A pioneering structural consultancy firm, JW Consultants is one unique entity that has been able to cement their legacy in the industry owing to their undying passion for quality and innovation. Headquartered in Pune, JW Consultants has pan India presence with branch offices in Mumbai, Nashik, Kolkata, and Surat.

Starting from humble beginnings, the company has grown onto to achieve impressive feats in the structural consultancy market with a proven track record of successful projects and satisfied clients. As of now, JW Consultants is working on nearly 500 active projects which showcases their strong reputation and standing in the industry. The primary catalyst behind the company’s success is their unique philosophy of ‘always respecting the architectural flare, keeping in mind the developer’s requirement in relation to the marketing and the economics of the project’ all at the same time.

Rucha Watve is a second-generation business leader and one of the partners at JW Consultants. And under her guidance, the company has been able to break new business frontiers and strive for greater heights in the industry consistently.

In an exclusive interview with WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR, Rucha takes us through her professional journey and the unique business operations of JW Consultants.

Can You Talk More About Your Educational And Professional Journey. Also, What Motivated You To Enter This Industry?

I studied towards a degree in civil engineering, after which I pursued my Masters in Structural Engineering at Purdue University, USA. I was lucky enough to have a multitude of top-notch mentors throughout my academic journey. Their guidance coupled with ample industry exposure helped me to gain invaluable knowledge even as a student and this has helped me to get a head start in my professional career.

Right after I finished my 10th, I was sure that I wanted to pursue a career in structural engineering and hence, I joined JW Consultants. JW Consultants is a family owned enterprise and I joined the firm back when the construction industry was booming. Working here has helped me to gain an unique insight on a variety of projects and has helped me to learn and adapt to changing scenarios easily.

As A Business Leader, Can You Elaborate More On The Roles You Have At Jw Consultants? Also, What Are Some Of The Major Challenges You Faced In This Journey?

As one of the partners of the firm, I have to wear multiple hats at the same time. Even though this was a challenge for me in the beginning, I was able to learn a lot from that experience. It has helped me to develop into a better business leader as well. Dealing with a wide variety of people on a regular basis and always being available for your staff was yet another challenge for me especially in the early days.

"My passion and 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"

With that said, I have worked on my weaknesses and now, I make sure that I am accessible to my staff as much as possible. More importantly, I work hard to ensure that I am there to guide my employees through thick and thin. I feel my efforts have helped me to not only improve my man management skills but it has also helped me to create strong relationships with my staff. I believe these relationships are the backbone of our company and we motivate our employees to perform at the highest level constantly for the success of our company.

What Drives You To Perform Consistently And In Your Professional Career What Are The Milestones That Gave You Utmost Satisfaction?

My passion and 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.

Every successful project is a milestone for us. Also, not only surviving, but thriving during the last two years in the pandemic-struck market shows how resilient we are as an organization and that is something that I take great pride in.

How Do You View The Changes Happening In The Structural Engineering Market And How Do You Keep Yourself Current In The Industry?

We believe that the industry is becoming more technology-centric and automation has been a major driving force behind the industry’s growth. More importantly, I firmly believe that the fundamentals of structural engineering will remain the same.

There are many ways to keep ourselves updated including attending lots of national, as well as, international conferences and workshops. This helps us to be on track with the changing landscape of the industry while at the same time gives us an opportunity to interact with other pioneering professionals in this space. For instance, three years ago, we also did a course from a University in Thailand that highlighted some crucial software advancements that will happen in the industry. All this coupled with our passion for constant learning allows us to stay current in the industry.

Rucha Watve, Business Leader, JW Consultants

This pioneering professional aspires to take JW  Consultants to greater heights in the industry  and when asked about what helps her to strive  for constant success she says “I am here because  of the support of my family and knowing that  they will always support me helps me to give my  best and drive JW Consultants to newer accomplishments".