
Surya-Prakash Gidugu
Design Project Manager,
INDIA
WHAT IS YOUR JOB?
I am currently Design Project Manager for Sub-Lot 7N of the High Speed 2 project, as part of the SYSTRA-MOTT Design Joint Venture. I was previously part of the Operations team for infrastructure design in India.
WHAT DO YOU DO AT SYSTRA?
During the six years I spent at SYSTRA (since November 2014), I mainly worked on assignments linked to Operations and Project Management. I’ve had the opportunity to take part in feasibility studies, detailed design projects, project management consultancy missions, business development, operations management, etc. and I’ve worked on different modes of transport such as the metro, high-speed trains Delhi – Chandigarh – Amritsar and Mumbai – Chennai, road bridges and the Pune Mumbai hyperloop.
WHAT ARE THE 3 IMPORTANT QUALITIES OR SKILLS IN YOUR JOB?
The first of the qualities required for a project manager is, in my opinion, a good sense of communication. Fast and effective communication is essential, especially in crisis periods such as COVID-19. Adaptability is also essential. More and more projects are being carried out by teams located in different countries and on multiple sites. This means adapting to different ways of working, cultures and time zones. Finally, a project manager must know how to delegate and trust. He cannot and must not lead the project alone, and must allow the members of his team to showcase their skills and qualities.
Why SYSTRA?
SYSTRA offers its staff the opportunity to move from one job to another, from one sector of the company to another. This flexibility is also reflected in the international mobility programme, which gave me the opportunity to move to Birmingham in the UK to work on the HS2 project. I also enjoy working with multi-skilled teams and experts to complete complex projects. All this creates an atmosphere that is both stimulating and rewarding!