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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Top Female Entrepreneurs: Stephanie Wagner

Stephanie Wagner President Wagner Engineering & Survey Inc., Northridge Founded 1990 Stephanie Wagner’s civil engineering firm boasts a portfolio that includes Panorama City High School, L.A. Metro’s Orange Line rapid busway and the First Street Bridge viaduct in downtown Los Angeles. She oversaw subdivision projects in Porter Ranch and Hidden Hills before starting her own firm. Question: Why start a business? Answer: As a dual licensed professional, I wanted to properly integrate my civil engineering and land surveying skills into a firm which offered and performed both services well. How did you build it? I used a slow-growth model which allowed me to grow and improve my skills along with my business. Would you do it again? I would absolutely do this again, but with the business “lessons learned” I have acquired, I would do this slightly differently. How being a woman helped you: Being a woman has helped me through taking advantage of many small, woman-owned certifications to enable my firm compete for work. I just wanted to compete on an even playing field. Challenges of being a woman in business: There were clients who were more comfortable dealing with male owners; I sensed some doubts dealing with a woman in a male-dominated field. Being a persistent person, I thrive on proving my firm can do a great job for projects when given the chance. Hardest day: My hardest days are when I must let an employee go. I pride myself in offering the best opportunities and benefits for employees, so to fire a staff member feels very personal to me. I am grateful to have had very few of these days. Best day: The day I was named a national fellow of the American Council of Engineering Companies, my national professional organization. I was very humbled and proud of this accomplishment. Best business advice you ever received: A past employer of mine taught me to always strive to keep a good mix of public and private projects in my backlog. This advice has served me well through many economic swings. Advice for aspiring female business owners: Begin their business knowing that failure was not an option – to invest heavily of their time, ideas and enthusiasm. The first three years are not easy, but the joy and satisfaction of seeing your business grow is priceless.

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