Elevate case study:
Sangeeta Chachadi

Author: IStructE

Date published

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The Institution of Structural Engineers The Institution of Structural Engineers
Elevate case study: <br />Sangeeta Chachadi
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Elevate case study:
Sangeeta Chachadi

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A Chartered Engineer with Engineering Council, Associate member with IStructE and Senior Principal Engineer at AtkinsRéalis, Sangeeta has led the design and delivery of projects that span from heritage-sensitive developments to 250-metre skyscrapers.

Yet when asked what drew her to the Elevate Mentoring Programme, her answer is deeply personal: 

“For many years, I navigated my professional journey without a mentor with respect to gaining global exposure until I found one in recent years. It was a challenging path for me, filled with trial, error, and persistence. Today, I choose to be a mentor myself, because I want to be that guiding presence for others.”  

Successfully launched by IStructE in 2023, it was designed to create connections and open doors for members at all levels who might otherwise find themselves outside traditional support routes like IPD. For Ms Chachadi, the past year has been less about instruction and more about exchange. 

“Every interaction with mentor and mentee is mutual learning. Impactful mentoring isn’t just about sharing knowledge; it’s about unlearning outdated frameworks and assumptions that no longer serve today’s realities.”  

 

Image of Sangeeta Chachadi

                         Sangeeta Chachadi, Elevate mentor

Image of Sangeeta Chachadi

Through mentoring, she has found herself reflecting not only on the profession but also on the wider human context in which engineers work. One story that stands out involved a mentee whose participation waned during a particularly demanding period. When they eventually reconnected, he revealed that he had been supporting his spouse through the arrival of their first child. 

“That conversation was deeply touching. It reminded me that mentorship isn’t just about professional development, it’s about honouring life’s rhythms and being present for each other as whole people.”  

This philosophy aligns with Elevate’s founding aim: to create a culture of empathy, trust, and growth. Ms Chachadi sees this not only as beneficial for early-career professionals but also as a model that could expand across all stages of a career. 

“There’s meaningful potential to expand its scope to include mentorship for senior professionals as well. Holistic well-being, across all career stages, is a societal need too.”  

As Elevate marks its first year, Ms Chachadi's reflections highlight the programme’s impact: it is not simply a professional development scheme, but a community that honours both achievement and unseen struggle. For her, mentoring is about ensuring the next generation of engineers can thrive with guidance she once lacked—while also reminding us that engineering, at its best, is so often grounded in human connections.

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