First Month at Arup - My Experience

Week 4 at Arup. Time has flown by. Things are starting to find a rythmn, getting into a routine. I have had the fortune and misfortune of starting my new role remotely. Several days before I started Sydney entered a lockdown, and I was couried my new laptop and a piece of paper with instructions to log in. Since then our plans for my first couple of months have shifted; from time face-to-face in the Sydney office, meeting my collegues and our clients to Zoom and Teams calls, wearing a hoodie and alternating between barefoot and ugg boots.

Before I joined Arup I was asked what I wanted to do and what I wanted to be involved in. My response was that I wanted to be involved in work that made a difference. Pretty cheesy but it's true - that is why I joined the Water Industry in the first place. I wanted to do work that mattered, mattered to my local community and know that my work had an impact. I also mentioned that my more concrete goals were;

1. To work with experts in my field - those who were at the top of the game in technical skills (something I have identified that I could benefit from developing)
2. I wanted to work across different Water Utilities
3. To be involved in mentoring and development of others
4. I wanted to work across different projects, regions, industries and skillsets
5. Contribute to my local region through my work

It's been a little over a month and I have ticked all those boxes already - talk about sticking to a commitment.

1. I have been able to work with some industry leaders - particuarly in Process Engineering, Asset Management and Commerical. This has been both amazing and terrifying. I'll touch on that part later.
2. I have been able to work with Sydney Water as part of the Planning Partnership, QLD utilities and NSW Government.
3. I have been involved in conversations about new hires, development opportunities, internships and mentoring. I genuinely get a kick out of this.
4. I have been involved in leading a project in Timor-Leste, something I never dreamed of. I have been involved in Community Engagement, Business Development, Strategic Planning, Wastewater and Water and Waste. It's been amazing and incredibly overwhelming - I'll touch on that part later too.
5. After a month of Arup having a Newcastle presence I am involved with a local project. I cannot take any credit for the project or the technical work, however having a local presence will allow us to deliver the project better. One that will positively impact our region and deliver services desperately needed in the community.

My first month has been honestly amazing. I have learnt more than possibly any other period in my career, but it hasn't all been great. There has been days where I have wondered what right I have to be sitting in a certain meeting, making certain decisions or being in-charge of certain things. I have felt like a bit of an imposter, surrounded by people with experience three times mine, with awards, accolades and post-nominals longer than my arm. I think Imposter Syndrome is more common than we realise and I feel it's important to speak about my experience. I am a confident person, and am comfortable being uncomfortable but this doesn't mean I never have doubts or worries that I'm the right person, or that I'm in the right place, right room, right meeting, right position. Ultimately two things have helped me in my first month with this, and one that helps me and that I hope can help others.

1. Having a 'plan' and checking back against it - I have been very certain of my career plan several times in my life, and I have been wrong every time. I don't think that's a bad thing - I think it means that I have set a plan and re-evaluated when I have had more information and adjusted. Having a plan has helped me when I've felt out of my depth - is this where I want to be, and how is this getting me towards my goal. Most of the time I have felt out of a my depth and checked in with a plan I have realised this is what I wanted, reaffirming what I want and why I'm there, but it has also allowed me to re-focus or change focus at other times.
2. Having Mentors and seeking & receiving feedback - There has been two particular instances in my last month where people I look up to and respect have said something, often a throwaway comment, that has helped reaffirm that I am not an imposter. I might have a lot to learn, but that's where we really grow. I cannot overstate the importance of mentoring - both formal and informal.

The last thing that helps me, and that I hope can help others is talking about it. I am a big mental health advocate and I think it's important to normalise conversations of feeling overwhelmed, struggling or not being ok. It ain't weak to speak. I think this is particularly important because you're one of 7 or so billion, you're not alone and you're not the first person to go through this, but it can often feel like it at the time. I believe talking about things like this more us forward as a group - we are better for it.

To wrap up my post I thought I would share some thoughts on the people (and processes) at Arup. It's been a little over a month and I've met 100+ people. I've yet to meet an asshole which is pretty impressive, even just statistically. I've met some of the busiest people ever but everyone has always had time for my questions, a quick chat or a laugh. I've seen displays of openness and honesty that have surprised me - leaders and employees sharing their struggles during lockdown with large groups, our Co-Chairs answering some difficult (some anonymous) questions in town halls. I've been introduced to the most comprehensive and impressive learning and development platform I've ever seen. Most of all I have witnesses people and processes (KPI's, Information Sharing, turning down work that doesn't align with our goals) walking the talk from our Values and Ove's Key Speech.

In my first month I have felt respected for the job I do, I have been able to do my best because our atmosphere and culture enables it and I am proud of what I, and we, do. It was 50+ years ago, but Ove nailed it.