves coordinating numerous stakeholders on complex projects like the Midfield Satellite Concourse South, managing budgets and contractors, and ensuring projects are completed safely and on time.
While initial challenges included overcoming imposter syndrome and navigating diverse personalities, success hinges on collaboration, embracing diverse perspectives, and a willingness to actively participate.
The most rewarding aspects include seeing the "fruits of labor," contributing to team success, and mentoring others.
Aspiring professionals should prioritize early internships, networking, and active participation in college events to build a strong foundation for a fulfilling and impactful career.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sebastian Potes
Construction Project Manager
Los Angeles World Airports
USC
MBA UCLA Anderson
Engineering - Civil
Construction
Operations and Project Management
First Generation College Student
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Career Path Of A Construction Project Manager At Los Angeles World Airports
Sebastian's career path began with a civil engineering degree and a pivotal internship at Turner Construction on LAX's Terminal 4 connector project, a "really big engineering challenge" that ignited their passion for infrastructure projects. This led to six years with Turner on various LAX projects, followed by pharmaceutical and life science work, culminating in a current role as an owner's representative at LAX—a testament to the importance of networking and building relationships, as "you never know when those opportunities come around."
Main Responsibilities Of A Construction Project Manager At Los Angeles World Airports
As owner's representative and project manager at Los Angeles World Airports, Sebastian's main responsibility is "managing the general contractor" to ensure taxpayer money is used correctly and projects are completed according to specifications, resulting in "a safe and accessible building for the public." This includes overseeing financials, change orders, and quality control, ultimately providing "peace of mind to the owner."
A Day in the Life of a Construction Project Manager at Los Angeles World Airports
A Construction Project Manager at Los Angeles World Airports spends their day coordinating with numerous stakeholders, including "customs and border protection, LAX airport police department, uh, airport operations," to ensure projects don't disrupt airport functions or the surrounding community, while also managing budgets, attending "OAC meetings," and performing quality control to facilitate timely payments to contractors, many of whom are small minority-owned businesses.
Most Important Skills For Construction Project Managers At Los Angeles World Airports
Sebastian, a Construction Project Manager, emphasizes a "curiosity mindset" and "outgoingness" as crucial skills, stating that "people who are most successful have a lot of curiosity. They're not afraid to ask questions," and actively collaborating with different teams is key to success in the field. This approach, he suggests, allows for flexibility and openness to diverse problem-solving strategies.
Favorite Parts of Being a Construction Project Manager at Los Angeles World Airports
Sebastian, a Construction Project Manager at Los Angeles World Airports, finds the most rewarding aspect of his current role to be the "uniqueness" of the Midfield Satellite Concourse South project, which involves building sections off-site and then moving them across runways for final placement—a feat rarely done in the United States. This unique approach presents daily challenges requiring collaborative problem-solving and teamwork, a dynamic Sebastian finds incredibly engaging.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Construction Project Manager At LAX
Early in Sebastian's career, the biggest challenge was "trying to prove that [they] deserved a seat at the table," stemming from imposter syndrome; however, mentorship and increased confidence mitigated this. More recently, navigating "different personalities" and numerous stakeholders at LAX, requiring careful negotiation and ensuring fair treatment of all, has become the primary challenge.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Construction Industry as a Construction Project Manager
Sebastian, a Construction Project Manager, finds the most rewarding aspect of the industry is "seeing the fruits of our labor," initially drawn to the technical details but evolving to a focus on teamwork and mentorship. This career progression highlights a shift from the "nuts and bolts" to managing "personalities and behaviors," ultimately finding satisfaction in contributing to a team's success and fostering the growth of others.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Construction Industry According To A Construction Project Manager At Los Angeles World Airports
Successful construction project managers are "very outgoing," possessing "strong personalities" and the confidence to actively contribute; however, this doesn't preclude quieter individuals, as success hinges more on "not being afraid to put yourself in the ring" and demonstrating curiosity to make an impact.
What A Construction Project Manager At Los Angeles World Airports Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Construction Industry
Sebastian, a Construction Project Manager, wishes someone had advised them early in their career to "not be in a rush to succeed," emphasizing that success takes time and patience. This advice stems from their personal experience as a first-generation college student, highlighting the importance of self-compassion and realistic expectations for career progression.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Construction Project Managers At Los Angeles World Airports
Sebastian, a Construction Project Manager, highlights internships as the most applicable entry-level position for undergraduates, emphasizing the importance of prior work experience, even outside the construction field ("it doesn't matter what work experience you have"). The interviewee stresses the significance of proactive networking, including following up with recruiters after career fairs and demonstrating genuine interest in specific companies, advising that simply submitting a resume is insufficient ("a lot of times it's not the case").
Significant Career Lesson From A Construction Project Manager At Los Angeles World Airports
Sebastian, a Construction Project Manager, learned that "there's a thousand ways to skin a cat," emphasizing the value of collaboration and diverse perspectives in problem-solving. This realization, requiring significant maturity, shifted their approach from needing to be the sole contributor to embracing and integrating the valuable ideas of others.
College Experiences That Helped a Construction Project Manager at Los Angeles World Airports Succeed
Sebastian, a Construction Project Manager at Los Angeles World Airports, emphasizes the critical importance of securing internships early in undergraduate studies, ideally "between freshman and sophomore year," to gain valuable experience and network. This, along with active participation in relevant clubs and career events, allowed Sebastian to build strong relationships that continue to benefit their career, highlighting that "it's all about people, it's all about building relationships."
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