Meet MBA Student, Shibani Talashilkar

Pictured: Shibani outside the Diriyah Gate Authority office which is a future site of development.

As a Senior Design Manager at Diriyah Company, Shibani oversees design projects, ensuring they align with the company's vision for sustainability and cultural preservation. In this interview, she talks about the exciting opportunities that Saudi Arabia presents and shares how she is progressing with her MBA studies.

Can you tell us about the scope of your position as Senior Design Manager (SDM) at Diriyah Company and the company's vision?

As an SDM, my role is to ensure that the development of design is aligned with the Diriyah Vision, manage consultants, and overall design guardianship of the project. This involves:

• Overseeing design projects from conception to completion, ensuring that they meet the company's standards and vision, and client requirements, and are completed within budget and on schedule.

• Pre-empting, managing and mitigating design/ budget risks which forms and impacts the overall strategy. Conduct design reviews to identify and address any issues that may impact the project's success.

• I would like to be involved with mentoring the younger team, but I am still finding my feet in a new country, culture and project. Hopefully that is one area I can contribute to, in order to share what I have learnt, and in return learn new perspectives that come with fresh minds.

• To encourage and incorporate innovative and sustainable design solutions into projects where applicable. This is another wish list item as I want to practice with sincerity and not simply to be a part of a greenwashing campaign. I feel like I am in the right place as the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) is at the forefront of sustainability and cultural heritage preservation.

How are you incorporating sustainable design principles into your projects in Saudi Arabia?

The first phase of Diriyah Company’s master plan has been awarded Platinum Level LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Cities Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making it the first project to receive the LEED for Cities and Communities accolade in the Middle East. Platinum certification is the highest level within the LEED framework and recognises Diriyah Company’s commitment to a smarter, more resilient, sustainable and inclusive future.

We are taking measurable quantifiable steps to ensure that this goes beyond greenwashing. A simple example would be that we do not use artificial turf because it is full of microplastics. Indigenous planting and landscape design ensures biodiversity conservation, ecological balance, water efficiency among other parameters. Additionally, it also helps to preserve cultural and heritage, in that it can be a way of preserving and celebrating traditional knowledge, practices, and connections to the land.

What keeps you inspired and passionate about design after 20+ years in the industry?

Simple answer; I love it.

My father was an architect. My uncles were all gifted artists and designers. It's imprinted in your DNA, and if you’re lucky, it's written in your stars.

Creativity is a gift; but to be able to bring it to fruition, in a way that has an absolute and direct impact on other people’s lives is a superpower that comes with a lot of responsibility.

What drives me is the pursuit of developing and continuously improving solutions that relate to mankind’s basic need; shelter, which has many interpretations in the built environment.

Sustainability has always been a core value for me, and now as a parent, even more so. We are living in exciting times as a wealth of technology and knowledge empowers us to make positive and comprehensive impacts.

I hope to harness the full transformative power of the construction industry to resolve and enforce changes at policy level to tackle the problems we face today, like the suburban housing crisis and disaster housing in conflict zones to name but a few. This “superpower” is my driving force; however, limited my reach might be now, it will undoubtedly be propelled further with the Griffith MBA.

Can you tell us about a specific project you consider your proudest work? What unique design solutions did you implement and/or what did you learn?

I worked with Westar for 11 incredible years in Macau. We executed several gaming casino projects. Fresh off the back of the fantastic success of Platinum VIP gaming, came the offer to remodel the entire mass gaming casino. As the lead designer it was a huge and exciting opportunity, but it brought with it some very difficult challenges that are unique to spaces that operate continuously (24 hrs, 7 days a week) to generate revenue.

It required coordination with multiple stakeholders including the executive board, surveillance and security, casino operations, MEP (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) experts, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) professionals, construction crews, vendors and suppliers.

This was a tough project, where I learned a lot about scheduling, project co-ordination, time management, milestone and budget management, and how to make decisions in tough situations.

It took almost 2 years to complete the remodel which was broken up into 24 bite sized phases, which carefully overlapped each other. That way the casino could continue to function by decommissioning only a few tables at a time to minimise revenue loss and operational disruption. It was a spectacular success and one of my proudest experiences.

What are some unexpected joys or hidden gems you've discovered in Saudi Arabia that go beyond the typical tourist experience?

Since the day that I arrived at the office, I was struck by the warmth and generosity that has been extended to me by the Saudis. Our office is diverse multi-cultural, international diaspora of professionals from all over the world.

My most striking observation is about the Saudi women. For many years women were only allowed to work in medicine or teaching. Since the country extended driving privileges to women 5 years ago and opened up all industries to women. The social and cultural scene has since exploded with the most dynamic and driven women that you’d expect to see anywhere in the world.

My team comprises 70% women, with many in top leadership roles. Some label it as reparations, affirmative action, or tokenism, but these women excel due to their talent, education, and drive. They're articulate, confident, and prioritise self-care. I admire how they seize opportunities and excel amid easing restrictions.

I have also recently discovered that Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest desalinator of sea water and is currently seeking to host the 2027 World Water Forum. As part of their commitment towards sustainability in 2018, Saudi Arabia successfully completed the world's first large-scale water desalination plant powered by solar energy. This is powered by their commitment to the UN's (United Nations) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) in improving food and water security in an environment where the endowment of both is scarce.

And the food scene doesn’t disappoint either. I love that this is a nation of foodies, and coffee experts.

You are currently completing your MBA studies online. How do you structure your time and stay motivated?

With great difficulty haha! But I make it work.

I completed 6 of the 12 courses on campus which I thoroughly enjoyed. Since moving to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the middle of August 2023, I have transitioned to the online MBA.

I won't lie, it can feel like walking a tightrope at times as I usually work 60-hour work weeks.

I structure my time by allocating one day of my weekend to watching lectures, taking notes, and working on my assignments.

The best part about working in the Saudi Arabia is the exposure and access that I have to professionals and change makers from different sectors. So, part of my study arsenal is also FaceTime, and information-exchange lunches with several leaders and experts that I am lucky to work alongside.

Study isn’t limited to sitting down at the kitchen table once a week; it is continuous and ongoing, and the opportunities to learn are everywhere.

Which aspect of your MBA program has had the most significant impact on your professional development thus far?

Accounting for Accountability and Finance for Responsible Value Creation have significantly altered my perspective of the industry I work in. Beyond the realm of creativity, I am now gaining insights into the broader factors steering the brick-and-mortar sector. The revelation brought about by Water Accounting has been particularly striking, aligning seamlessly with the UN's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of water stewardship and ensuring universal access to clean water.

What’s truly noteworthy is the interconnectedness of all modules with various UN SDGs. These aspects, previously overlooked in my professional approach, are being addressed by the University with a dedicated emphasis on authenticity and sustainability.

I am glad that the course demanded that I read extensively researched, and evidence backed articles on various subjects, and I am forever enriched by that.

If you have a question for Shibani, we encourage you to connect on LinkedIn.