Breaking Ground Episode 4: Amanda Adams on Technical Passion, Mentorship and Building Your Network

GEOVERT
12 minutes ago
4 min read

In this episode of Breaking Ground, Geovert's Hannah Thomas sits down with Amanda Adams, Business Center Operations Lead at Stantec Denver, to discuss her journey from hands-on technical work to operations leadership, and why building your professional network early is critical to long-term career success.

About Amanda Adams

Amanda Adams is the Business Center Operations Lead at Stantec's Denver office, managing operations across hundreds of projects and millions of dollars in budget. A Colorado native and Colorado School of Mines graduate in geological engineering, Amanda built her career around technical excellence in tailings dam design before transitioning into leadership roles that combine operational strategy with people management.

She serves on the board of the US Society on Dams and is actively involved with Women in Mining Denver, demonstrating her commitment to advancing the industry and supporting the next generation of professionals.

Key Highlights from the Conversation

From Physics to Geological Engineering

Amanda's path wasn't a straight line. She started as a physics major at Mines, inspired by passionate high school teachers, but quickly realized it wasn't the right fit once she dove into coursework.

"So many of our decisions are based on people that we interact with," Amanda reflects. "I had some amazing physics teachers in high school that made it so interesting. And then, you know, that was not..."

The switch to geological engineering came naturally once she discovered her love for rocks and Earth science, a reminder that finding your path often requires trying different directions.

The 2008 Pivot That Changed Everything

After graduating, Amanda worked at CTL Thompson doing geotechnical engineering - foundation investigations, soil compaction, construction quality assurance. Then came 2008 and the financial crisis.

"I got laid off, which was a huge blessing, probably the best thing that has ever happened for my career," she admits.

The layoff forced soul-searching about what she really wanted to do. That introspection led her to MWH (now Stantec), where she joined a completely different environment working on international projects across multiple sectors.

"I was in an office with people working on water treatment plant design and soil remediation and tailings dams, all these things I'd never even been exposed to. Just being in that environment that had more breadth was really refreshing."

Finding Technical Passion in Tailings Dam Design

At MWH, Amanda discovered her technical passion: tailings dam design. These complex projects require understanding how multiple disciplines work.

"You had to understand how the foundation of the dam worked, seismic hazards, flood hazards, construction. And then you also d understand the mining piece because you're not filling the dam with water, you're filling it with mine waste."

This intersection of heavy construction, dam engineering, and active mining operations became her specialty, working on projects from design through to construction and operation.

Learning from Mentors: The Picasso Bull Lesson

One of Amanda's most influential mentors was Tatyana Alexieva, who taught her about tailings dam design, project management, being a working mother in a male-dominated industry, and how to communicate with elegant simplicity.

Tatyana used Picasso's famous bull sketches as a teaching tool - a series showing increasingly detailed drawings before arriving at the final sketch of just 5-6 simple lines still clearly recognisable as a bull.

"You want to get to that really elegant summary - you have exactly what you need, no more, no less," Amanda explains. "But Picasso could draw the bull with all of the details. So you can't just jump to the end unless you really understand how to draw the whole thing."

This lesson applies to all professional communication: you need to do the detailed work to arrive at the concise summary. Tatyana also taught Amanda how to give constructive feedback that explained not just what to change, but why.

The Critical Importance of Professional Organisations

When Amanda first got involved with Women in Mining Denver and the US Society on Dams, she didn't view it as career-building. Looking back, she sees it completely differently.

"I didn't really realise at the time how beneficial it would be. But that's definitely what it is. The more that you are woven into the fabric of whatever industry you're working in, it's going to help you be a more successful professional. You have to start early and it's going to pay back tons of dividends."

Her involvement now includes serving on the board of the US Society on Dams, where she applies operational leadership experience to nonprofit governance and brings those lessons back to her day job.

The Power of Your Peer Network

Beyond mentors and managers, Amanda emphasises building a strong peer network - friends at work going through similar challenges.

"Some things you just really need to talk to someone who's going through the same thing, who's not your boss or reporting to you, but is just your peer. Having not just one or two, but a whole group of those people, they're your cheerleaders. You can't just be on your own at work."

This network should extend beyond your company. Talking to peers at other firms gives perspective on whether your experience is typical and whether you're getting the opportunities you should be.

Key Takeaways

Start building your network early. Get involved in industry organizations even if the benefits aren't immediately obvious.
Approach networking with curiosity. Ask "Tell me about yourself" and genuinely listen.
Find your technical passion. It might take trying different things or even getting laid off. Be honest about what engages you.
Build a strong peer network. Not just mentors, but friends at your level who understand what you're going through.
Master clear communication. Learn to communicate with elegant simplicity—after doing the detailed work.
Be patient with yourself. Especially during major life transitions. You can't be all things all the time.

About Breaking Ground

Breaking Ground is a podcast series featuring conversations with leaders in geology, mining, and geotechnical engineering. Hosted by Hannah Thomas from Geovert, the series explores career journeys, technical expertise, and the evolving landscape of the mining industry.

Previous Episodes:

Episode 1: Marianne Rogers
Episode 2: Carrie Heaven
Episode 3: Julia Potter