Jane Wilberding: Urban Mobility Leader Demonstrates Passion for Connecting Land Use, Transportation and Community Needs

How did you get interested in mobility?

I became interested in mobility through travel. I studied abroad in Copenhagen where I was able to get anywhere I could ever dream of via bike, train, bus or on foot safely and conveniently. After growing up in a more suburban environment where a car was required to cross the street, this was a drastic and cathartic change.

What did you learn from living abroad?

Living in a city designed for people taught me about the importance of designing life between buildings. Our most meaningful everyday experiences—strolling on city streets, enjoying a rest on a bench along a waterway and interacting with others in open spaces—are shaped by how we move through the built environment. Mobility informs what we can or cannot access, how we experience our communities.

What is one challenge that you have overcome in your career?

Proposals like reducing parking or reallocating road space to pedestrians and cyclists often spark fierce reactions, even when data shows it leads to safer, more efficient outcomes. Through many project conversations, I’ve learned how to present difficult ideas in ways that meet people where they are—listening closely to concerns, acknowledging what residents value and finding solutions that balance technical goals with community comfort. This experience has taught me that the best technical solution isn’t always the right answer for the moment. Successful projects require trust, empathy, patience and strategic communication.

What is one of your favorite projects?

One of my favorite projects was working with the Illinois Medical District—the nation’s largest urban medical district—to reduce car dependency and create a safer, more walkable environment across its 560-acre campus. With more than 23,000 parking spaces and five major hospitals systems, the district had significant transportation challenges and a wide range of stakeholder needs. Major wins included eliminating commuter shuttle fees, introducing discounted Divvy bike share memberships for employees and launching the region’s first parking cash-out program. Getting five hospital systems to agree on anything—let alone a major shift away from cars—was incredibly rewarding.

What’s the best career advice you’ve been given?

Delegating can be difficult, especially when you’re passionate about a project or have a clear vision. But I learned that my team is there for a reason. They’re highly capable, motivated and eager to grow. Letting go of tasks I once felt I needed to hold onto created space for others to step into bigger roles, bring new ideas forward and strengthen the work in ways I couldn’t have done alone.

What’s your career advice for other young professionals in the industry?

Don’t take yourself too seriously! Leading with humor humanizes us, builds trust and often helps us find common ground during tense or complex discussions. Our work carries significant long-term impacts but approaching it with lightness makes the process more enjoyable for everyone involved. Teams who can laugh together collaborate more openly, navigate challenges more creatively and build stronger relationships. This career is often demanding—you’ll do better work, and have a better time doing it, if you let yourself enjoy the people around you and let yourself take a joke.