‘Let your passion be your guide’

My first job, as an assistant site supervisor dressed in full personal protective equipment (PPE) at the roadside, was a real baptism of fire.

Road users would give us a lot of unsolicited feedback and criticism.

I learned very quickly about accountability as a civil engineer!

The only woman onsite

I was the only woman onsite and faced some bias initially.

I stood my ground, something which required a lot of inner strength.

I approached every task with a problem-solving mindset.

I was diligent and determined to learn from everyone and everything around me.

My intention to make a difference

The site team started to understand my genuine intention to make a difference to the project, and to make success a collaborative effort.

I still remember staying back in the evening, at the end of a rainy and stormy day, to check whether the solution we’d built would serve the client’s purpose.

That same team also stayed back to make sure that I got home safely.

It was my first triumph. My team had delivered to the desired quality, on time and within cost.

I am because we are

Since then, I’ve always cherished that ‘last moment’ by bringing the team together as we collectively hit ‘send’ on completion of significant design or construction delivery.

I get a feeling of Ubantu – ‘I am because we are'.

The importance of professional accreditation

I understood the importance of professional accreditation from the beginning.

I followed the Babtie Graduate Programme and became an Incorporated Engineer in 2010.

The path through the technical report route to chartership was rigorous.

It required me to demonstrate not only my technical expertise but also my ability to lead, innovate and manage complex projects.

Becoming chartered and a role model

Becoming a Chartered Engineer wasn’t just a career milestone.

It was the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifices, and an unwavering commitment to deliver to the highest ethical standards.

I was the second female Chartered Civil Engineer in India, and although I was personally pleased, I was also sad.

I realised that I’d become a role model for women who were struggling to balance work and life. Who were trying to succeed despite those challenges.

Continuing to push myself

I took on more challenging projects and lead initiatives on sustainable development and critical and ageing infrastructure.

This was while also supporting organisational needs such as quality, technical learning and development, change management and design transformation.

I had a track record of delivering some of the UK’s most complex projects from India.

Several of these were of national importance, such as the A14 Section 4a drainage upgrade, and the A9 Dalraddy to Slochd Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

There were also a number of smart motorway packages.

I led the delivery of one of the UK’s first BIM level 2 compliance projects in the highways sector.

Finding sponsors for my application

When I applied to be an ICE Fellow, I was privileged to be connected to one of the most prominent Fellows in our industry. He happened to be in our organisation, AtkinsRéalis.

He agreed to sponsor my application and congratulated me for even thinking of becoming a Fellow.

He reinforced that I was the right kind of person to apply, and that gave me immense self-confidence.

I realised then that my achievements wouldn’t just be for myself, but for the generation of women leaders who might want to see female Fellows from which to draw inspiration.

After meeting the first ICE Fellow from India, who fortunately was also from AtkinsRéalis, I asked him if he would also be my sponsor. He also strongly supported my application.

Reaping the benefits

My Fellowship recognised my technical achievements, yes, but also my contributions to the profession and leadership in promoting best practices in civil engineering.

The true impact of this honour goes beyond personal recognition.

It has opened a world of new opportunities.

I find myself being invited to be part of global steering groups, in forums and panel discussions, and to academia.

I’m also sought after by global engineering mega-projects to understand how their projects could be delivered more effectively to the right quality.

The platform to be a changemaker

ICE Fellowship provides me with the platform to be a changemaker.

I get to influence the future of civil engineering and inspire the next generation of engineers to aim higher for the greater good of this lovely planet, and its people and places.

As women, we have to continually prove ourselves to be capable, particularly in our industry.

My Fellowship means people welcome my significance and seek out my guidance, value propositions or expert advice.

Widening the road for others

At the same time, I also recognise that Fellowship comes with responsibility.

It gives me the platform to not only excel but to lift others along the way.

I understand that the road I have travelled must be widened for others at key junctions where there are usually bottlenecks, with the potential for ‘women drain’ due to natural personal commitments.

Self-belief

My advice to women who are on their journey of professional development is that when you think you’re ready for Fellowship, don’t hesitate to apply.

You can send your documents to the ICE regional directors and get their advice on what additional work might be needed.

My advice to those who haven’t started their professional journey yet would be: believe in yourself.

Let your passion be your guide, perseverance your strength, and dreams the compass that leads you to your true destiny.

Stop acting small, you are the universe in ecstatic motion. The future of engineering is yours to carve. Pave the way for those who will follow you.

Learn more about becoming a Fellow