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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