In this issue, The Professional Edge chats with Omar Nawara, P.Eng., an environmental consultant at Arcadis Canada in Saskatoon.
Tell us about your personal and professional background.
I was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt. When I was 17, I was offered an International Student Scholarship, which made it possible for me to fulfill my ambition of studying abroad.
Moving to Canada to study engineering was quite the change for me. While a student, I worked at AECOM on a 16-month term. The experience was fantastic and taught me a lot about myself, the industry and just professional life in general.
Eventually, I graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Science in environmental engineering.
Now, I am a project manager at Arcadis Canada’s Saskatoon office in Innovation Place.
Why did you choose engineering?
I loved science, mathematics and technology. Not to mention, I am extremely analytical, so I was drawn to this career.
It did end up working out for me and I was by no-means pigeon-holed into a specific role. I am lucky that within my current role, I get to explore many other interests like business, analytics and leadership and mentoring.
Did you have any engineers in the family who influenced you?
My dad was a big influence on me. He started out as a mechanical engineer and worked for Schlumberger at the start of his career.
Even though he did not spend more than five years as a practising engineer, he always emphasized how being an engineer helped him see things differently and that it opened a lot of doors for him.
So, I was always of the mentality that an engineering background can be an asset in more ways than one during one’s life and career.
What was your first job after university?
I was hired as a geo-environmental engineer at Advisian. It involved a lot of fieldwork and time away from home. On the upside, I ended up with a solid foundation on field methods that has served me well since then.
What do you feel was your single greatest accomplishment as an engineer?
Growing as a mentor has been extremely rewarding. I love helping people move beyond doing great work in their role and making it their own. I feel privileged when people trust me with something that’s so important to them and I feel it makes me become better as well.
Another rewarding aspect as a consulting engineer has been my ability to exercise my professional judgement in a way that aligns with my professional beliefs. I have had moments when I give a recommendation of action that I know may be unpopular but is one that I believe to be correct.
What are your interests outside of work?
I love reading, staying active, spending time with friends and loved ones and meditating. I have been going on some long walks (three-plus hours) lately and it has been great just giving myself some downtime.
I am also a huge fan of live music … and tinkering with computers and technology and the occasional gaming session.
I also like adventurous cooking. The pandemic has helped explore that hobby a lot more.
What is your favourite vacation spot?
For the nostalgia factor, my favourite spot would have to be Egypt’s North Coast on the Mediterranean Sea. We used to go there with my cousins and grandparents and friends every summer.
Today, my favourite spot would be the Rocky Mountains – Jasper, Banff and the Kootenays.
What is your favourite book?
My favourite book is Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Taleb – actually, his whole Incerto series. It really changed my outlook on risk in general and has affected how I do things everyday.
What do you do for continuing professional development?
I like to attend conferences, seminars and take formal courses. Our company also has a lot of professional development programs and I have been heavily involved in those.
Who has had the greatest influence on your life and career?
My parents have always supported me with whatever I chose, so I am lucky and grateful to have had them in my corner all this time.
Is there anything else that you would like to share?
For people starting or looking to start their careers, I just want to give some parting advice should you find it useful.
Even if you know exactly where you want to go with your career right now, try to expose yourself to as many different situations and people as you can.
Really diverge with things when you start. You can always converge later.
Not only will you learn more about yourself this way, but you will also get to experience the wonders of serendipity rather than being stuck in your bubble.
Take some risks, explore your interests and invest in relationships with different types of people while trying as many things as possible in your career.