2024 40 Under 40: Fiona Wu

Fiona Wu, PMP, is a project engineer in rail and transit working with HNTB Corporation. Wu grew up living in both Shanghai, China and Vancouver, Canada, where she had the opportunity to experience first-hand two Olympics along with the environmental and infrastructural impacts in both of her hometowns. She currently resides in Los Angeles and is excited to work with local transit systems to contribute to a sustainable and exceptional Olympics in 2028.

Wu is now on a mission to improve the environment through a career made in zero-emission transportation. As the manager of HNTB’s Zero Emissions Implementation Project, she has played a major role in growing the practice nationally. 

Her career in transit gave her the opportunity to work on projects like Utah Transportation Authority’s non-revenue vehicle fleet with the development of a Fleet Management Action Plan. She has also worked on the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Electric Vehicle Transition Program and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Bus Services Procurement project. 

Her commitment to clean energy transit was tested when the COVID-19 pandemic required her to take on greater responsibilities to accommodate a reduction in staff and changes in clients and vendors. Her work mitigated supply chain delays and agency-side limitations to ensure uninterrupted public transportation operations. 

Wu conducted in-depth research around COVID-19 mitigation products, including physical barriers, air purification systems, handrail coating and more. She then facilitated internal design improvements to be incorporated into these systems. In her current position, Wu spearheads the electric vehicle team for HNTB’s Los Angeles office and the Southern California region, working nationally to increase awareness and lead education efforts across the firm around the zero-emissions industry. 

Wu has been a mentee and mentor in HNTB’s mentorship program. One of her biggest takeaways from serving as a mentor was communicating when it’s essential to be extremely precise as an engineer and where there is space to be more courageous and take risks.  

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

Facilitating collaborations and discovering connections where most unexpected. Helping clients form creative solutions in a rapidly changing technology environment and creating a more accessible transportation system across various populations and regions, promoting equity

What’s the most challenging part of your job? 

Helping clients balance between strategic initiatives and practical solutions.

Accomplishment you’re most proud of and why? 

Managing the development and manufacture of 130 electric buses for Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) while at BYD (now RIDE). It was the first large electric fleet procurement in the U.S., and had experienced the full COVID impact on the transit, supply chain, and manufacturing environment. I was able to see the project from contracting phase through pilot testing and first round of deliveries for LADOT.

What is an accomplishment you would like to work towards in your career? 

I would like to help both the City of L.A. and the country build towards the vision of net-zero and drive integration of renewable energy and smart mobility. At HNTB, this involves continuously developing my technological acumen, learning and understanding our client needs, and leading innovative initiatives and solving problems. I would also like to help be of resource and provide mentorship to younger professionals.