Lifting Others as You Climb

HDR’s Erin Slayton on Mentorship, Leadership and Creating Opportunities for the Next Generation

Looking back, Erin Slayton, P.E., can trace the defining moments of her career journey. She can name the mentors and supervisors who took time to invest in her growth, advocate for her and clear paths she didn’t know were blocked. 

Today, Slayton is HDR’s program management director. She’s managed over $10 billion worth of capital transportation projects and programs throughout her 25-year career, but she still remembers what it felt like to be an intern trying to find her path in the industry. Slayton is passionate about lifting others as she climbs, providing the same support and mentorship that helped her succeed. She was recently elected to serve a two-year term as chair of WTS International, a 10,000-member organization committed to advancing women in transportation.

For Associated Construction Publications, Slayton shared her insights on WTS, mentorship, leadership and creating opportunities for the next generation.

“Leadership is never just about the role you’re in — it’s about what you build in others,” Slayton said. “I believe the time I spend mentoring will come back tenfold to the industry, because if there’s something I can do to help and support people in their growth, then it’s time well spent.”

Read the full article, “HDR’s Erin Slayton: Lifting Others as You Climb” from Associated Construction Publications.