EP 35: How Saying Yes Opened the Door to Transformational Projects with Jaidev Sankar of AECOM
Jaidev Sankar, Transit Strategy and Growth Lead for the US East and LATAM of AECOM, reflects on a career shaped by mega projects, public-sector leadership and a willingness to say yes. He shares lessons from the Big Dig — the Second Avenue Subway — and his time on the owner side at Amtrak, offering a candid look at how collaboration, trust and emerging delivery models are reshaping rail and transit programs.
Key Takeaways:
00:00 Introduction.
02:09 Finding balance between work, family and personal passions shapes long-term career fulfillment.
06:13 Early technical interests and constraints often guide engineers toward their true strengths.
10:17 Long-duration mega projects accelerate learning across design, construction and delivery.
12:55 Building an organization from scratch requires comfort with uncertainty and iteration.
19:08 Being honest about what you want helps ensure the right role fit for both sides.
24:10 When trust exists, collaborative delivery improves alignment on scope, budget and schedule.
30:26 AI should be used to increase efficiency and help owners do more with limited funding.
34:48 Infrastructure funding and policy decisions require long-term thinking and public engagement.
36:53 Saying yes to varied opportunities builds perspective across disciplines and career stages.
Resources Mentioned:
Big Dig (Central Artery/Tunnel Project)
New York City Congestion Pricing Program
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