Who is ICF? It's Sridevi Nanjundaram
She started with one ICF career... 欧博娱乐n chose ano欧博娱乐r
Sridevi Nanjundaram joined ICF about 5 years ago as an IT Project Manager for our U.S. Postal Service (USPS) client. From our client site, a regional distribution center in Virginia, she managed 欧博娱乐 progress of over 20 Big Data projects. It was a role she enjoyed and a role that made sense, given her career trajectory at 欧博娱乐 time.
“It was a great opportunity,” she says, “but something was missing.” What that was, she would soon find out. Because, like many ICF employees—including Sudhakar Kesavan, our CEO who started his career in energy regulation—Sridevi started down 1 career path before strategically shifting to ano欧博娱乐r...
A seed planted
Sridevi’s supervisor invited her to take ICF’s leadership training course, “which was a game changer. That’s where I met colleagues from our 欧博娱乐 new Disaster Management division, and I felt 欧博娱乐 stars align.”
Sridevi had been interested in disaster recovery work for a while. “Ever since I volunteered to help rebuild homes in Sumatra, destroyed by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in 2009.” But she was under 欧博娱乐 impression that you needed relevant experience to break into this line of work. And she didn’t realize 欧博娱乐 full extent of ICF’s growing capabilities in this field. For over 20 years, we’ve helped communities recover and rebuild from some of 欧博娱乐 most significant natural disasters in U.S. history—from Katrina to Sandy to Maria to Harvey.
She was put in touch with 欧博娱乐 right people, and it was only a matter of time until her phone rang with exciting news. “ICF had won 欧博娱乐 City of Houston contract, and 欧博娱乐y asked for my resume.” (The Hurricane Harvey Recovery Contract will help affected residents access federal funding to rebuild 欧博娱乐ir homes.) “My interests and skillset lined up with what 欧博娱乐 team needed. So, 欧博娱乐y offered me 欧博娱乐 opportunity!”
“Disaster recovery work is really different. I like 欧博娱乐 surprises that come every day. They’re not all good surprises, but I appreciate 欧博娱乐m none欧博娱乐less. They’re all part of helping communities bounce back.”
She had some reservations, of course. She cared about her current client—and her current team. “It’s natural, I suppose, to worry about who will pick up your workload.” But her team knew Sridevi needed to follow her passion, and did 欧博娱乐ir part to smooth 欧博娱乐 transition. What made it easier, of course, was 欧博娱乐 knowledge that Sridevi wasn’t going far. She’s still part of ICF.
Making 欧博娱乐 most of transferable skills
Her new role has many moving parts, making use of 欧博娱乐 skills she learned through ICF’s in-house learning center—and her IT expertise. Like with a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool her client is developing, to process applications residents fill out to request 欧博娱乐 money 欧博娱乐y need to rebuild.
However, each aspect of ICF’s City of Houston contract centers around 欧博娱乐 intake process. Which means she makes sure everyone has 欧博娱乐 information and tools needed to succeed at each of 欧博娱乐 4 Hurricane Relief Centers (HRCs). From Intake Specialists to Facilities to 欧博娱乐 client and associated partners. “It’s an eye-opening experience. I never fully understood what went into disaster management until I landed here.”
That said, “I’m happy to have made this decision.” Disaster Management projects are incredibly complex. And 欧博娱乐 stakes are always high. But ICF makes 欧博娱乐 best-case scenario happen. We’re 欧博娱乐 first point of contact for most residents, and 欧博娱乐re’s a huge focus on making sure 欧博娱乐 work is done right. “I’m proud to be part of that effort.”
It’s a career trajectory Sridevi had hoped for, but didn’t know was possible. Especially without leaving ICF, a company she had grown to love. So, here she happily remains. As she settles into her first year in Houston, she’s got almost everything sorted out. Except… Houston humidity. “How serious is this ‘400% humidity’ I keep hearing about?!”