EP 48: Building Credibility Before You Have the Title with Kevin Khemraj of Welkin Mechanical
Join us as we sit down with Kevin Khemraj, Vice President of Welkin Mechanical, to talk about building a career and a team in heavy mechanical construction. He shares what separates good contractors from great ones, why mentorship is worth asking for directly and how young professionals earn credibility long before they earn a title.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
00:00 Build the right balance, don’t rush into leadership.
05:00 Kevin Khemraj traces his path from working alongside his father to engineering school and a civil engineering career.
08:00 Being the second person hired at a growing contractor, and carrying eight projects at once.
11:00 The mechanical infrastructure New Yorkers rely on daily and never think about.
14:00 What separates a good contractor from a great one on public infrastructure work.
18:00 The opportunities and relationships that carry him from intern to executive.
25:00 Building a formal mentorship program, and why one dinner can outpace a year of tuition.
36:00 Rebuilding a Lincoln Tunnel car ramp inside a 49-day window and finishing in 23.
41:00 How young professionals build credibility before they have the title.
44:00 What leaders can do this week to support their teams without micromanaging.
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RESOURCES MENTIONED
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey (habits referenced by Kevin
Khemraj, including “begin with the end in mind”)
CMAA - Construction Management Association of America (mentorship program referenced in the episode)
DBIA - Design-Build Institute of America (Kevin Khemraj's credential)
#PeopleDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #AECpodcast #BuildingBetterFutures
ABOUT THE HOST
Eric Hirani is the host of Building Better Futures and a principal at Infinite Consulting Corp., where he works with leaders in the AEC industry on project delivery, team building, and organizational growth.