Amber Smith: Storyteller breaks down complex delivery methods into short lessons

Smith is also recognized for her ability to align storytelling, strategy and collaboration with Kiewit’s broader business goals. Developed and launched kiewitlearning.com, a platform that helps break down complex delivery methods into short lessons used by clients and staff. He also participates in Kiewit’s partnership with the Colorado Avalanche ice hockey team, where his efforts garnered 71 million social impressions, reached 4.4 million TV viewers and generated an estimated $8.6 million in value in one season.

Smith recently accepted a rotation in the company’s applied AI group.

She also created a Kiewit badge for Girl Scouts, a custom-designed program that introduces girls to engineering and construction through hands-on learning.

How did you get into the industry?

I did not take a traditional path into the AEC industry; you could say I stumbled upon it. With a master’s degree in international business and self-taught skills from Adobe, I never imagined that this would be my path. When I was hired at Kiewit through my personal consulting business, my first project was to support a district meeting. I guess going in with no preconceived notions gave me the confidence to treat everyone as an equal instead of being intimidated by an org chart.

Once I became a full-time employee, I moved into the proposal group, but continued to support our district meetings. With this, I was fortunate enough to film many of our service award interviews. This early exposure to some of the industry’s most respected and influential people created a foundation that shaped my perspective of Kiewit, not only as a company, but as a culture.

I quickly learned that relationships were key, but they only worked when combined with accountability, discipline, and problem solving. Throughout my career, I have been supported by leaders who value vision, initiative and a willingness to challenge the status quo, an environment that has fueled my drive to help move the organization forward.

What is your favorite project and what challenges have you overcome?

Without a doubt: building Kiewit’s infrastructure marketing group from the ground up.

For years, marketing was not an entity of its own, but rather an extension of the proposal team. Creating a dedicated marketing group within a 140+ year old company was not only unusual; it was unheard of, and it meant navigating a lot of “we’ve always done it this way” thinking while creating new systems in an industry not exactly known for rapid change.

We push the limits. We get uncomfortable. Sometimes we cause a little heartburn. But we also have confidence. This trust allows us to create something thoughtful, scalable and impactful, from research strategy and customer messaging to learning platforms, AI use cases and creative campaign development.

It has been the most challenging and rewarding experience of my career. It didn’t exist until we made it happen, and that’s the part I’m most proud of.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years and what goals have you set yourself to get there?

It’s no secret that my vision board has “CMO” across the top, not in a traditional sense, but in a way that doesn’t yet exist in Kiewit. My goal is to define and grow into a CMO position that is proactive, strategy-driven and aligned with all the markets we serve, not just the four we currently support: transport, marine, mining and construction.

To get there, I’m focused on deepening our influence in untapped markets, building relationships with leaders we haven’t worked with yet, and designing systems that help our messaging and market strategy scale beyond what’s currently possible. I want to help Kiewit not only adapt to what’s coming, but also be the one to shape it.

How do you balance work and family life?

This one is tricky for me because balance isn’t a matter of work versus life; work is part of my life. It is what enables many of the things I value. On a macro level, yes, it’s all about prioritizing, delegating, and setting boundaries, and I have strong support systems that help me. I work with an amazing team who help each other whenever I need it, and at home I have a husband who supports my passion and everything that goes with it.

I’ll be honest, I don’t think this season of life is about balance in the traditional sense. These are the most challenging years: from our late 30s to early 50s, we are gaining strength as leaders while continuing to learn new skills, support, and in some cases raise a family. Even if you’re not at work, chances are you’re thinking about it. So I guess the question isn’t how to keep work and life separate, but how to stay focused while juggling both.

This is where presence comes in. There will always be more to do, meetings, meals, trips, deadlines, assignments, homework… I don’t find balance in doing more or less of one thing, I find it in the moment, when I can silence a busy mind and just be present.

That’s why I protect a window of time every morning, 30 minutes to an hour before the kids get up, to stay on the floor. I use this space to recalibrate and set my starting point for the day ahead. Some days you eat the bear, and other days the bear eats you, but this practice helps me drive from a clearer place, regardless of what’s waiting on the other side. So I guess balance, for me, is a lifelong pursuit.

What is one piece of advice you can share with other young professionals in this industry or those coming after you?

Go talk to people who have been here longer. I mean it honestly. There is a tendency to look only up or forward, chasing visibility, the next title or the next opportunity. But people who have been doing this for 20 or 30 years, especially in companies like ours, have an insight that you can’t Google or GPT. Ask them how they got started. What they are proud of. What they would do differently. Not only will you build deeper relationships; you’ll hear stories that change the way you see the company and your role in it.

Also, don’t wait for the path to be drawn for you. If it doesn’t exist, that doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Some of the biggest moves I’ve made were into spaces that felt uncomfortable, uncertain, or undefined. This is where the good stuff happens, so don’t run away from it.

Finally, give credit where credit is due. Don’t take life too seriously and trust that you are exactly where you are supposed to be. You’ll learn more by listening than talking, more by doing than watching, and more from the people in your orbit than from any job description or organizational chart.