Development at SAGE doesn't stop at our own four walls. As part of the wider Tetra Tech group, SAGE people have access to networks, ideas and leadership programs that reach around the world.
One of those is the Tetra Tech Academy, and Melissa Jones, Discipline Lead for Electrical Design at SAGE, is midway through it, with modules already completed in Virginia and online, and a final module in California still to come.
We sat down with Melissa to talk about the experience, what she has learned, and what it means for SAGE people weighing up an opportunity like this.
Q: Tell us a bit about your role at SAGE.
I'm the Discipline Lead for Electrical Design at SAGE, responsible for supporting and developing our electrical design and drafting capability across the business.
That covers maintaining design standards and governance, driving consistency across our locations, and finding ways we can improve how we design as a national team.
Before the Academy, my focus was strengthening capability and our processes, and finding ways to work more efficiently and consistently across the business.
Q: So what is the Tetra Tech Academy?
It's a leadership development program designed to help emerging leaders build their leadership capability, broaden their business knowledge and develop connections across the wider Tetra Tech organisation. It runs across three modules.
The second was delivered online and gave us exposure to a broad range of business functions, including finance, legal, the use of AI and Tetra Tech's developing technology tools. One of the highlights was having direct access to a Division President and being able to openly discuss their career journey and leadership approach.
The final module will be held later this year in Pasadena, California, where many of Tetra Tech's senior executive leaders are based. It's about bringing everything together and gaining further exposure to and mentorship from senior leaders.
Q: How did the opportunity come about?
I was fortunate to be nominated for the program, which was both unexpected and exciting. Once I learnt more about the Academy, I saw it as a great opportunity to build connections with people from across Tetra Tech and gain exposure to perspectives that are quite different from my day-to-day role. I was particularly interested in learning how other operating units approach leadership, strategy and business challenges, while exploring where SAGE might collaborate across the organisation.
That was one of the most valuable parts of the experience. Everyone came from different industries, disciplines and regions, so there was a huge variety of perspectives in the room. It was interesting to see how people approached similar challenges differently, depending on their background and business environment.
Despite those differences, there were many common themes around leadership, project delivery, and building high-performing teams. It reinforced how much we can learn from one another when we collaborate across boundaries.
Q: What's one thing that has really stuck with you?
The importance of taking a step back and thinking strategically has probably been my biggest takeaway. One piece of advice from a Division Leader that has really stayed with me was that you don't need to carry every priority yourself. The key is understanding which issues need your direct attention, and which can be entrusted to capable people around you.
In my role, there are often many competing priorities, and that's a mindset I've already started applying. It's encouraged me to focus on what matters most and make better use of the strengths of the people around me, rather than feeling responsible for every decision or outcome myself.
Q: Was there a moment that pushed you out of your comfort zone?
Travelling overseas on my own, being so far from family and in a completely different time zone, was definitely outside my comfort zone.
While the Academy itself was a great experience, simply stepping into an unfamiliar environment and navigating it independently challenged me in ways I hadn't expected. It reinforced the idea that growth often comes from situations that feel uncomfortable at first.
Once you're there, you realise you're capable of much more than you might have initially thought.
Q: How has the experience shaped your view of how SAGE fits within Tetra Tech?
The experience gave me a much clearer picture of how the SAGE and Tetra Tech relationship works in practice. Meeting people from other businesses that had joined through acquisition, I saw how they had kept their own identity, culture and expertise while benefiting from being part of something larger. That gave me confidence SAGE can do the same.
Tetra Tech offers guidance and strategic direction rather than one fixed way of working, trusting each operating unit to know its markets, clients and people best. The more connected we are, the more we can learn from others and contribute our own expertise in return.
Q: What would you say to someone at SAGE wondering whether to say yes to an opportunity like this?
I'd encourage them to take it if it's available to them. Experiences like this expose you to new ways of thinking, help you build relationships beyond your immediate network and give you a broader understanding of the business.
Even if it feels a little outside your comfort zone, that's often where the biggest growth happens!
With the final module in California still ahead, Melissa's Academy journey is not over yet. But the through line is already clear.
When SAGE people grow, connect and bring new thinking home, everyone benefits: our teams, our clients and the smarter future we are building together.
Learn more about a career at SAGE here.