Formative Years
It’s been 28 years since I started my career journey. And when I think about those years, I can’t help but include my time studying engineering and management. Those were the formative years of what I’d call a pretty “directionless” journey. There was a lot going on—advice from all directions, information overload, pressure from peers and society, and a whole lot of philosophical and spiritual books talking about “inner calling” (honestly, I still don’t fully get what that even means!). It all kind of messes with your head. But here’s what I’ve come to believe: Things tend to fall into place once you start opening doors. In simpler terms, it’s about making choices.
So, how did I end up in civil engineering? Well, to be honest, I just wanted to join a well-known college, regardless of the stream. Back in the day, that meant getting into a Regional Engineering College (REC), which is now better known as an NIT. And I made it! I got into REC Rourkela and completed my Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering. It was the time of the dot-com boom, and while everyone else seemed to be jumping on the IT bandwagon, I wasn’t that interested. Instead, I set my sights on pursuing higher studies abroad with a GRE score in hand.
Snowballing Years
So, the GRE didn’t quite happen. Instead, I found myself stepping into the world of Project Management in construction. And let me tell you, this decision was all mine—no outside pressure or confusion. After finishing my engineering and taking up some gig jobs on construction sites, I had a bit of an “Aha!” moment. It hit me that higher studies could be key if I wanted to survive and thrive in such a competitive space.
With the Indian market opening up, construction booming across all sectors, and conversations with seniors, I realised that construction project management was the door I needed to walk through.
So, I went ahead, completed my ACM, and jumped into the corporate world. And this is where the real transformation began.
Transformative Years
I got my first taste of project management when my dad asked me to oversee the refurbishment of my grandparents’ house in Karnal. During my annual vacation while I was in engineering, my dad thought it’d be a good idea for me to manage and supervise the whole thing. The work mostly involved repairs, painting, and refurbishing the toilets. What he gave me to work with was pretty simple—accommodation at a relative’s place, a two-wheeler, a few cheques, and an introduction to one of his local friends who could guide me on contractors, material suppliers, and all that.
I was in my second year of engineering at the time, and somehow, I managed to get the entire project done in 30 days. That was my first real, hands-on experience with management. And the most important lesson I took away from that experience, which still sticks with me today, is the importance of resourcefulness and the efficiency of building local connections through networking. I realised early on in my career how vital these two things would be.
Fast forward to 2004, when I started my first job as a coordinator on-site, and now, nearly 20 years later, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing how project management in India has evolved. The career really gained recognition only around the early 2000s. Before that, it was mainly design consultants who were expected to handle and manage projects. I can definitely say that I caught the project management bus at the right time. How this field has developed and continues to mature is something I’m excited to share with you all through my series of Blogs, which I intend to name MY EXPERIMENTS WITH PROJECT MANAGEMENT.
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