While engineering remains disproportionately filled by male professionals, the imbalance only tells a part of the story about the state of the industry. Though only less than a quarter of engineers are female, the numbers have been consistently growing over the last several decades, with the addition of many qualified women to the engineering workforce. Women are coming out of their comfort zones to carve a niche, as some are willing to balance their work with family duties. The government and engineering & technology institutes have introduced several programs and initiatives to increase the number of girls in engineering fields, like promoting STEM education among girl students. As more women pursue degrees in and enter the area, there is still much that can be done to continue encouraging this trend.

A research study shows that women want to become socially responsible engineers, working to solve significant problems and make a difference in people's lives. With a proven ability to deliver high-quality structures, Sherry Rakhra is the Founder of Rakhra Associates. Pioneer in developing massive structures at the national level, Rakhra Associates is a privately held Structural Designing & Project Management Consultancy specializing in Structural Designing, Structural Planning, Project Management, Structural Auditing, Third Party Inspections, and Civil related services.

Having 10 years of experience in designing, Sherry Rakhra is the gold medalist in her studies from Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, and holds Masters in Structural Engineering with honors from very reputed Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Chandigarh. Her intellectual mindset and passion for designing paved the way for getting the charge as a design engineer in the design cell of PEC (Punjab Engineering College) itself. Sherry Rakhra engages in an exclusive interaction with the Women Entrepreneur Magazine, let’s hear from her.

Tell us about some essential features of your expertise as a business leader?

My expertise is in structural designing of all types of structures like multistoried high-rise RCC Framed structures and Steel structures, Industrial structures, Commercials, Hospitality projects, Residential Buildings, Retaining structures, Bridges, Malls, Airports, ATC towers, Bus stands with multilevel parking and domes. Starting our own business and taking it to such greater heights at a comparatively young age is what defines the efforts that we have put into it. Being the Principal Consultant, I have always aspired to deliver more than clients' expectations. Our consultancy has done more than 3200 projects within six years.

It includes national-level projects like Kartarpur Corridor (The India Pakistan Link), the main Gurudwara building structure designed with column free span of 100 ft. We have also created the largest planetarium in India with the highest dome, currently under construction and the first of the type structure near the Atal tunnel in Manali towards Leh. Also we have designed the highest residential building in Kashmir Valley. Airports buildings with Air traffic control tower are even designed by the firm including many five star hotels like Radisson and Sheraton, Country Inns in many different locations. Now, Rakhra Associates is a pioneer in developing massive buildings with innovative designs at the national level and also holds international experience.

What motivated you to find Rakhra Associates? Tell us about the underlying idea behind the venture and some of its most unique features.

After completing my B.Tech, I took training under Dr. V.K. Sood (Senior Structural Consultant, Ex-HOD, PEC, Chandigarh) and later started working in the Design cell with Punjab Engineering College. Then, we began taking projects as freelancers. Gradually we realized the need to create our own consultancy business in structural design to execute the projects more efficiently, meeting the customers' needs. Now We own team of 20 members with the best knowledge and deep skills in the respective fields. Rakhra Associates understands the ins and outs of each project, and thus applies the knowledge & lessons learned to your projects. We have designed more than 3200 projects for some well-known architects and clients. With a vast knowledge of construction material properties and an innovative approach, our team provides the best possible design. Quality is the parameter we never compromise, and we always try to give our best services with utmost satisfaction. By offering complete transparency throughout the construction process, our clients have received higher quality projects on time and within budget.

What are the different responsibilities you shoulder as the Founder of Rakhra Associates? What are your primary focus areas in terms of driving growth for the company?

Handling the team of 20 members of Rakhra Associates and managing all the ongoing projects is the primary responsibility. Currently, we have 500 projects running, including large malls with an area of more than five lakh sq.ft., three and five-star hotels, and 500 bedded hospitals. We are also designing buildings of G+21 with different developers and different high residential. Most of the buildings undergoing construction in Chandigarh have been designed by us. Rakhra Associates undertakes multitasking from schools, colleges to hospitals and hotels, basically the company is involved in creating everywhere. The company has also designed air traffic control towers for India's airport authority and developed the highest tower in Kashmir valley. We have expertise in handling sizeable Multistory housing jobs with multiple Towers. Apart from these, our expertise is in commercial projects, Industrial Projects, Chimneys, Pre-Engineered Buildings, and some significant projects. We are Consultants for Bhartiya Janta Party- Haryana and SGPC Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak committee, Amritsar. The company is not just limited to India, we have designed a hospital and gurudwara overseas. The strength and success of the company can be measured by the many top-quality projects we have completed, on-time, with consistent client satisfaction.

"Race with yourself, not others and focus on improvisation at each step of life"

Throw some light on the most critical business challenges you face in your current role. What steps do you take to overcome the roadblocks that you encounter?

Every day is a new day with new challenges and I love to do challenging tasks because only challenge is the key which makes you to do the tough jobs with zeal and stand out uniquely. In Rakhra associates we try to do and deliver everything the clients/architects needs, respective of their requested design whether it is large spanned column free structures or free-end large spanned cantilevers- any type of space frames, slim slab structures. Whatsoever be the requirement of the client, we always do our job with very positive attitude and for the fulfillment of the design need.

How has Rakhra Associates’ growth journey been so far? What motivated you to venture into the field of engineering? What has been the driving force?

In my view every project we have completed is a milestone for me, yet, we in Rakhra Associates just keep working on ourselves and polish ourselves daily to get into a bright welcoming morning. My love for structural engineering is the primary driving force for me and seeing all the hard work we put in take shape in real time is one of the biggest motivating factors. However, for all I achieved till date and in future too, I give all credits to the unconditional support of my husband who supported me at every point of my career, which helped me in building Rakhra Associates in such a short time to this point.

"We also design buildings of G+21 with different developers and different high residential. Most of the buildings undergoing construction in Chandigarh have been designed by us"

Who is the one person that has inspired you the most? Drawing from your experience as a business leader, what would your advice be to young women and girls who aspire to become business leaders and entrepreneurs in the future?

A business leader I admire the most is Structural Engineer Mahendra Raj (the engineer behind the structures of India). He was a legendary personality. Every structural engineer wants to walk on his path, the same as I do.

When it comes to my advice for future engineers, I would say, refrain from listening to any stigma surrounding the profession and choose a career path where you get to do something you enjoy, so that going to work every day doesn't feel like work. The other piece of advice is do not run behind money but try to deliver quality in your career. Follow through with what you promise and understand the impact of your work on others. Gain respect by delivering on your commitments, being confident in your ideas and thoughts, and believing in yourself. Try to improve yourself if you want to remain in the market. Startups that sustain themselves are those who focus on quality rather than money. Work on an idea with utmost dedication and hard work to see brilliant results.

Sherry Rakhra, Founder, Rakhra Associates

Starting her career just after her masters, Sherry has always been an achiever, be it in academics or her passion towards structural design. Her positive attitude and enthusiastic soul lead the company to greater heights.

• ICI ULTRATECH Endowment Award for Young Concrete Technologist in 2017.

• TECHLAUNCHER’S - Young Entrepreneur in Construction in 2020

• Timesnext As Top Structural Engineer in Region in Year 2021

• Timesnext channel Also Interviewed & Acknowledged her as A Structural Engineer With Golden Mind in year 2020

• ICI ULTRATECH Award for Outstanding Concrete Technologist in 2023.