My name is Waheedullah Rahimi and I am originally from Laghman, Afghanistan, but raised in the capital city of Kabul where I completed my bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Mashal University in 2018. I also received an associate degree in construction management from CIDC institute in New Delhi, India, back in 2014.

My family and I moved to the United States in June 2022, and I currently reside in Richmond, Virginia. One interesting fact about me is that I can fluently speak, read, and write in four different languages. I also used to be a professional cricket player back during my teenage years.

I have been working in construction project management, planning, scheduling, and project controls for more than seven years. After completing my construction management degree, I returned to my home country, Afghanistan and joined Perez, APC, a US-based firm in Kabul, Afghanistan, as an intern and was then hired as a construction scheduler. Later, I joined Technologists, Inc., a general contractor for USACE and USAID as a project scheduler.

My most significant career challenge, and the most rewarding has been joining Hourigan in August 2022 as a project scheduler. Hourigan is a fully integrated construction/development firm operating in the mid-Atlantic with offices in Central Virginia, Hampton Roads, and Western Virginia. Adapting to a fully new and different environment, culture, and language has been the challenging part. In the meantime, gaining new experiences, expanding my professional network, and building relationships across the company are rewarding aspects. I was overwhelmed by the way I was welcomed and treated at Hourigan as a new employee. I felt included all the time. What I love about my job is that it lets me interact and collaborate across various disciplines and colleagues from executive level to field staff, which helps me gain valuable insights about the projects, and act on them in my scheduling role.

In October 2022, I joined AACE International as a member to be part of an inclusive gathering place of diverse professionals and peers with equitable opportunities for success. My favorite part is that I recently volunteered at AACE International as a committee member to re-establish the Central Virginia Section. My main goal is to enhance my overall knowledge, skills, and experiences, expanding my professional network and obtaining certifications in various practice areas (in particular, the project controls, planning & scheduling).

I have two points of advice for those looking to enter the field:

1. Be open to change: Never stay in your comfort zone. Embrace change that will enhance your professional career, capabilities, and experiences.
2. Avoid Hiding Mistakes: Admitting your mistakes and learning from them gives you access to growth and can be your keyto success.