From Academia to Engineering Leadership and Entrepreneurship

My journey from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) to becoming a postdoctoral research fellow, then an engineering manager, and finally an entrepreneur, developer, and realtor has been long and winding, filled with challenges, sacrifices, and opportunities. It is not just a story of career milestones, but of following my heart when life demanded it.

I graduated from BUET with a degree in Civil Engineering, standing first in my department as the first female student to achieve this distinction. That achievement laid the foundation for my future career. The rigorous academic environment and hands‑on projects taught me resilience, discipline, and problem‑solving skills. After graduation, I joined BUET as a Lecturer, completed my Master’s degree, promoted to Assistant Professor and later moved to Canada to pursue my PhD. Both me and My husband Dr Shahria Alam who used to be my batch mate were determined we will go back to Bangladesh after our PhD and will serve BUET for the rest of our life.

Anjuman Shahriar and family

During my PhD, I gave birth to premature twin girls at just 25 weeks. Watching them fight for survival in the incubator changed everything. My daughters had only me and my husband in Canada. We had no relatives, no extended family to lean on. I felt I had to be there for them, no matter what.

I took time off from my PhD to care for my daughters, and at one point I returned to BUET to teach. While working with Dr. Raquib Ahsan as an editor on conference proceedings, the Darbal Hall attack occurred. I was trapped at BUET for several hours, unable to return home, and that experience made me realize that Bangladesh was not safe for my daughters.

We moved to Canada, where Shahria joined UBC as an Assistant Professor. I completed the remainder of my PhD as a part‑time student and published seven journals based on my research. Even before defending my PhD, I began working as a research fellow at UBC and published several more papers. My postdoctoral life was hectic. I was raising two daughters without the support of full‑time daycare, while at the same time writing funding proposals for professors and supervising their students. Balancing all of that often felt overwhelming, but it was the reality I had to manage every single day. Shahria was very busy in the early stages of his academic career and could not give us much time, so most of the responsibility fell on me.

I still remember one day vividly. I was working on a research paper while my daughters played in the same room. Every few minutes they asked, “Maa, are you done yet?” I kept replying, “Almost done.” Finally, one of them began to cry. In that moment, I realized how much they missed their parents and how much they needed me. I felt selfish for chasing deadlines while they longed for my attention. That day, I understood I had to choose between continuing in academia or being the mother they deserved.

Although I had a strong academic profile and received several opportunities to pursue a career in academia, I knew my daughters needed me more than anyone else. From then on, I began looking desperately for an industry job, determined to build a career that would allow me to balance professional growth with being present for my family.

Friends often asked if I regretted not pursuing my academic dream. My answer has always been simple: I find peace in their happy faces. I forget everything when they hug me and kiss me before going to bed, even today. I pray that Allah keeps this bond alive for the rest of my life. It is a bond built slowly, nurtured through years of sacrifice and love, and I know it might never have been this strong if I had spent all my time chasing my career instead of being present for my daughters.

Eventually, I moved into industry, joining FortisBC as a Civil Engineer. The path was not easy. Some employers rejected me for being “overqualified.” But perseverance paid off. Today, I serve as Supervisor of the Transmission Engineering department, leading a team of engineers. Alongside my industry career, I continued research collaborations with UBC Okanagan, UBC Vancouver, the University of Victoria, and BCIT.

Parallel to my engineering career, I invested in real estate and worked with builders. As my daughters grew older, I found more time to explore this passion. I earned my real estate and developer licenses, combining technical knowledge with business acumen. Helping families find their dream homes has been deeply fulfilling.

We have only one life, and in that life you cannot have everything. You must choose what makes you truly happy. For me, happiness has been in the smiles of my daughters and my family members, in their hugs, and in the bond we built together. From BUET to Canada, from academia to industry, and from engineering leadership to entrepreneurship, my path has been anything but straightforward. Yet every challenge taught me resilience, and every choice brought me closer to peace. Today, I stand proud as both an engineering leader and an entrepreneur. But above all, I stand proud as a mother who followed her heart.

My story is not just about achievements, but about choices, sacrifices, and the courage to follow my heart. I hope it inspires the next generation of BUETians to embrace challenges, stay resilient, and find happiness in what truly matters.