Empowering women in transportation: the road to leadership

By Taniya Uppal|October 14, 2023

Taniya Uppal, an electrical engineer at Hatch who works in the transportation sector, determined early in her career that she wanted to do more than work on projects and solve problems. She wanted to manage. 

In pursuit of this goal, she devised a two-fold plan – informing her managers of her desire to take on a leadership role and becoming a subject matter expert in her field. 

She knew that learning to lead would be a stressful stretch assignment. She also knew that gender bias often makes the transition more difficult for women. Still, she forged ahead, and today is in her second year as the project manager for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Green Line Train Protection System project in Boston. In this role, she leads large, complex, and fast-paced capital programs from design to commissioning.

In October of 2022 and June of 2023 Taniya shared her managerial journey, experiences, and insights on two compelling podcasts for Harvard Business Review’s “Women at Work” series:

“The Ups and Downs of Being a First-Time Manager”

Taniya candidly discusses the surprises, challenges, and rewards of stepping into a managerial role, addressing issues such as building trust, embracing vulnerability, and deciding if you're ready to be a leader.

 

“How to Manage: Finding Yourself Again”

Taniya discusses and explores leadership development, setting priorities, and the delicate balance between personal and professional growth as a manager.

Taniya-Uppal_ppal

Taniya Uppal

Project manager, Transit

Taniya is Hatch's project manager for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Green Line Train Protection System project in Boston, Massachusetts. Taniya is experienced in leading large, complex, and fast-paced capital programs from design to commissioning. She specializes in systems integration and test engineering and is driven to enhance program execution, elevate stakeholder satisfaction, and deliver an exceptional client experience. She is guided by Hatch’s commitment to the pursuit of a better world through positive change, and enjoys building professional and personal relationships.

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