Q&A with Brindley Engineering’s Gourav Patodi, PE, recently selected by The American Concrete Institute (ACI) to attend the 2025 Emerging Leaders Alliance (ELA) conference in Pittsburgh, PA.
Associate Structural Engineer and Team Lead for Brindley Engineering, Gourav Patodi, PE, is one of seven young members selected by The American Concrete Institute (ACI) to attend the Emerging Leaders Alliance conference as representatives of ACI. The Emerging Leaders Alliance (ELA) is a partnership among leading engineering- and science-based organizations that provides high quality leadership training. The ELA hosts an interdisciplinary Leadership Conference for young professionals, providing advanced leadership training in topics such as management, personal branding, social styles, problem solving, presentation skills, and global diversity. Selected applicants will have been in the concrete- or construction-related industry for less than 8 years.
We sat down with Gourav to find about more about the selection and what to expect at the conference.
Q: What does this selection mean to you?
Gourav: It’s an honor to be recognized by ACI and have the chance to grow as a leader. For me, it’s less about the spotlight and more about bringing back what I learn to my team so we can all grow together.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your role at Brindley Engineering?
Gourav: I lead structural projects across the Gulf Coast. Everything from inspections to engineering & design to construction support & QA/QC while mentoring younger engineers and keeping projects on track. I’ve had the chance to work closely with both our Chicago and Houston teams, so a big part of my role is bridge-building across our offices.
Q: What are you hoping to take away from the conference?
Gourav: The conference covers everything from management and problem solving to communication, diversity, and personal branding. I’m hoping to gain tools that go beyond my technical skills, insight that can help me grow as a leader, to build connections with peers tackling challenges of their own and bring back ideas I can put to work right away.
Q: How important is leadership in your position and at Brindley Engineering as a whole?
Gourav: It’s everything. Technical skills solve today’s problems, and leadership builds teams that solve tomorrow’s. At Brindley Engineering, that shows up in how we live our four core values every day: “BE Together”, “BE Creative”, “BE Meticulous”, and “BE Reliable”.
Q: Can we check back in with you after the conference to see what you learned?
Gourav: Absolutely, just don’t be surprised if I bring back more than a few ideas to help us “BE even better”!
The Emerging Leaders Alliance seeks to foster leadership in the engineering and scientific community. According to ELA, leadership is the art, science and craft of influencing people to accomplish tasks and improve organizations. That leadership starts with technical excellence, which is promoted by the engineering founder societies.
About ELA
The Emerging Leaders Alliance was formed in 2008 as a cooperative project of the Founder Societies. In addition to technical competency, today’s engineering leaders need broad skills to meet the real problems facing mankind, including energy, sustainability and health care.
About ACI
The American Concrete Institute (ACI) is a leading authority and resource worldwide for the development, distribution and adoption of consensus-based standards, technical resources, educational programs, and proven expertise for individuals and organizations involved in concrete design, construction, and materials, who share a commitment to pursuing the best use of concrete.
- Learn More about ACI
- Learn More About ELA and ELA Support
- Check out some of Gourav’s work at Brindley Engineering.
- Get in Touch with Brindley Engineering Today!
Share this post