Meet Vector Collaborative: Kari
Kari Sebern, PE, Founder and Principal
Welcome to the first in our new “Meet Vector Collaborative” series of blog posts. Each Q&A-style post will profile a team member and give you a behind-the-scenes look at the people behind the craft.
Meet Kari Sebern, P.E. Kari is the founder and principal of Vector Collaborative and has 18 years of commercial and residential experience. She founded Vector Collaborative, formerly called s-cube, as an opportunity to provide local structural engineering support central and western Iowa and, in 2018, expanded to Colorado.
How did you first get interested in engineering?
I’ve always loved math classes and the process of solving problems. I also knew I wanted to help people too. I have an uncle that is an engineer as well, so I shadowed him in high school. But, it wasn’t until sophomore year in college during statics class that I realized that I really had a passion for the language of engineering.
What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?
One of the first projects I worked on was an elementary school in Denver. I got my picture taken at the groundbreaking ceremony with the governor at the time, so that was pretty cool. I also worked on the lateral design of a 25 and 35 story building in Abu Dhabi that was complex and super intriguing.
Most recently, I designed a two-story house comprised of a steel space frame with infill wood members. The experience was both challenging and rewarding.
I remember meeting with the Firetrucker Brewery team when they were still brewing out of their basement and were looking at an old fire station as a new space. They eventually remodeled that space and have been very successful since. Meeting with anyone at the beginning steps and hearing their story and their dreams and then helping them make it a reality is probably one of my most favorite parts of this job.
What would you tell young people who aspire to become engineers?
You don’t have to be perfect. You need to work hard and try your best. If you love math, and if you love breaking down complex problems into smaller, solvable bites, it might be a good fit.
I always tell high school students to ask to shadow someone in the professions that they are thinking of pursuing. It’s free, and it gives you great exposure to the fields in your interest. However, these people are not going to seek you out. You have to approach them proactively.
What do you think is an often-misunderstood aspect of engineering?
The most often misunderstood aspect is that we wave a hand and have a building designed. People are often surprised that the structural design of a small office building takes several weeks.
Why does it take so long? Well, it involves a complex series of calculations and detailing. Ultimately, we take complex concepts and calculations and try to summarize them into something simple and buildable.
Also, great writing and communication skills are vital. If you cannot effectively articulate your skill set, you will have a hard time convincing potential new clients to work with you.
How do you stay engaged while working remotely?
I communicate with my coworker daily. Also, I try to make time for coffee or lunch with a friend at least once a week. I know I cannot be productive at my desk for 9hrs a day, five days a week, so I structure my work requirements accordingly. This looks slightly different with the current environment but I still try to follow this thought process.
Typically, I’m in the field and at meetings a couple of days a week to break it up. I also utilize a coworking space in Des Moines one day a week, and that has been great to immerse myself, lightly, in an office environment. This has scaled back drastically since Covid but I look forward to the day when I can get back into this routine.
What are your top 3 core personal values?
Kindness Trust and Respect.
What’s your favorite hobby?
Yoga is my favorite hobby. I also enjoy spending time with my two boys, throwing on the pottery wheel and macramé projects. I try to get to as many live shows as I can too. These days, I have to settle for watching live performances on YouTube.
What has been your favorite travel experience?
When I travel, I love exploring new understated places. I love to try out new cuisines and meet new people to hear about their life stories. And if there’s a beach and it’s mid-January and cold back home, I’ll be as happy as can be.