This month, we reflect on the trailblazing women who have led the way throughout history, acknowledging and admiring their contributions for a better world.Many of these women have inspired and empowered our female staff to strive to make the world a better place, as well.With backgrounds in engineering, environmental science, policy, and law, women at CTE work diligently every day to lead the charge towards a zero-emission future. Comprising nearly half of our staff, these women are an integral part to advancing clean transportation and combatting climate change. We interviewed a few of the women in leadership at CTE tohonor their years of service to the organization, and highlight the vital role they have played in furthering our mission.

Meredith Linscott

Director of Legal Affairs / Senior Engineering Consultant

How have you helped advance CTE's mission?

The most obvious way that I have furthered our mission is by providing the legal support required to enter into and comply with contractual, federal, state, and local requirements. However, I think the more important way that I have furthered our mission is by talking with my kids about why I am proud of the work we do at CTE. Even though at times they may have misinterpreted our conversations to mean their mom "works for the company that created the Tesla," (this is what they told some of their elementary teachers), it has instilled in them an empathy for the environment and a personal responsibility for protecting it that I am very proud of. Educating people about climate change and how we have the ability, through our actions and technology, to reduce our impact is one of the most important things we can do. My one position at CTE has created three next generation environmental conservationenthusiasts!

How did you get into this work?

My joining CTE was a bit oftiming and luck. I had just graduated law school, confident that the last thing I wanted to do was contract work; hoping to find something in healthcare law. Then, I had a conversation with CTE's Executive Director, who happened to be the dad to my son's best friend. He said they were hiring for a project manager position but it would be great to have someone with legal experience as well. At that point, CTE was still fairly small and didn't have enough work for a full-time lawyer. My engineering undergrad background, coupled with my law degree, made for a great fit since I could help with both project management and legal work. When I heard about CTE's mission and all of the meaningful projects theywas a part of, I was sold. Eight years later, I am happy to say it was the right decision and I am thrilled to be part of a great organization that is having a positive impact and facilitating the advancement of sustainable technologies.

What inspires you?

What inspires me most right now are the younger generations of open-minded, enthusiastic, environmental advocates that are eager create a healthy, sustainable future for us all. I love how many young people care about the environment, and how they challenge me to do even more. It makes me hopeful that we will find the right balance sooner rather than later.

What's your advice for women looking to make an impact?

Embrace everything you have to offer. Realize that direct impacts can be just as important as indirect impacts. For many reasons, I decided to go part-time when my kids got a little older. I know many parents struggle with their work/life balance and it can often feel like we aren't doing either job to our best ability. Reducing your work hours can feel like you are sacrificing years of hard work. However, having more time with my kids means they hear more about what I do and how important I think our work is. They see how proud I am and how fulfilling it has been for me. I have no doubt that it has impacted them in less direct, but potentially more important ways and that they will do a lot more for the environmentthan I was ever able to achieve.

Lauren Justice

Development Director

How have you helped advance CTE's mission?

I am proud to have been a part of the CTE family since 2008. In that year, our staff consisted of nine people (we are now 50+). Seven of those nine folks continue to be leaders with CTE - That's some pretty impressive retention! Each of us seven have cultivated our own branches within the CTE tree. Personally, I have led our Outreach and Education program. Through this program, CTE has educated thousands of zero-emission transportation stakeholders on solutions to build a carbon free transportation system. More recently, in partnership with many excellent women, I have provided direction for our Communications and Development teams with the goal of enriching our strategic partnerships and increasing our impact to fight climate change.

How did you get into this work?

I've always known I wanted to work on behalf of our environment. In graduate school, my focus was in building decision support systems for leaders tackling "wicked problems" like climate change. CTE provides decision support for communities wanting to make a change to cleaner fleets. This type of change requires systems thinking and interdisciplinary solutions. Zero emission solutions challenge the status quo on many fronts and require a reframing of what is possible. I believe climate change is the biggest crisis facing our planet and we must get our hands dirty and do the good work.

What inspires you?

Sunrises!

What's your advice for women looking to make an impact?

Everyone of us has flaws and gifts. Take the time to cultivate your gifts and don't beat yourself up for your flaws. I have two kids, 4 and 7, and it has been a hard year for working moms. You can't do it all. Be honest with yourself about what you can do. Work diligently every day to carefully refine the systems that support the work you can achieve, and don't dwell on the rest.

Emily Price

Lead Managing Consultant

How have you helped advance CTE's mission?

I feel lucky that the majority of my work involves interacting with our clients.As a project manager, I get to be a part of our work in action and use my expertise to make a difference. Each day, I witness our impact as we help change communities and support the development of zero-emission technologies.

How did you get into this work?

When I graduated from college, I thought I wanted to go to law school. I worked for a small-town law firm and started preparing for the LSAT, butI quickly realized that it wasn't for me. I was passionate about making a difference, so I shifted my focus to finding a career in the non-profit sector.Initially, I wasn't looking for something specifically related to helping the environment; I just wanted to find work I believed in. I am grateful that I found CTE, and that I've been able to learn so much about transportation, clean technologies, and sustainability.

What inspires you?

So many things both professionally and personally! I'm inspired by the "old guard" at CTE that has worked tirelessly for our success and grown the organization beyond anything I could have imagined 13 years ago. But I'm also inspired by the younger group of CTE staff. They have a passion and drive that challenges me to look at things from a new and different perspective.I have two kids, a son and daughter (who just happens to celebrate her birthday on International Women's Day!) that inspire me daily.All the clichés about parenting are true. I want to leave the world a better place than I found it for them.

What's your advice for women looking to make an impact?

I recently heard Michelle Obama say that all impact can make a difference and that really resonated with me. You don't have to be in charge or the loudest in the room to make an impact. Take pride in what you are doing, no matter how small the task may seem. All the little things add up so keep an eye on the big picture. I like to say that the day to day of my work doesn't always feel like I'm saving the world. But big picture what we do day in and day out, year over year has and will continue to make a difference. Stay committed!