Jeshika Ramchund: Civil Engineer

Name: Jeshika Ramchund

Role/Occupation: Civil Engineer (PrEng)

Country: South Africa

I recently interviewed Jeshika Ramchund, a senior engineer in the developments division at Bosch Projects in Durban, South Africa. Her work covers planning, design and implementation of civil engineering infrastructure. She fulfils a variety of roles in her current occupation from Programme Manager to Design Engineer to Design Team Leader.

Being exposed to the technical field from a young age as her father worked in construction, her fascination with engineering drawings and specifications was immediate and long-lasting. She soon discovered that it was in the initial stages of a project that the most creativity could be exercised. She then made a firm decision to have a career in the built environment.

As a student, Ramchund succeeded in securing a scholarship for study at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). A vacation work opportunity turned into a fantastic start to her career with a full bursary and employment as a graduate engineer; the experience gained honed her technical skills and appreciation for the design process. She later gained project management experience by working on large and multidisciplinary projects across the country. She then completed the Consulting Engineers South Africa's, Business of Consulting Engineering Programme which put her in good stead to tackle the role of Acting Regional Head of Infrastructure and Technical Director for KZN. Her recent focus has been on the management of a private sector portfolio at Bosch, where she works alongside sustainability specialists to grow and evolve the conventional design process to incorporate technology, sustainability and innovation.

Her journey on the promotion of engineering and consulting engineering began in 2008 in the KZN Branch of Consulting Engineers South Africa's Young Professionals Forum (CESA YPF). She went from being the Branch Chair of CESA YPF KZN to National Chair of CESA YPF South Africa and then onto Chairperson of the Group of African Member Associations to serving as a member on Federation of International Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) YPF. She has delivered presentations at several local and international conferences and congresses on the engineering profession and the consulting agenda.

When asked what excites her about her job, she states that “Our roles [as engineers] may be small, but the potential of our impacts are huge. My work in civil engineering… improves the quality of life of people and the environment in which we live. Embracing technology, and developing engineering solutions that bring the imagination to life is what makes me tick.” Her experience as a woman in the engineering space has been largely positive, although she feels that “Engineering is still very male dominated. Ills such as sexual harassment, the pay gap and the ‘old boys club' are still a reality, but despite these challenges many women have defied the odds and changed these dynamics in the profession and industry. Over the years, I have had the privilege of learning from many dynamic and successful female engineers. It takes those who walk before us to improve the path for us to walk.”

Her aim in consulting engineering is to create a safe space that encourages women in technical fields to converse on the successes and challenges faced, to discuss professional and personal coping mechanisms and to share ideas. Ramchund believes that it “is to not just [to] have the conversation at a tea party with other women, but the best way to encourage behavioural changes is to invite men to the table to listen, share and lobby with us for the changes we would like to see.” She has a very positive outlook on Africa and feels that “Africa is a land of opportunity. There are huge opportunities for the growth in the engineering space. The rate of technological development and innovation oozing from creative African youth sets the scene for the coming generations… This means that young women engineers can take their place, front and centre and lead Africa into the future.”

She attributes planning ahead, making lists of the things she needs to do and leaning on her support system (her husband, family and friends are her biggest cheerleaders and enablers) as the means of maintaining a balance between her professional career and her role as a volunteer and ambassador of engineering and consulting engineering with her role as a wife and a new mother.

Read further to discover an engineer’s journey from being a wide-eyed girl fascinated with engineering drawings to a woman who has climbed the mountain of engineering success and stands at the top reaching out to give other women a helping hand. Be inspired by this hardworking and determined woman.

Jeshika Ramchund was interviewed by Dhruti Dheda, the founder of the African Steminist on behalf of Geeky Girl Reality. The full interview can be found here.