We were lucky to catch up with Amir Aghajani recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amir, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Without a single shadow of a doubt my resilience, given my tumultuous and heavy life, came from my mother. I know superheroes belong in movies and fictional tales. But I assure you she is a bonified walk-amongst-us superhero. When it comes to resilience she embodies how to mend, expand, and follow your heart using your mind as your compass. And in the toughest times of horrendous domestic abuse we all endured, crossing war torn countries alone with three children by foot, or leaving her family back home to never see them again she taught my siblings and I to resiliently keep our heads up and to keep moving forward. That both the best and the worst things in life we experience are ephemeral. That no matter what this too shall pass.
I have long impressed upon on my mother to allow me to find her a writer for her story and she has thus far been reluctant. Which is a testament to her resiliency because all of it seems quite normal to do for her children in her mind.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Well, let me begin by saying I was raised as the only son of two elder sisters and the powerful role of my mother. In traveling my life’s journey, I have been off the beaten path many times. Because of the tyrannous role of my father that path was narrow and precarious. Where walking the razor’s edge became my only safe place. And no matter how treacherous life at home got I latched on to the two things I seemed to grasp innately; math, business, and the ability to fundamentally understand the vibrations of a situation and other’s feelings. Once I knew could hold on to these skills like safety nets, I was assured internally that I had a future in math and being able to connect with people. Loving skyscrapers so much I gravitated towards learning how they are designed, documented, and built.
I pursued Structural Engineering as the focus of my studies and I graduated top of my class, went on to get my masters, and pass all licensing exams I needed to become a Professional Engineer in multiple States. I have had the great fortune of being mentored by two of the most well renowned structural engineers in the country. And that catapulted me into passion so deep for engineering that it has become an extension of who I am as a person to this day.
Through these endeavors and through HOK, a global architectural, engineering, and planning firm, I had the opportunity to work on iconic landmark projects that will last all our lifetimes. These range from high rise structures to notable airports like LaGuardia in New York and Hartsfield Jackson in Atlanta.
The most rewarding part of being a Structural Engineer really comes full circle when I stand shoulder to shoulder our team and see these enormous structures built, and subsequently used day in day out. Even if all the while the structure itself is hidden behind beautiful architectural finishes.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Ok the 20/20 hindsight question. The three qualities that will bridge a gap between dreams and reality are determination, dedication, and an unwavering focus on your goal. And you must set goals. Both short term and long term. Rome wasn’t built in a day as the saying goes.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
In the early 80’s during the Iranian Revolution the most impactful thing my mom did for us was take it upon herself to get us across the Iran-Turkey border using a donkey and by foot with three kids in a war-torn disaster zone avoiding armed military personnel to get us here. To the United States. Beyond that her only ask of us was to treat people with kindness, follow your heart, keep moving forward and give as much as you can to those in need. Never be tyrannous and never fall under any tyranny. She always wanted us to live our lives a deep appreciation for fairness, freedom, and strength. As she does. In the sparing moments my father was around he taught me about cars as he was a mechanic and I do believe that helped my engineering career.
Contact Info:
- Instagram:@amirhtown
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/structuraldesignengineer/
Image Credits
All Images are public but owned HOK. (www.hok.com)
