Entrepreneurship often starts with a spark of curiosity and the courage to follow it. 

In this episode of The Leadership Blueprints Podcast, BJ Kraemer sits down with Malory Atkinson, co-founder and managing partner of Shear Structural, Georgia’s only all-women-owned structural engineering firm. Malory shares how growing up with an entrepreneurial father and starting her career during the 2008 recession shaped her approach to leadership, relationships, and resilience. She reflects on her time in tech startups, her return to the built environment, and what it means to create a company that grows sustainably while empowering employees to lead. 

From the lessons of working directly under CEOs to launching a firm focused on adaptive reuse, healthcare, and education projects, Malory underscores that engineering is ultimately a business of people, and that success depends on relationships built before you need them. 

Tune in to hear her insights on networking, storytelling, and leading with authenticity in a changing industry!

Key Points From This Episode:

•   How her father’s example sparked her entrepreneurial drive.

•   Insights gained from a stint in tech and returning to the built environment.

•   Founding Georgia’s only all-women-owned structural engineering firm.

•   Creating a resilient company that grows sustainably and supports employee growth.

•   Building leadership at every level of your company.

•   The importance of making relationships before you need them.

Quotes:

“I started my career in 2008, which is the absolute worst time anybody could have ever started in this industry. But I learned a lot about the value of client relationships and winning business when there was no business to be had.” — Malory Atkinson
 

“Engineering is not just a business of design: it’s a business of people and trust.” — Malory Atkinson

“Shear Structural is Georgia's only all-women-owned structural engineering firm. We're focused on adaptive reuse, health care, education, and municipal projects across the southeast.” — Malory Atkinson

“Somebody told me, early on in my career, to make relationships before you need them.” — Malory Atkinson

“I approach networking as, ‘How can I help you?’ So, if I'm meeting somebody, I'm not like, ‘How can you help me by giving me work?’ I'm like, ‘How can I help you?’” — Malory Atkinson 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Malory Atkinson on LinkedIn
Shear Structural

The Zero Co

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn