In this episode, I talk with Sarah Beckman, PE, SMIEEE, Chief Strategy Officer at Ulteig, about valuability in civil engineering and how it transforms project delivery, talent engagement, and community impact. We explore how valuability helps engineering professionals balance client satisfaction, employee well-being, and community outcomes while navigating today’s rapid technological changes and evolving infrastructure demands. If you want to lead engineering projects that matter, spark innovation under pressure, and unlock long-term infrastructure resilience, this conversation will expand your strategic approach and empower your leadership mindset.

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Sarah Beckman, PE, SMIEEE:



What inspired an interest in civil engineering and led to a focus on infrastructure strategy?

What is valuability in civil engineering and how does it differ from traditional KPIs?

How is valuability measured and tracked across projects?

How can valuability guide strategic engineering decisions in the face of workforce, policy, and technology challenges?

Can you share an example of a project where valuability balanced clients, employees, and communities amid tight budgets and deadlines?

What does success look like when all three components of valuability align?

How can valuability in civil engineering drive innovation during pressured project conditions?

How do you balance long-term vision with delivering short-term engineering results?

What are some ways engineering leaders can use valuability thinking to retain and engage talent?

When is the best time during a project to talk about why a project matters and connect it to valuability?

What are the key steps engineers can take to emerge as strategic leaders in infrastructure planning?

What final piece of advice can help civil engineers stay adaptable and resilient as the industry evolves?



Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Valuability in Civil Engineering for Long-Term Project Success





A lifelong love of building and solving real-world problems inspired the journey into civil engineering. The opportunity to design for the future while meeting today’s needs shaped a focus on infrastructure strategy.

Valuability in civil engineering is a holistic approach that measures value through impact on clients, employees, and communities. It expands beyond traditional KPIs like budgets or schedules by emphasizing long-term benefits, resilience, and human-centered outcomes.

Valuability is tracked by assessing long-term client savings, employee engagement metrics, and community benefits like service hours and infrastructure quality. This data creates visibility into how each project delivers real, measurable value.

Valuability helps engineers think long-term and remain agile amid uncertainty. It encourages decisions that anticipate future community and client needs while using emerging technologies to innovate responsibly.

A utility project involving wildfire mitigation and renewable integration exemplified valuability in civil engineering. The team used innovation and prioritization tools to balance risk mitigation, affordability, and employee collaboration.

Success means delivering a technically sound and financially responsible infrastructure plan that protects the community while empowering engineers to contribute creative, purpose-driven solutions. The resulting client satisfaction, team pride, and public benefit show the power of a valuability framework.

Clear goals paired with flexibility allow creative teams to rethink project approaches and test new technology. Innovation thrives when engineers feel supported to propose better ways that improve speed, quality, and outcomes.

Valuability balances today’s progress with tomorrow’s i...