Shaping the built environment requires both technical innovation and a strong, diverse community. Natasha Mundis, P.E., a Structural Consultant at LeMessurier, embodies this dual focus. Having joined the firm as an intern in 2020 while completing her B.S. and M.S. in civil engineering at Northeastern University, Natasha brings a unique perspective, rooted in her European upbringing, to her structural work in historic Boston, with a focus on the complex challenges of existing buildings. Beyond her passion for preserving and adapting the structures around us, Natasha is an active force within the Professional Women in Construction (PWC) Boston Chapter. We recently sat down with Natasha to discuss her engineering journey and the critical role PWC plays in supporting and advancing professionals in the AEC industry.
A Passion for the Built Environment
Q: You grew up in Europe and now focus on existing building structural work in Boston. How did your early observations of the built environment shape your career path, and what excites you most about working with existing structures?
Natasha Mundis: Growing up in Europe, I was surrounded by centuries-old architecture, which sparked a deep fascination with how buildings are put together and how they stand the test of time. As I’m sure many other structural engineers can relate to, I grew up constructing cities built out of LEGO, complete with trains and stations for people to get around. Working in a historic city like Boston is incredibly rewarding because it allows me to directly apply that passion. Focusing on existing buildings, whether it’s adaptive reuse, historic preservation, or complex structural renovations, always presents unique puzzles. Sometimes I think of myself as a detective, where I have to uncover and understand the original engineering while finding ways to integrate modern technologies, sustainable practices, and new structural requirements. It’s exciting to breathe new life into older structures so they can efficiently serve the community for generations to come.
PWC’s Value Proposition
Q: For those less familiar, Professional Women in Construction (PWC) is known for its mission to support, advance, and connect women while promoting diversity across the AEC industry. From your perspective, what makes it such a vital community for our local market?
Natasha Mundis: For me, forging connections and community is something I continue to seek out, whether inside or outside LeMessurier. I noticed early on that the structural engineering and construction industry remains heavily male-populated, and while this is certainly improving, I wanted to seek out other women mentors. I think it’s really important for other young women entering the industry to see other women that they can connect with, and to have women mentors to grow and learn from. As engineers, we often have the tendency to stay in our shell, but joining PWC has really pushed me to be confident and outspoken, no doubt from the warm and welcoming environment that PWC creates, and having seen other women in leadership positions within PWC. Having become so used to being one of just a few, or sometimes, the only woman on a jobsite or team meeting, it amazes me when I look around the room at a PWC event and see so many women in this industry, just in Boston!
Developing Impactful Programs
Q: You are highly active in the Boston chapter, specifically helping to develop programs every year. What is your primary focus when putting these events together?
Natasha Mundis: My main goal when helping to develop programming is to ensure we are delivering highly informative, industry-relevant content that creates real connection, while also being fun and enjoyable to attend. Whether it’s a panel discussion, a site tour, or just catching up playing pickleball, we want our attendees to walk away with actionable insights and new relationships. By bringing together professionals from different disciplines like designers, contractors, owners, and engineers, these programs help break down silos and encourage cross-disciplinary communication that is so essential to our day-to-day work.
Tangible Member Benefits
Q: Beyond the networking aspect, what are the most tangible professional benefits that LeMessurier staff and other professionals gain from active participation in PWC?
Natasha Mundis: For me, the biggest benefit is building a welcoming community of incredible people that I see month to month. Having other people I can relate to and look up to empowers me to build interpersonal skills such as confidence and leadership. Being a part of PWC supplements the work that I do on a day-to-day basis by introducing me to the greater industry in ways that I would not see in my structural engineering bubble. The ultimate win is getting to work with other PWC members on projects, where the project team is that much stronger, through the PWC connection.
Advice for Emerging Professionals
Q: What advice would you give to a young engineer or student who is just entering the AEC industry about getting involved with an organization like PWC?
Natasha Mundis: Early on, I had the misconception that joining a group such as PWC and participating in business development were only for people well into their careers, and I felt I didn’t have enough experience yet. A colleague at LeMessurier brought me along to an event within my first few years, and from that point, I knew I wanted to join this community. My biggest piece of advice would be not to be afraid to ask for your company’s support to join an organization or attend a conference or event. Whether it be PWC or any other group (I’m biased to PWC!), step out of your comfort zone and join a group early on. Stay engaged, because the people you are meeting through these organizations are growing and developing their own careers alongside you. These connections can and will lead to deeper community and new projects if you stick with it. I’m grateful to LeMessurier for supporting me through joining PWC.