Round Table Discussion:How to succeed in the Engineering School and How to Secure your Co-op/Internship and First Job for Engineering Students and Young Professionals

Written by Michael Zhou and Duo Huang, Photos by Xuan Chu and Angela Sha

On July 5, 2025, the newly formed CSEA Young Professionals Group, a subgroup of the Canadian Structural Engineers Association (CSEA), hosted a special event for the next generation of professionals. Approximately 40 attendees, including students, interns, recent graduates, early-career professionals, and a few senior/intermediate speakers, gathered for a round table discussion focused on sharing experiences, exchanging societal insights, and fostering personal and professional growth. The event served as a valuable introduction to the industry for young professionals.

Haixue Liao, President of CSEA, opened the event with welcoming remarks.

Helen Deng, the moderator, opened the session by asking attendees, “What is your expectation to take away from this event?” She encouraged participation by offering a small gift to anyone willing to stand up and share their thoughts. The main portion of the event then began, featuring six speakers who shared their insights and experiences.

Section 1: Austin Tian - Failure isn't Fatal

Austin Tian's speech focused on his advice towards young professionals about being resilient and having the strength to push past failure. He focused on aspects that involved not overwhelming yourself or pressuring yourself based on the people around you, but to set personal goals which contribute to your own journey. 

Section 2: Andy Wang - Emotional Intelligence 

Andy Wang's speech was centred on the basis of emotional intelligence. Andy believes that emotional intelligence is one of the key factors that contribute towards better work life, as it increases leadership skills, handles stress and provides much more clarity in the work environment. With these benefits, emotional intelligence is essential for career development as it will guide you through your pathway.

After Andy’s presentation, Sheng Wang provided information on the upcoming CSEA scholarship.

Section 3: Cancan Yang - Personal Growth

Dr. Yang’s speech about her journey empowers female youth to pursue their desired career path regardless of their situation. She believes that with enough effort, anything is possible. Her story tells a beautiful tale about her efforts to become a professor at McMaster university, and should be taken into perspective by the many young professionals at the event. She also encouraged students interested in research careers to actively seek out resources available on campus.

Section 4: Duo Huang - Career Development

During Duo Huang's speech, he described his journey through his vast experience of work, from construction to consulting. His story emphasized the importance of embracing failure and using it as a stepping stone for growth. Duo is able to improve his self worth in his career, and is an inspiration for all young professionals.

Section 5: Hunt Zhong - Going the Extra Mile

Hunt Zhong’s speech tells a tale about his intern and how without any clarification or inquiries, would turn in unfinished or work that is improper. He reflects this on a personal note where he talks about how putting in the extra effort will be the factor that makes you stand out from the rest. In order to improve in your career, you need to be able to work for it.

Section 6: Joseph Liao - Strength in Independence 

Joseph Liao tells us of his journey in his work experiences where he would go through the extra effort to hold his worth within his environment. He emphasizes being able to resolve problems on your own and the strength of not needing to rely on people around you.  

Section 7: Gary Lin - Start Your Own Thing - A New Way Forward

Gary Lin recently moved to Hong Kong and attended the event online. Gary shared the story of launching his first startup, Airwork, marking the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey. He spoke about how he successfully grew the business and expanded into new ventures, driven by a passion for innovation and a bold mindset that challenges traditional ways of doing things.

Following the main presentations, a dedicated Q&A session took place, during which attendees posed a variety of questions to the speakers, eliciting thoughtful responses and fostering meaningful dialogue. Following the Q&A, Wang Seng offered a closing speech that reflected on the discussions and acknowledged the contributions of the speakers and attendees.

The event wrapped up with a networking segment, giving participants the chance to connect, share insights, and build professional relationships in a more informal atmosphere.