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We caught up with Atlas’ Chief Growth Officer Harshal Desai to learn how Atlas is celebrating Engineers Week. He shares what inspired him to pursue an engineering career and why he feels passionate about encouraging students to consider a career in engineering.

was founded more than half a century ago by the to honor the important role engineering plays in our lives, as well as inspire the next generation of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) professionals. And now, this special week gives us an opportunity to recognize the people behind the iconic projects that are transforming our communities and the world.

This year, Engineers Week is being celebrated February 22-28, and Atlas is excited to participate by shining a light on some of the individuals who are making a difference in our company and the communities where they live and work. The theme, “Transform Your Future,” highlights how engineering not only shapes our world, but also new opportunities, our communities and the futures we imagine for ourselves and for future generations.

We’re kicking off the week by highlighting how since joining Atlas, Harshal has mentored young minds to help them conceptualize and model cities of the future, using engineering as a tool to spark curiosity, creativity and problem-solving.

Alongside the engineering excellence that has been central to your success, you also understand the importance of developing best-in-class talent, which includes inspiring future engineering leaders. In your spare time, how are you inspiring students to love engineering?

For years, I have volunteered with middle schools, helping students with the , an educational program that brings STEAM to life for students in grades 6 through 12. The competition challenges students to envision ways they can make the world a better place by designing a city 100 years in the future.

This year’s competition challenged students to design a city that eliminates food waste from farm to table and keeps citizens healthy and safe. I see so much value from this competition because it goes beyond just engineering. It fosters imagination, societal problem-solving and multidisciplinary thinking. The students gain experience with engineering, but also hone their writing, presentation, math, science, art, history and geography skills too. A couple of years ago, my daughter’s team made it to the national competition in Washington, D.C. Schools from across the country, as well as international students, participated. It was an energetic environment and gave the students an opportunity to not only explore all the educational museums the city offers, but a great venue to socialize and learn from the other contenders.

Mentoring students has been incredibly rewarding to me, and it reinforces the importance of encouraging curiosity and interest in engineering early on.

What advice can you offer aspiring engineers or young engineers looking to advance their career?

Early in your career, focus on building credibility through strong technical skills by working on multi-disciplinary, complex projects and consistently do what you say you will do. As you advance, soft skills—working with others, connecting the dots and learning from different perspectives—can help open new opportunities. Stay curious, meet people and absorb as much as you can.

Why did you want to become an engineer? Did you have a special mentor that you emulated your career on?

Both of my parents were doctors, and while I was not interested in pursuing a medical degree, I was interested in science. Engineering was a good fit for me because it provides strong analytical skills that can be applied in a variety of careers.

How does your engineering background support your current role in business development?

My civil engineering background gives me a practical lens for business management. It helps me understand problems at their root, ask better questions and engage credibly with both clients and project teams. Having worked across all phases of projects—from planning to construction—has helped me focus on solutions that are practical, technically sound and aligned with client goals. That foundation builds trust and keeps conversations centered on outcomes, not just opportunities or sales.

How do you see engineers making a difference at Atlas?

What stands out to me about engineers at Atlas is how hungry and humble they are. They’re committed to learning, put the customer first and bring strong practical experience to everything they do. Many of our engineers have deep construction and field backgrounds, so they understand how things get built—not just how they’re designed. In addition, we provide several mission‑critical services, including environmental, materials and geotechnical engineering. These capabilities are highly transferable across markets—from transportation and water to data centers—creating meaningful growth opportunities for Atlas and our A‑Team, while continuing to deliver real value to our clients and communities.