Meet Kundayi Mugabe: North American project manager in transportation at Mott MacDonald

Our collaborative culture helps us to combine technical excellence and strategic advice, adding value for clients at every stage, from ideation and delivery to operations and maintenance. We caught up with transportation project manager Kundayi Mugabe to talk about his role within our business and the importance of being part of a team that supports people's successes.

What do you do at Mott MacDonald and what are you currently working on?

I'm a transportation project manager in the Mid-Atlantic Division of our East Unit, where I’m responsible for delivery and oversight. Currently, I’m working on a handful of projects for the Illinois Department of Transportation. Two of these projects are in the environmental study and preliminary design stage while the others are in the detailed design stage.

What does a typical day at work look like for you?

Typically, my day-to-day work involves reviewing designs and managing transportation projects with the design team. I also keep in regular contact with our clients – it’s critical that everyone is kept informed of project progress.

What does it mean to you to be trusted to do brilliant things at Mott MacDonald?

Mott MacDonald rewards people who show capacity and ability to do good work. It feels good to be part of a team that supports peoples’ successes – it rewards them with compensation, yes, but also with new challenges to further personal and professional growth.

Do you have a mantra you live by or that motivates you? 

I have a few mantras, but the one that I’d say serves me particularly well is, “choose present discomfort over future regret.” This is actually a quote from one of my favorite books, Atlas of the Heart, by Brené Brown. Sometimes you need to have those difficult conversations (whether in your personal life or at work) that might be uncomfortable in the moment but are worthwhile because you know it’s the right thing to do in the long run.

How does Mott MacDonald create an environment where you feel supported?

Since taking on the role of project manager, I’ve come to learn that we have strong business management systems at Mott MacDonald. The systems in place and the individuals responsible for overseeing them ensure everyone is delivering great work while staying within budgets and keeping schedules from getting out of hand.

Collaboration plays such a big role in today’s workplace. How do you collaborate with colleagues to achieve common goals?

There are a lot of collaborative tools available, from shared files to new software, that encourage teamwork among the project team. Microsoft Teams has become an especially good friend. Nevertheless, as old as it can seem to be, sometimes it’s just about picking up the phone.

One of the key parts of a management role is engaging team members early and informing them regularly. I’ve also found that connecting over coffee with my team helps build team morale and interpersonal relationships. It's a good perk when we’re in the office together.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start their career at Mott MacDonald?

Don't underestimate the value of building relationships and always bring your authentic self to work. Recognize that this is where you’re spending 40 hours of your week, so find interesting work that unites your passions. This isn't just a place you get a paycheck, but somewhere you can have a real sense of belonging.