Ep. 23: Ifetayo Venner - Gatekeepers, Big Infrastructure, and Leadership
It's nice to have friends in high places, and in water, there are few places higher than the presidency of the Water Environment Federation, the core trade body for the wastewater industry. Ifetayo Venner and I got to know each other in 2017 when we both spoke at the opening session of WEFTEC, WEF’s annual gathering for the wastewater world, and we spoke in a cavernous room filled with about 5000 pros talking through our stories of how we got into water. Ifetayo’s was a lot better than mine, and no surprise. She is an enormously accomplished professional, Past President of WEF and a Senior VP at Arcadis, the massive engineering consultancy. She has led the creation of some very serious projects in wastewater, and I wanted to have her on The Fundamental Molecule to help us understand the role of engineering consultancies in the sector, what the world looks like from her point of view, the opportunities in infrastructure renewal, and of course, her own path through all of it. She really is great. Please enjoy my conversation with Ifetayo Venner.
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Full show notes and links to mentioned content below.
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Ifetayo Venner, Senior VP at Arcadis and former President of the Water Environment Federation (WEF), explores the role of engineering consultants in shaping water infrastructure, and discusses managing large-scale water and wastewater projects, integrating innovative technology, and addressing climate resilience. She also shares insights on workforce challenges, the impact of federal funding, and offers valuable advice for entrepreneurs entering the water sector.
00:00 Exploring Water Tech Innovations and Industry Trends
00:49 The Role of Engineering Consultants in Water Infrastructure
02:14 How Consulting Firms Provide Expertise in Water Projects
04:56 Building Water Infrastructure: Treatment Plants to Pipelines
05:16 Managing Large-Scale Water Infrastructure Projects
07:50 Navigating Complexity in Water and Wastewater Projects
08:26 Integrating New Technology into Water Infrastructure
10:43 Expert Advice for Entrepreneurs Working with Consulting Engineers
13:07 The Impact of the Infrastructure Bill on Water Projects
16:29 Building Climate-Resilient Water Infrastructure
20:30 Stormwater Management and Flood Control Solutions
23:54 Addressing Workforce Challenges in the Water Sector
26:12 Balancing Workforce Shortages and Water Infrastructure Maintenance
29:58 How AI is Transforming Water Infrastructure and Efficiency
33:57 Networking for Success as a Water Industry Entrepreneur
