The people behind our progress

“For people like me, engineering is not only a career choice, but also a mindset that helps me stay curious, resilient and wanting to do better. I've created an engineering acronym, ADIO, that works in everything from organising a closet to designing a rocket.

Analysis requires breaking down a problem. Design involves developing a solution plan. Implementation means building a final product and adjusting as needed. Optimisation involves continuously refining and improving the solution.

After 20+ years of engineering experience, my mindset has become a lifestyle, where I follow ADIO in planning domestic get-togethers, too!

“To me, engineering isn't machines, circuits, or code - it's about helping people by solving real-world problems with logic, creativity, and precision. At its core, engineering is a mindset where we are curious enough to ask 'why?', bold enough to ask, 'why not?' and disciplined enough to ask 'how?'

I've learned lessons, too. Failures are feedback. The faster we fail, the faster we learn. The best engineers are lifelong learners, constantly evolving. Above all, ethics matter. Our decisions impact lives, environments, and societies.

“I didn't initially want to become an engineer. But engineering college life helped me build the self-confidence I had been missing, and I began a new journey in a new domain.

Looking back on a seven-year career, I realise engineering is not about technical or theoretical knowledge. It's about building yourself, bridging the gap between imagination and reality, and approaching problems with curiosity and persistence. My brief civil engineering career taught me that persistence is as important as knowledge.

In 20 big years, I experienced many opportunities and challenges, wins and failures, enjoyment and hardships. I've learned a million things. Here are a few.

• Don't rush. Careers are marathons, not sprints.
  Once, I was eager to climb quickly, prove myself, and switch roles quickly. But real growth takes time. Even smaller roles teach you something you can use later.

• Focus on skills, not titles.
  In the early years, I chased job titles and designations. Now, I realise that skills carry you through every role and make you valuable, regardless of your title.

• Relationships matter as much as results.
  Engineering focuses on systems, numbers, and precision. But people matter just as much. The world is smaller than it looks, and relationships you build today may come back years later in unexpected ways.