Leen Thawabi

Describe what the Mott Mac Life means to you in three words

People, purpose, performance.

What do you enjoy about working here?

I enjoy the pace, the responsibility, and the calibre of people I get to work with every day. Bringing together teams with different skill sets, experiences, and outlooks to achieve a shared goal is both challenging and rewarding. It is in that collective effort where decisions matter, performance is visible, and people are empowered to grow that the real value of our work comes to life.

Tell us about your specialism and why you chose it

In my professional career, I directed my focus to major programmes delivery and commercial management. I aim to create value, safeguard equitable outcomes, and enable project success through transparency and discipline. I chose this field because it sits at the intersection of ethics, efficiency, and strategy. At Mott MacDonald, commercial excellence is about building trust, protecting long-term interests, and ensuring fair, sustainable results for all stakeholders.

How has your career progressed since joining?

Since joining Mott MacDonald, I’ve progressed through a range of leadership roles from country commercial manager and unit staff council lead to regional PPCM practice lead, and programme lead for a major initiative. In each role, I have focused on building high-performing, collaborative teams drawn from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. I take pride in creating the conditions where both seasoned professionals or new graduates feel empowered to grow, contribute, and deliver with purpose.

How do you demonstrate Technical Excellence in your work?

I lead the PPCM practice, one of Mott MacDonald’s largest regional communities. Through this practice, we foster a culture of excellence by engaging with practitioners to identify opportunities for innovation, embed commercial acumen, and deliver best-in-class learning and development. Our focus on continual improvement, technical rigour, and empowered delivery ensures our people are always equipped to succeed.

How do you contribute to Mott MacDonald making a difference to people and the planet?

I actively collaborate across disciplines to deliver integrated solutions that support nature, enhance communities, and prioritise long-term sustainability. One of the most meaningful contributions I’ve made is being part of the leadership team delivering the infrastructure design for THE LINE, a revolutionary city in Saudi Arabia built on the principles of sustainability, zero carbon, and human-centric design. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine how people live in harmony with the planet.

What have you learnt while working at Mott MacDonald?

I’ve learnt that sustained success comes from getting the best out of people through trust, clarity, and shared purpose. I’ve seen how the right environment can turn challenge into opportunity and how diverse teams, when aligned and empowered, consistently deliver more than the sum of their parts. Above all, I’ve learnt that leadership is as much about listening and enabling as it is about driving outcomes.