Lifting as we climb: Building trust, confidence, and future leaders in water
In this episode Talking Under Water co-host Mandy Crispin speaks with Angela Walker who is the Assistant Director of Wastewater Operations at the Brunswick‑Glynn Joint Water & Sewer Commission and one of the inspirations for this year’s Women in Water feature story.
Walker reflects on her career journey, the role her mother played in shaping her sense of responsibility and stubborn determination, and the ways her team supported her during a profound personal loss. She shares candid insights on navigating male‑dominated spaces, building trust within utility teams, and creating a culture where knowledge is shared — not guarded — through cross‑training and collaboration between operations and maintenance.
The conversation dives into systems thinking during plant upsets, staying calm under pressure, and leading with accountability instead of blame. Walker also speaks to the industry’s role in long‑term water sustainability, from water reuse potential to the challenges posed by data centers and emerging contaminants.
This episode highlights why utilities are about more than infrastructure. They’re about people, public health, and the future of water.
Shownotes
Timestamps
01:04 – Developing technical confidence & owning your seat at the table
02:32 – Remembering her mother & early influences
04:04 – Team support, trust, and leadership culture
05:44 – Barriers for women in technical leadership
07:59 – Lifting others as we climb / Knowledge‑sharing culture
11:12 – Systems thinking & staying calm under pressure
13:45 – Public health, sustainability, and water reuse
18:26 – Closing thoughts & where to find Angela Walker
19:54 – Housekeeping
About the Podcast
Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld (WW) and Stormwater Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.
About the Author
Mandy Crispin
Mandy Crispin is the editor-in-chief of WaterWorld, having joined Endeavor Business Media in 2023. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada and is a graduate of University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has internal and external corporate communications experience in disparate industries including online retail, gaming, plastics and is now enjoying exploring the water utility space. Crispin can be reach at [email protected].