A mother's encouragement laid the foundation
Originally from Santhanuthalapadu, Geethanjali grew up in Ongole, Andhra Pradesh. Her father, Venkateswarlu, worked in the postal department, while her mother, Nagaveni, encouraged all three daughters to pursue higher education despite not having had the opportunity to build a career of her own. Geethanjali pursued civil engineering at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). During her undergraduate studies, she developed an interest in fieldwork, material testing and surveying. Her introduction to geotechnical engineering during the third year proved to be a turning point. The discipline focuses on understanding soil and its suitability for construction. What began as an academic subject gradually became her professional passion.Choosing knowledge over an immediate job
After completing her engineering degree, Geethanjali received an opportunity to work as an Assistant Executive Engineer in the Roads and Buildings and Irrigation departments. However, she faced a difficult decision: begin her career immediately or continue studying a subject she genuinely loved. After working for around 15 days, she decided to pursue higher education. She joined the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Warangal, where she completed her master's degree in Geotechnical Engineering. As part of her postgraduate studies, she spent a year working on a challenging project involving black cotton soil, a type of soil known for its expansion and shrinkage characteristics.The doctor of construction foundations
Geethanjali describes geotechnical engineers as being similar to doctors. Just as doctors examine patients, identify problems and recommend treatment, geotechnical engineers investigate soil conditions before construction begins. Their findings help determine whether a location is suitable for a structure and what kind of foundation it requires. Her responsibilities include examining mountainous and landslide-prone regions, assessing ground conditions and identifying solutions that make construction safer and more sustainable. She currently works as an Assistant General Manager at Engineers India Limited, a public sector engineering consultancy associated with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Over the years, she has worked on more than 50 projects, gaining experience across different engineering disciplines, including projects connected with refineries and industrial infrastructure.From land investigations to the ocean floor
Her work has not been limited to construction sites on land. She has also learned about soil investigations and foundation design for offshore structures. Working in demanding environments requires technical expertise as well as an understanding of safety. Geethanjali pursued certified training to prepare herself for challenging field assignments. Her professional assignments have taken her to the United States, Ethiopia and Kuwait for soil investigation work. She recalls situations where people questioned whether a woman should be sent for such assignments. But her leadership recognised her technical ability and confidence in handling complex investigations. One response from her senior leadership stayed with her: she knew the work and could accurately identify the problem. For Geethanjali, that confidence was itself a significant professional recognition.An award earned through expertise
Her commitment to the profession has recently earned her the Outstanding Woman Engineer award from Civil Engineering and Construction Review (CE&CR). The awards recognised professionals making contributions across areas such as construction, sustainability, green building practices, digital transformation and team leadership. According to the profile, 138 professionals competed, with 32 receiving awards. Geethanjali was recognised in the geotechnical engineering category. Her achievement reflects years of learning, demanding field assignments and the determination to grow in a technically challenging profession.A supportive family and a strong professional identity
Geethanjali acknowledges the support of her husband, Murali Krishna, who also comes from a civil engineering background. His encouragement has helped her pursue professional opportunities with confidence. She also speaks about how her son, Oja Teja, understands the nature of her work. For her, professional success is not about avoiding challenges but about continuously improving her knowledge, maintaining discipline and developing the ability to lead teams.Her message to young women
Geethanjali believes women can succeed in any profession they genuinely want to pursue. The important things are discipline, consistent hard work and the willingness to keep learning. Her journey challenges the assumption that civil engineering and field-intensive careers are unsuitable for women. Sometimes, the strongest structures begin with foundations that nobody sees. Geethanjali's career is a reminder that a woman's strength, too, does not always need to be visible to make a lasting impact. Her story is not simply about winning an award. It is about choosing a difficult path, mastering it and creating space for more women to follow.THE yoSHEta | Stories • Strength • Success
