In a new seminar format for WEFTEC 2017 — a series of short, informal presentations, dubbed WEFTalks — four prominent water leader recounted how influential mentors awakened their potential and helped shape their careers.

 He outlined the broad workforce challenges facing the sector and called on audience members to formalize mentorship programs within their home organizations. He credited the influence mentors in the science and engineering fields had on him while recounting his uncommon career transition from stage acting to sustainability consulting.

“A mentor is a guide. A push in the right direction. Someone whose hindsight can become your foresight,” Ferguson said. “Mentorship is like a sewer: what you get out of it is what you put into it.”