“You don’t have to sound like anyone else in the room to belong there”: Alpa on construction sites, contracts, and a law degree

Alpa’s career path reads like someone who followed every question to its logical next step and never stopped.

She started on construction sites with Indian contracting firms, spending over fifteen years working across the full contracts lifecycle for large-scale infrastructure projects. Over time, she became curious about what really drives project success beyond engineering execution. That curiosity took her deeper into contracts, dispute management, claims, and arbitration. She studied law while still working in the industry, a Bachelor’s in Law to sit alongside her civil engineering degree and postgraduate qualification in Construction Management.

“That journey from construction site to contracts to disputes to governance is what shapes how I approach my role today,” she says.

Today, Alpa is a Commercial Manager based in Mumbai, leading the GTC Commercial team at AtkinsRéalis. It’s a team she’s built from the ground up.

No two days are the same

Alpa’s work spans governance, commercial strategy, contract advisory, and claims support across multidisciplinary infrastructure projects. She works as an integrated commercial team with UK&I Growth Commercial and EMEA N&P Commercial, collaborating closely with colleagues in the UK, Middle East, and Canada.

“No two days are the same, and honestly, that’s what I enjoy most about it,” she says. “One day I might be reviewing NEC contract positions, analysing compensation events and risk allocations. Another day I’m supporting a Middle East team with bid strategy and governance, looking at commercial models, risk pricing, and delivery frameworks.”

“Being based in GTC India while working closely with teams across very different geographies means I’m constantly bridging perspectives; technically, commercially, and culturally.”

The impact behind the scenes

Commercial work rarely makes the headlines, but Alpa is clear about where it shows up.

“When contracts are structured well and risks are understood early, it protects not just budgets, but relationships,” she says. “Clear risk allocation, well-structured contracts, and proactive advisory reduce disputes and enable smoother delivery.”

“Ultimately, infrastructure touches communities through roads, rail, energy, water. If we create commercial clarity upfront, we enable projects to move forward more smoothly, which means communities benefit sooner.”

Geography doesn’t define impact

What stands out to Alpa about the culture at AtkinsRéalis is simple: ideas are judged on merit, not location.

“I work from GTC India, closely with teams in the UK and Middle East, and I have never felt that geography created a ceiling,” she says. “I’ve been in meetings where ideas are judged on merit, not hierarchy. For someone in my role, collaborating across borders, that kind of inclusiveness isn’t just nice to have. It’s what makes the work possible.”

The trust has been tangible. “I’ve moved from executing commercial strategy to shaping it. Supporting commercial governance for UK market opportunities from India has been particularly empowering, it’s a reminder that geography doesn’t define impact anymore.”

Yoga, trekking, and clearer thinking

Outside work, Alpa spends time outdoors with her son; weekend treks, new trails, open skies. She’s also deeply into yoga and holistic wellbeing, which she says surprises people who know her professionally.

“In a field that runs on contracts, deadlines, and risk matrices, the idea of slowing down intentionally can feel counterintuitive. But that’s exactly why it works for me- it’s how I process, reset, and come back to work with clearer thinking. It’s become less of a practice and more of a philosophy I try to carry into how I lead and make decisions.”

Someone stepping aside so you can step forward

When asked to share a moment where someone’s support helped her grow, Alpa describes something understated but powerful.

“There have been moments where senior colleagues chose to trust me with visibility in important discussions instead of speaking on my behalf. It would have been easier for them to present it themselves, but they didn’t.”

“That visible endorsement built credibility for me overnight. Sometimes growth comes from someone choosing to step slightly aside so you can step forward. Support doesn’t always come in grand gestures, sometimes it’s simply someone backing your preparation and giving you the floor.”

What International Women’s Day means

“International Women’s Day is about visibility and possibility,” Alpa says. “Infrastructure and commercial strategy have traditionally been male-dominated spaces. Representation matters. When women see others leading bids, shaping contracts, and driving governance, it quietly expands what feels achievable.”

This year, being nominated for the Dare to Succeed women’s empowerment programme brought that home for her. “Sitting in a room with women from across the organisation, hearing their stories, learning from each other, and building a real network was something I didn’t realise I needed until I experienced it.”

“The fact that the organisation not only talks about empowerment but actively invests in these programmes matters. It’s the shift from saying the right things to actually building the conditions where women can grow and thrive.”

Her advice

“Don’t underestimate the value of your perspective. You don’t have to sound like anyone else in the room to belong there. Preparation builds confidence, and confidence changes how others perceive you. It’s not about being best in the room, it’s about making the right choices for you. I believe in advocating for women in rooms they’re not in yet. Sponsorship matters more than we realise.”

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