“A full pot never spills”: Akhilamba on Himalayan treks, a ‘before 50’ list, and 15 years growing from Junior Engineer to leading a team of 22

Akhilamba is a Chartered Telecoms Engineer and Senior Principal Engineer in the Signalling & Telecoms practice at AtkinsRéalis, based in Bangalore. She leads a team of 22 engineers delivering projects across Rail, Nuclear, Healthcare, and Industrial infrastructure, and she’s currently working her way through a personal ‘before 50’ list that includes climbing Kilimanjaro.

The before-50 list

Since 2019, Akhilamba has become a serious trekker, runner, and swimmer. She regularly takes on local marathons and has completed several Himalayan routes including Sandakphu, Dayara Bugyal, Kedarkantha, and Har Ki Dun.

But it’s her ‘before 50’ list that really gives you a sense of who she is. Among the goals still to tick off: completing the Annapurna Base Camp trek, climbing Kilimanjaro, earning a scuba diving certification, and learning open water swimming. “These adventures give me a deep sense of accomplishment,” she says, “and have introduced me to a wonderful community of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts.”

Beyond the trails, she loves nature escapes with her family and friends, a quieter counterpoint to the Himalayan ambitions.

Telecoms engineering across four continents

Akhilamba’s day-to-day is a mix of technical delivery, team leadership, and business development. She works closely with lead project offices on design reviews, technical discussions, and tender support, while also collaborating with global offices across the UK, Middle East, Canada and Hong Kong

She serves as Key Account Manager for Canada Rail and Transit projects. Right now, her priorities include building a Middle East rail pipeline with senior leadership and developing a specialist team focused on systems engineering and safety assurance.

The impact of the work is something she feels directly. “By shaping telecoms and safety-critical systems, I help create environments where people feel protected, connected, and supported,” she says. “For clients, I provide clarity, assurance, and confidence, helping them make informed decisions about safe, sustainable, and future-ready infrastructure.”

From Junior Engineer to leading 22 people

Akhilamba joined in 2010, when the company was still Atkins. She was the first team member in India to work directly with the UK Rail Telecoms team as an extended delivery resource, a role that set the trajectory for everything that followed.

“Growing from a Junior Engineer to a Senior Principal Engineer has not been easy,” she says. “But I was fortunate to be mentored by several managers and colleagues from both India and the UK. During my early career, my UK manager played a key role in nurturing both my technical abilities and my English communication skills.”

Two milestones stand out in particular. She completed her Engineering Council Incorporated Engineer qualification and obtained her IRSE Telecoms Designer Licence when her daughter was just one year old. She later achieved Chartered Engineer status in 2020. Fifteen years on, she leads a team of 22 across multiple geographies and sectors.

The mentor who shaped everything

When asked about a moment of support, Akhilamba names one person without hesitation: John Mathai, her previous manager, now retired.

“He guided me in every aspect of work - technical delivery, project execution, networking, bidding, and people management,” she says. “Without him and his continuous support, I would not have reached this position.”

What she took most from his example was how he handled complex challenges, with confidence and calm. “His encouragement to take on new responsibilities helped build my confidence, broaden my skills, and step outside my comfort zone.” It’s an approach she now pays forward, actively mentoring her own team toward their certifications and professional accreditations.

What IWD means to Akhilamba

“It is about encouraging women in every field and paying respect to their dedication, whether toward family, work, or society,” she says. “I always feel that a woman is the central force that holds the entire system together with strength and balance.”

For Akhilamba, recognising IWD in the workplace is about more than celebration. It’s about continuing the conversation on gender parity in leadership, creating policies that support work–life balance, and removing the barriers that still exist.

Her advice

“Be open-minded and focus on learning by utilising opportunities whenever they come your way,” she says. “In any core-skills company, it always takes time to learn, apply, adapt to new technologies, and grow. Sometimes this journey can take years, but once you succeed, the results are truly rewarding.”

She leaves one final thought, a saying she returns to often: “A full pot never spills. We should try to become like that - calm, grounded, balanced, and humble, no matter how much knowledge or experience we gain.”

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