Diane Cowin is a Senior Vice President and the Director for Environmental Social Governance (ESG) for AECOM’s Global Transportation Business Line and the acting Transit Market Lead for the Americas. She currently supports the executive leadership team of AECOM (Fortune 500) driving transformation through strategy and growth by leveraging trends and future forward thought including providing input into the global strategy development for transportation and transit with key tenants ESG and innovation. She is the AECOM lead for ESG in Transportation globally. She serves on the AECOM Americas Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion steering committee.
In addition to operational and leadership roles, she has worked on infrastructure projects around the world. Diane is a principal and program manager for mega-transit and passenger rail projects, programs and multi-year planning contracts. Diane is a keen strategist with proven success in propelling rail visions towards implementation through strategic yet methodical planning. She is a trusted advisor to private and public entities as an industry leader in the regulatory and funding landscape for the transportation and energy sectors.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with Digital First Magazine, Diane shared her professional trajectory, the secret mantra behind her success, personal sources of inspiration, future plans, words of wisdom, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
Hi Diane. Please tell us about your background and areas of expertise.
I am AECOM’s Senior Vice President, Global Transportation ESG Lead and the acting Transit Market Lead for the Americas. I have served in a management / operational, project and program management, and business development capacity throughout my 30-year career. I support the executive leadership team of AECOM driving transformation through strategy and growth by leveraging trends and future-forward thought, including the key tenants of Environmental Social Governance (ESG), innovation, and decarbonization.
In addition to operational and leadership roles, I have also served as a principal or project director for major infrastructure projects in the transportation and energy fields.
What do you love the most about your current role?
I am currently serving in two roles at AECOM. My role as the Global Transportation ESG Lead is a wonderful combination of my passion for a healthy planet, my education in Environmental Resource Management, my experience providing community and environmental benefits through infrastructure, and my need to always be learning.
My role as the acting Transit Market Lead allows me to leverage my long-earned reputation, keen sense of industry trends, and business development and growth acumen in the transit and rail fields to help agencies succeed, communities thrive, and keep AECOM at the top.
What are the three major trends you foresee in your industry in the next 12 months?
The next twelve months in our industry will be shaped by numerous elections around the globe. 2024 is a historic election year, with over 50 countries having elections with over 2 billion voters according to The Center for American Progress, a US policy institute. Each one of these elections will have ripple effects on the trends in tech, transportation, energy and many other industries.
I do see the continued emergence of AI and automation in more fields. In infrastructure, I believe the current focus on driving down infrastructure construction costs will lead to an increase in automation of design with AI and the concept of designing to cost. The energy transition and renewables will continue to trend with advancements and innovations in everything from energy storage and management solutions to new renewable profiles coming to market.
You were recently recognized as one of The Top 50 Women Leaders of California for 2024. Our readers would love to know the secret sauce behind your success.
I am part of a service industry helping agencies and private entities implement some of the most impactful infrastructure projects in the world. First and foremost, I believe my success comes from my passion for the positive impact our projects can make on individuals, communities, and the world. Just as important are the relationships I’ve cultivated, a willingness to give time to help others in the industry, and the ability to place myself in my client’s shoes to best help them reach their goals.
Is there a particular person you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are?
So many people have inspired and supported me throughout my journey — from my current manager, who trusts me implicitly and allows to me stretch my wings and try new approaches, to my mother, who was in the computer industry in the 1980s and was often the only woman in the room, to the CEO and COO of a women-owned business that saw my potential and put me on the Board of Directors of the company in my 20’s. There are so many more colleagues, friends and family members who helped me and continue to do so today. It is so important to take the time to nurture your relationships, they are what propel you toward your goals.
How do you keep your mind healthy and stay resilient? And how do you motivate your team?
The key to keeping my mind healthy and staying resilient is my morning yoga practice or a long hike in the woods with my dogs. I also have to be super vigilant in organizing my days and weeks to allocate my time to what is most important for AECOM and our people and clients. I have had to learn to say “No, but” and provide an alternative solution if I can’t take on a task, meeting, work trip, or speaking event.
What does the term “authentic leadership” mean to you?
Authentic Leadership, to me, is bringing your whole authentic self to bear on everything you do—from working with your Board of Directors, management team, clients, employees, and even your family and friends. Authentic leadership is best embodied by those who exhibit integrity, accountability, and empathy. Authentic leaders that I have had the privilege to work with at AECOM are committed to bettering themselves, the company and the employees, being disciplined, inspiring trust, and have the ability to focus on the goal and bring others along.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I see myself continuing to support AECOM’s growth while mentoring the next generation of leaders so they can not only succeed, but thrive at AECOM and in the infrastructure, ESG, and digital industries. I am also considering private or public Board of Director service to support smaller minority-, women-, and/or LGBTQIA+ – owned companies to grow their business and increase their sphere of influence.
Given your extensive experience, what advice would you give to aspiring leaders who aim to make a positive impact in their organizations and the industry as a whole?
My best advice to aspiring leaders is to lean in, trust and bet on yourself and your ideas. Making a positive impact on your organization and industry often comes down to being bold and bringing your ideas to the front for discussion and consideration. It takes diverse voices to truly make a meaningful and sustainable impact in any industry.