For decades, building a career in construction meant learning on the job, keeping your head down and waiting your turn.
But Rohit Malhotra isn’t waiting.
At just 28, he has already worked across consultancy, contracting and client roles, delivered on major infrastructure projects and earned chartered status. He’s also mentoring the next wave of talent, speaking publicly on inclusion and leading initiatives through CIOB’s Tomorrow’s Leaders programme.
He joined the Site Story podcast this week to talk about his journey, from childhood career conversations with his father to managing high-stakes public consultations for HS2. His story is proof that the traditional route to leadership is being rewritten in real time.
“Leadership isn’t just about job titles. It’s about your mindset, your communication and the way you carry people with you.”
And it’s not just what he says. It’s how he says it: clear, grounded, passionate.
Construction is under pressure. Skills shortages, complex regulations, supply chain delays and rising client expectations all weigh heavily on today’s project leaders. But perhaps the most overlooked challenge is cultural. The industry’s relationship with leadership, development and inclusion is still catching up.
Rohit believes we’re missing opportunities not because talent isn’t there, but because we’re not supporting it early enough.
This theme of visibility runs through everything he does. Whether it’s mentoring new professionals, speaking at universities or volunteering on industry panels, he’s driven by one question: who else could grow if we just gave them the mic?
In his current role at AtkinsRéalis, seconded to HS2, Rohit is helping manage one of the UK’s most ambitious infrastructure projects. But what does he spend most of his time doing?
Communication.
“It’s not just the build sequence or the risk register. It’s helping people feel heard, managing expectations and keeping the human side of the project front and centre.”
This is echoed across industries. Studies show that technical skill alone no longer predicts project success. It’s leadership, empathy and adaptability that drive outcomes. Yet too often, these are still framed as optional or secondary.
For young professionals like Rohit, they are the essentials.
What makes Rohit’s story so timely is that it highlights a shift already underway. Young leaders are not just entering the industry. They are shaping it.
They are:
Asking better questions
Embracing digital tools without losing the human touch
Calling out outdated norms with professionalism and respect
Volunteering, mentoring and sharing knowledge, even before they’re “senior enough” to be asked
And in doing so, they are redefining what leadership looks like in construction.
If the industry wants to attract and retain more professionals like Rohit, it must rethink how it rewards initiative, supports development and recognises leadership potential.
That doesn’t mean fast-tracking titles or skipping experience. It means creating environments where early-career professionals can contribute, lead and grow without needing permission.
Because the future of construction isn’t just about what we build. It’s about who we build up.
🎧 Hear Rohit’s full story on the Site Story podcast:
Listen on Spotify