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January 21, 2008
This Week’s Boston’s
Future Leader
Rob Nagi
Title:
Principal – Transportation Systems
Company:
VHB/Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
Education: B.S. – Northeastern University
Rob is a transportation
engineer and planner working on many of the
largest and most complex transportation
challenges in and around the greater Boston
area. He also serves as the director of the VHB
Cares organization – which has provided over
$1million in donations to many local charities
in the Boston area through a grass roots
fundraising campaign. Rob lives in Westborough
with his wife, Laurie, and their three boys
(aged 3, 5, and 8).
PG: What is the
coolest part of your job?
RN: Being involved at
an early stage in designing some of the most
complex and innovative development projects in
the Greater Boston area – as well as working in
an industry (transportation engineering and
planning) that touches so many people from all
walks of life on a daily basis.
PG: If you were
recruiting someone to work for you, what would
be your number one selling point about VHB?
RN: I’m very proud to
say our company truly understands the balance
between professional and family life. More
importantly, it understands how a happy family
life carries over into a happy professional
life, and vice versa.
PG: What is your
favorite thing about working in Boston?
RN: The small town
feel of a major metropolitan city. I’ve always
contended that Boston has everything that NY
has, but at a much more family-friendly and
user-friendly scale. They have Central Park, we
have Boston Common. They have Yankee Stadium, we
have Fenway Park. They have the Jets, we have
the Pats. In every case, I’d much prefer our
options over theirs.
PG: If you could have
any job in Boston, other than your own, what
would it be and why?
RN: I’ve always wanted
to be a chef at a down-home, comfort food
restaurant – not a chain restaurant but more
upscale than your local diner. Something I could
call my own. Somewhere that you could bring your
family, not worry about the noise, and enjoy a
burger, fries, beverage, and ice cream in under
an hour.
PG: Where do you see
yourself in 10 years?
RN: Doing exactly what
I’m doing now, except that I’ll be overseeing
the construction of the projects that are only
someone’s vision today.
PG: Who do you admire
in the business world?
RN: Bill Belichick. I
know he’s not a true business guy, but many of
his coaching philosophies can carry over to
business. Be honest – sometimes brutally so –
and always strive to be better no matter how
good you think you are.
PG: How can young
professionals expand their networks and increase
their impact in Boston?
RN: Take advantage of
and play an active role in professional and
personal networking opportunities (like the
Chamber!). Read a newspaper or listen to the
radio every day to stay up on current events.
Remember to be yourself – that way you know
people like you for who you are.
PG: Tell us something
we should know about you.
RN: I love my wife and
kids much more than I love my job and expect
that those people working with me have the same
feelings. That being said, I love my job very
much. ____________________________________________________
For more information on the
Boston’s Future Leaders Program, please contact
Jody Kieval,
director of member services.
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