Meet Aabha Parikh
Where are you from, and where do you attend school?
I grew up in India and now call Boston home. Moving from India to the United States was a big transition, but it has shaped both my personal and professional life in meaningful ways. I completed my master’s degree in construction management at Northeastern University in Boston. Northeastern University’s emphasis on real-world, industry-connected learning was a perfect bridge from the classroom into the consulting work I do today.
What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?
A fun fact about me is that I’m a black belt in Karate and currently a green belt in Taekwondo. Most people are surprised to learn how big a role martial arts have played in my life. Years of training have taught me discipline, patience, and the ability to stay calm under pressure, all of which translate directly into how I handle complex, high-stakes projects. The repetition and focus required in martial arts are very similar to the detailed, methodical work of analyzing schedules, defects, and project records.
Where do you work or what are you studying in school?
I currently work at Exponent, where I’m focused on construction consulting. My work centers on forensic delay analysis, engineering defects, and damages on complex construction projects across different sectors. That often means reconstructing what happened on a project, reviewing schedules and technical documents, and helping clients understand the causes and impacts of delay or defects. It’s a role that sits at the intersection of engineering, scheduling, and dispute resolution, and I enjoy the challenge of turning large volumes of technical information into clear, defensible findings.
What do you love most about your job or current school studies?
What I love most about my job is the investigative side. I enjoy diving into project records, schedules, and technical documents to untangle what actually happened on a project and why. Every assignment feels like solving a puzzle that blends engineering, contracts, and real-world construction practice.
Do you have a project story to share?
One memorable project I worked on involved a large commercial development with major schedule overruns and disputed responsibility for delay. I was part of the team reconstructing the critical path and analyzing how different events, design changes, site conditions, and contractor performance actually impacted the completion date. Seeing our analysis help clarify a very contentious situation and inform negotiation strategy was incredibly rewarding and showed me how powerful good forensic work can be.
What are your future goals and aspirations for your career? Did someone inspire you to be on this career path?
Looking ahead, I’d like to deepen my specialization in forensic delay and damages, eventually becoming a recognized expert who can testify on complex disputes. I’m also interested in earning additional professional certifications and contributing to industry best practices in construction claims and scheduling. I was inspired by mentors who showed me that there is a real need for people who can bridge the gap between engineering, planning, and legal issues on construction projects.
What is the biggest career challenge you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced was transitioning from a more traditional engineering mindset to the forensic and consulting world, where you’re constantly balancing technical accuracy, incomplete information, and the reality of disputes. Learning to be comfortable with ambiguity and still produce clear, defensible conclusions took time.
Why did you join AACE?
I joined AACE because I wanted to be part of a professional community that lives and breathes cost, schedule, and project controls. AACE is a natural fit for someone working in forensic delay and damages, and I saw it as a way to access structured knowledge, standards, and a network of people who do the kind of work I want to grow in.
What do you like most about being an AACE member?
What I like most about being an AACE member is the combination of technical resources and community. The recommended practices, webinars, and publications help me sharpen my skills, while the local and virtual events give me a chance to learn from experienced practitioners and see how others are tackling similar challenges.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to enter the field?
My advice to someone who wants to enter this field is to build a strong foundation in both the technical and analytical sides of projects, understand how things are designed and built, and also learn scheduling, cost, and contracts. Be curious, ask a lot of questions, and don’t be afraid to dig into the details.
Enjoying Hi-Tea at a Royal Palace in India.
Learned how to make Ice Wine in Niagara City, Toronto, Canada.
Hiking in Lake Tahoe, California.