We want students to drive their own careers. What do you want to achieve? Let’s figure out how to get you there.

- Lisa Muzekari

When Lisa Muzekari walked into her civil engineering classes at the University of South Carolina nearly 40 years ago, she was one of few female students. Today, as vice president of infrastructure at Thomas & Hutton and the firm’s first female shareholder, she is helping reshape the engineering industry by mentoring a new generation of professionals and leading by example.  

Muzekari earned her bachelor’s (1991) and master’s (1992) in civil engineering from the University of South Carolina. For Muzekari, leadership is not defined by titles, but by how you invest in others. Over more than three decades in engineering, she has built a reputation not only for technical expertise, but for her commitment to developing people. Whether working with early-career engineers, interns or students, she emphasizes that success in the field goes far beyond technical skills.

“We want students to drive their own careers,” Muzekari says. “What do you want to achieve? Let’s figure out how to get you there.” 

Her own path to civil engineering started with a love of math and science while growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio. Muzekari initially envisioned attending Ohio State, but after moving to Charleston, South Carolina, between her junior and senior year of high school, she applied to USC as an in-state option.

“I only applied to two schools,” Muzekari recalls. “And as that year went on, I fell in love with South Carolina and decided to stay.”

That decision led to many accomplishments, most recently in January, when Muzekari was promoted to vice president of infrastructure at Thomas & Hutton, a role that broadens her oversight to include departments beyond her original area of expertise. The transition has required a new level of leadership.

“One of the biggest things has been being open to learning,” Muzekari says. “Some of the departments under me now are not ones that I’m too familiar with. It’s listening, taking it in and then offering guidance where I can.” 

And her influence extends beyond her firm. A dedicated supporter of the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, she frequently returns to campus to engage with students—moderating panels, mentoring interns and volunteering at STEM outreach events. Through these efforts, students see firsthand what a successful engineering career looks like. 

Being a trailblazer is not new to Muzekari. When she attended USC, she secured her first internship with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Charleston. After graduating, she remained in Columbia to complete her master’s degree, gaining hands-on research experience that would serve her well in consulting.

Two years after earning her master’s Muzekari joined BP Barber in Columbia, where she worked for nearly 20 years before she and several colleagues established the Columbia office of Thomas & Hutton in 2013. For more than 12 years, she has helped grow the office and expand its impact across the Midlands.

Along the way, she became the first female shareholder in the company’s history, a milestone that represented both personal achievement and broader progress within the industry.

“It’s definitely an honor,” Muzekari says. “I’ve been fortunate to work for firms that allowed me to grow and didn’t hold me back, so the recognition means a lot.”

While women in engineering were few when Muzekari graduated, she estimates that today roughly half of the engineers in her group are women. While she did not have female mentors early in her career, Muzekari has made mentorship a cornerstone to her own leadership. She regularly checks in with younger engineers, helping them set career goals and navigate both technical and professional development.

“It’s not just about technical skills,” Muzekari says. “It’s communication, client management and understanding the business. And it’s not a once-a-year conversation, it needs to be ongoing.”

Her leadership has not gone unnoticed. Muzekari was recently nominated as a South Carolina Women of Influence. Jason O. Chambless, president of Thomas & Hutton, praised her influence in his letter of recommendation.

“As president of Thomas & Hutton, I work with leaders across our organization, and Lisa consistently stands out for her integrity, technical excellence and people-focused leadership,” Chambless wrote. “With more than 30 years of experience in infrastructure and environmental engineering, she has played a defining role in advancing our firm’s capabilities while helping shape communities across South Carolina.”

When asked how she hopes to be remembered 30 years from now, Muzekari returns to the themes that have defined her journey: opportunity, balance and possibility.

“I’ve been fortunate,” Muzekari says. “If my legacy is showing other women that you can achieve leadership roles and still have the work-life balance you want, that you don’t have to shy away from engineering, then I’d be proud of that.”