As Vice President and longtime board member of the Boston Chapter of WTS, Selma Mandzo-Preldzic is a leader within VHB and beyond. WTS is dedicated to advancing women and woman-identifying individuals within the transportation industry and welcomes all members who align with this mission, regardless of gender. Despite progress over the years, transportation remains a male-dominated field. Through mentorship, networking, and leadership development programs, WTS empowers women to succeed and offers them a support system of other women facing similar situations to lean on. Approximately 100 VHB staff nationwide are members of WTS. This is Selma’s story.

My journey with WTS began in 2006. Having just graduated from college, I felt intimidated when my manager invited me to attend a WTS-Boston event. Would I fit in? I quickly discovered that many attendees were young, uncertain, and experiencing imposter syndrome just like I was. Encouraged, I became a member soon after, and my experience with the organization has been transformative.

In January 2025, I became the Vice President of WTS-Boston. If you’d told me that in 2006, I don’t think I would have believed you, but today, I’m really proud of how far I’ve come. Participation in WTS has opened up networking, business, and growth opportunities both for myself and for VHB.

I attribute my growth in part to the other members of WTS-Boston. WTS is special in that it offers not only a platform for professional development but also a critical support network—a community where women can connect with others facing similar situations. Mentoring is a cornerstone of the organization, and when I first joined, seasoned women in WTS supported me, offering me opportunities to stretch and grow essential skills like leadership, management, and public speaking in a nurturing, low-stakes environment.

I didn’t initially seek out leadership positions in WTS-Boston, but my investment and active participation in the organization and its Diversity Committee were recognized by others. Their encouragement led me to increase my involvement, starting with stepping up to be the Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee. I later co-chaired other committees, became Director-at-Large, served as Secretary and then Treasurer, and finally applied to become the Vice President. Spanning almost 20 years, this progression felt natural thanks to the support and opportunities WTS provided, including the WTS International Executive Leadership Training, which I attended in 2023. 

How WTS Volunteer Management Developed My Leadership Skills

As co-chair, I was in the position of managing volunteers—which, as it turns out, is a lot harder than managing employees. To effectively manage committee volunteers, I had to learn how to lean into their strengths and interests, whether that be giving back to the next generation, education for others, or personal skill-building, to motivate them to stay dedicated and advance our goals.

I brought these skills back to VHB to manage the technical teams and internal committees I lead. As I encountered opportunities to advance my career at VHB, the confidence and management skills I’d gained through WTS made me feel more comfortable taking that next step at work.

Paying It Forward Through Mentorship

Pivotal to my growth in the organization was VHB’s Susan Nichols, who previously served as Director of WTS-Boston. She served as a mentor to me, encouraging me to stretch myself and apply for the Vice Presidency. 

Mentorship from Susan and others through WTS has motivated me to give back and help women in transportation, both through WTS and at VHB. Having been at VHB for almost 20 years, I like to be a resource to other team members and have an open-door policy for anyone interested in discussing any aspect of their career. 

“I don’t think I would have had the opportunity to dive into my leadership skills if Selma hadn’t pushed me to do so.”

—Sara Yasin, Project Consultant, Traffic Operations

I particularly focus on encouraging emerging professionals to grow their soft skills. So often, people early in their careers focus on advancing their technical skills. While these are essential, I believe that building a personal brand and developing soft skills are equally crucial for long-term success.

Part of mentorship is also helping my mentees grow their confidence. I encourage emerging professionals not to undervalue their contributions due to age or inexperience. Speaking up and participating in discussions not only demonstrates initiative but also opens doors to career-changing opportunities, just like my experiences with WTS did for me. I firmly believe that WTS is the perfect setting for these growth opportunities, so I always encourage growing professionals to come along to meetings.

“I’ve turned to Selma for advice about everything, and she has never led me astray. She’s an open book, and I’m certain her role in WTS has helped her grow to be that way.”

—Chelsea Sadler, Senior Project Consultant, Traffic Operations

To emerging professionals, I say this: Seek out mentorship, as learning from seasoned professionals can significantly enhance your understanding and confidence. Networking, whether through professional organizations like WTS or other industry events, is vital for creating meaningful connections that can support and propel your career growth, helping to build relationships and business. Remember, showing courage and clarity in expressing your ideas not only helps you gain visibility but also contributes positively to the team and the broader industry. Embrace challenges, stay curious, and continuously seek personal and professional development to evolve into a well-rounded leader.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Transportation

It’s important to me that the next generation benefits from and advances the gender equity progress that my generation has made. To help girls grow up perceiving transportation as a viable career and not a male-dominated field, I try to expose them to the transportation field when they’re young. WTS provides an ideal forum for doing so: the Transportation YOU Summit, which aims to introduce eight- to 18-year-olds to transportation planning and engineering. I co-chaired the event for a few years and continue to support it by promoting the event in my community. For the past eight years, I’ve brought more than 20 girls from my young daughters’ Girl Scout troops to the Summit. 

Kids love the event for its hands-on activities run by different sponsors, including VHB. One year, we had them pretend to be mayor of a town and plan out the positioning of city buildings; another year, they learned the difference in transportation modes and how cycling or walking are cheaper, healthier, and sometimes faster than driving.

VHB’s Support of WTS

Learning and Development is one of VHB’s core values, and this aligns perfectly with the opportunities WTS offers. I’m grateful that VHB is so supportive of both WTS and the ideals that it embodies. VHB sponsors WTS chapters across our footprint and encourages its employees to participate and take on leadership roles. When I decided to apply for the WTS Boston board of directors, VHB’s CEO, Mike Carragher, wrote a letter of support to bolster my application.

VHB’s open, supportive culture, commitment to equity, and extensive support for professional development allow women in any career stage to truly thrive, progressing the mission of WTS. VHB’s commitment to supporting women in transportation was recognized by WTS in 2000, when we received WTS-Boston’s Employer of the Year award. Mike Carragher also won WTS-Boston’s Man of the Year award in 2021 due to his support of and contribution to the WTS mission of advancing women in our industry.

Continuing to Advance Diversity and Equity

Selma co-hosting the 2025 WTS-Boston Awards and Scholarship Banquet, attended by almost 400 WTS members.

The roles I’ve held within WTS-Boston have allowed me to actively contribute to the organization's mission and help shape its direction. I have many ideas for how to continue doing so in my leadership role.

While WTS has made significant strides in empowering women within the transportation field, there remains substantial room for progress, particularly in fostering inclusivity and nurturing diverse leadership. As the first immigrant woman to serve as Vice President of the Boston chapter, I am particularly driven to expand opportunities for women of all backgrounds. Having grown up in Bosnia, where societal norms often discouraged women from pursuing engineering careers, I understand firsthand the challenges faced by women striving to enter and excel in this industry.

During my tenure,  I aim to enhance outreach and support for women from diverse backgrounds, establishing WTS as a sanctuary where they can cultivate professional relationships, advance their careers, and find a community that feels like family. I want to take purposeful steps to break down barriers, host inclusive events that celebrate varied perspectives, and strengthen mentorship programs to empower women to become leaders in their own right. My goal is to create an environment that champions diversity in all its forms—enriching the community and promoting a vibrant future for the transportation sector.

Reach out to me by email or LinkedIn. I’m always happy to talk about mentorship, equity in transportation, and the personal and business development power of WTS.