We recently had the opportunity to interview Shubha Mishra, Founder and CEO at ZAS Constructions LLC. An architect, entrepreneur, and an amazing mother, Shubha is handling it all efficiently at the same time with a go-getter approach. Realizing the loopholes present in the construction industry of the Middle East, Shubha Mishra Panwar sowed the seed of her current firm. In this insightful interview, Shubha shares her career trajectory, achievements of ZAS Constructions LLC, having the best talents in the team, and the impact of technology in this industry.
The Beginning
We started the interview by asking, “Can you tell us about your professional journey and what led you to your current role?”
Shubha shared, “I moved to UAE in 2006 and started my career as a Project Architect, I have seen many downturns and upturns in the construction industry, while continuously rising the ranks through the years and achieving personal milestones. I became a Director of International Operations at ZAS Group of Companies.
Through my daily professional interactions with clients and industry professionals, I spotted a major gap between the design and delivery of small to mid-scale projects, and that’s when the seed of ZAS Constructions LLC was sown. I established ZAS Constructions in 2019 as an individually owned vertical, and since then my heart and soul have been into making this venture a success.”
Setting ZAS Constructions LLC Apart
We were curious to learn what sets Shubha Mishra Panwar’s business apart from the competition. So, we asked, “What sets your business apart from competitors in the industry?”
She shared, “With my experience of almost 20 years working from the consultant’s side of the business and monitoring the works of the contractors, I have the eye for detail and I know where the contractor generally goes wrong. I think like an Architect and am now working as a Contractor.
Every brick we lay, every nail we hammer, has careful thought and planning behind it. We care for client satisfaction and provide our best services during the execution of the project and even after handing it over. I think this unique combination of an Architect’s head and Contractor’s hat with a woman’s finesse sets us apart.”
Notable Achievements Of ZAS Constructions LLC
To learn more about Shubha’s company achievements to date, we asked, “What has been your business’s biggest achievement to date?”
She replied, “We have fortunately not just survived but grown through the difficult Covid times. From a new company with 2 staff just at the onset of COVID-19 to a team of almost 100 now, we have grown stronger. The strength of our team and the repeated trust of our clients has been our biggest achievement to date.”
Functioning As A Family
We further asked, “How would you describe your leadership style?”
Shubha continued, “I don’t consider myself a leader, I am more like the head of our ZAS family. We function as a family unit. Compassion and faith in my family members has been my mantra and I have received the same many times more back from them.”
Retaining Top Talents
We were intrigued to learn more about the approaches adopted by Shubha Mishra Panwar to ensure having the best team at ZAS Constructions LLC. So, we inquired, “What strategies do you use to motivate and develop talent in your organization?”
Shubha Mishra responded, “Every person has some strengths and weaknesses, we try to find their strengths and make them work in that direction rather than trying to work towards their weaknesses. We don’t micromanage, we give our team the freedom to make mistakes, but ensure that they learn from their mistakes.”
Impact Of Technology
Technology has reshaped the way businesses perform at present. We asked, “What role do you see Artificial Intelligence or technology playing in this industry?”
Shubha Mishra replied, “Well, technology always comes in handy and will make things easier in many aspects of Construction. By leveraging the power of machine learning, robots, drones, and other AI-powered solutions, construction companies can efficiently optimize processes, improve safety, increase productivity, automate tasks, and make informed decisions. I just hope technology doesn’t replace the human touch else, millions of humans will become redundant.”
Envisioning The Future
“How do you envision the future of your industry?”
Shubha Mishra responded, “The construction industry will always be growing, the pace of growth might change but always the graph will be upward. Old structures will be broken to make new ones. Population grows and the need for shelters grows accordingly.”
Overcoming Major Hurdles
Challenging phases are an inevitable part of every business. To learn how Shubha overcame challenges in ZAS Constructions LLC, we asked, “What have been some of the most significant hurdles you’ve encountered in your business, and how did you address them?”
Shubha Mishra shared, “Unqualified competitors undercutting and accepting projects at lower than the market value. We have stood our ground and maintained the high quality of our work. Slowly, word-of-mouth spreads, and clients start understanding the value of money. Educating and convincing clients that good quality comes at a price.”
Piece Of Business Advice
To learn a piece of advice that has stayed with Shubha Mishra Panwar forever, we inquired, “What is an excellent piece of business advice you have ever received?”
She added, “Never give up, that’s it!”
Balancing The Operations, we asked Shubha Mishra
We ended the session by asking, “How do you balance investing in up-to-date ideas with ensuring ongoing operations remain successful?”
Shubha concluded, “We are always keen on investing in new ideas and technologies and we set aside certain funds every month for such experiments. Any business needs to stay ahead of its time to create a niche for themselves.”
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