Payal Desai
Payal Desai is an architect, designer, and construction professional currently serving as an Assistant Project Manager at GCS-SIGAL in the Washington, D.C. region. With a multidisciplinary background spanning architecture and construction management, she focuses on interior construction for financial, retail, and commercial office environments. In her current role, Desai oversees key aspects of construction procurement, coordinating with subcontractors, managing material acquisition, maintaining project schedules, and ensuring on-site safety. Her project experience includes work for major corporate clients such as JPMorgan Chase, Fidelity Investments, and Capital One, where she contributes to delivering complex interior build-outs and workplace environments.
Originally from India, Desai moved to the United States to pursue graduate studies at Virginia Tech, where she earned a Master’s degree in Building Construction Science and Management in 2023. During her studies, she worked as a Graduate Assistant supporting academic programming and career development initiatives within the construction department. She began her career with architectural and design roles in India, including positions with Allied Design Studio and Somaiya and Associates, where she gained experience in design development, space planning, site coordination, and architectural documentation. After joining GCS-SIGAL as a project intern, she transitioned to a full-time Project Engineer role and was recently promoted to Assistant Project Manager, reflecting her rapid professional growth within the construction industry.
Desai brings a collaborative leadership style to her work, emphasizing open communication, teamwork, and continuous learning. As a woman and immigrant professional building a career in the traditionally male-dominated construction field, she takes pride in her professional journey and the trust placed in her by colleagues and leadership. Outside of her career, she is passionate about classical Indian dance, having trained for more than a decade, and she enjoys connecting across cultures through language—speaking Hindi, English, Punjabi, Marathi, and French while currently learning Spanish. She is also active in community service, supporting initiatives such as the Lions Clubs International and mentoring students interested in architecture and construction careers.
• Construction Manager in Training (CMIT)
• OSHA 30 Hour Outreach Training Program- Construction
• Procore Certified: Student
• Virginia Tech - M.S.
• Women in Construction (through company)
• Lions Club (India)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my ability to keep moving and being hardworking. People say that I am a little hardworking, so I just try to excel at what I am doing. I'm definitely open to criticism and constructive feedback. I take what people have to say, especially my mentors in my company, very seriously. When they tell me maybe I can improve on something, I really take that feedback to heart and work on it. I've always been wired to keep pushing and moving forward. I honestly have no idea how to take a break - it's just the push that keeps me going.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've ever received is definitely the cliched ones - to never give up and be headstrong, and always be eager to learn. You are never too old to stop learning, or you are never too experienced to stop learning. So definitely be open to the idea of learning and keep that mindset throughout your career.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be so passionate about your job that it keeps you moving. When you are in the construction industry, energy rubs off, so you are always working with the team. Be passionate about what you are doing and have an open mind about what people have to say, and definitely move in that direction. Be open to learning, because every day is different - all the jobs are different, all the construction sites are different, all the challenges that may come up are different. So every day, be a team player and open to the idea of working on challenges. No day in construction is the same, so you need to embrace that variety and be ready to learn constantly.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now is that there is a lot of work, but not a lot of people willing to take up the responsibility. People usually take a step back and try to run away from situations when they see that things might be too difficult to handle. There's plenty of opportunity and work available, but finding people who are willing to step up and handle the challenges is the real issue.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in my work and personal life are being transparent and honest. In my work life, I believe there are no stupid questions, so I'm very persistent that way. I go to my managers with even the smallest questions and ask them to walk through situations with me. I think it's important to keep learning based on that idea and be honest about what you don't know. I'm passionate about what I do. For my home life, it's definitely the same - be honest and true to yourself. These values of honesty, transparency, and continuous learning guide everything I do.
Locations
GCS-SIGAL
Arlington, VA 22202