When I launched CTI Environmental over a decade ago, I knew I wanted to do more than lead environmental engineering projects, I wanted to reshape who gets to lead them.
As a Black woman in an industry where few of us are represented, I’ve often had to build the table when no seat was offered. That experience taught me that technical excellence, representation, and advocacy aren’t separate paths, they’re deeply connected.
At CTI, we take on complex environmental challenges, from hazardous site cleanups to infrastructure restoration, but we don’t stop there. Through Demo Chicks, we introduce girls and young women, especially those of color, to career paths in STEM and construction.
We advocate for justice in public health and environmental safety. We mentor future leaders. We hire with equity in mind. Because for us, success isn’t just about delivering results, it’s about expanding opportunity.
Over the years, here’s what I’ve learned:
- You can build a company and a community at the same time. Growing a business doesn’t have to come at the expense of your values or your roots. In fact, centering community in your business model creates stronger connections and long-term sustainability. Every hire, partnership, and project is an opportunity to invest in the people and places that shaped you.
- Equity isn’t a buzzword, it’s a strategy for innovation and resilience. When you design systems and solutions with equity in mind, you unlock broader perspectives, deeper engagement, and smarter outcomes. Equity pushes us to challenge the status quo, fill gaps others ignore, and create spaces where more people thrive.
- You can advocate for change and still win contracts, still grow, still lead. Speaking up doesn’t make you less professional, it makes you more powerful. Standing firm in your values can attract more meaningful opportunities. Advocacy and success are not mutually exclusive; they’re often the reason people trust you to lead with both integrity and impact.
Our work is far from done, but I’m proud of how far we’ve come. We’ve proven that you don’t have to choose between impact and excellence.
Let’s keep showing the world what’s possible, and making space for others to thrive.