​​Join the Chamber  |  Member Login  |  Subscribe
Menu
Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Events Overview
    • Event Calendar & Registration
    • Subscribe
  • Programs
    • Emerging Leaders
    • Government Affairs
    • Leadership Raleigh
    • Member Services and Small Business
    • Raleigh Economic Development
    • Regional Transportation Alliance
    • Triangle Inclusivity Alliance
    • Wake County Economic Development
    • Young Professionals Network
  • Directory
    • Search
    • New Members
    • Categories
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Meet the Chamber Staff
    • Chamber Leadership
    • Raleigh Chamber Foundation
  • Membership
    • Join the Chamber
    • My Account
    • Member Resources
    • Board of Advisors
    • Member News
    • Coupons
    • Sponsorship and Advertising
  • Live & Work
    • Overview
    • Relocation Resources
    • Work in the Triangle
    • Board of Advisors Job Page
  • Do Business
    • Overview
    • Raleigh Economic Development
    • Wake County Economic Development
    • Rankings
    • Small Business
  • Media
    • Media
    • Blog
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Events Overview
    • Event Calendar & Registration
    • Subscribe
  • Programs
    • Emerging Leaders
    • Government Affairs
    • Leadership Raleigh
    • Member Services and Small Business
    • Raleigh Economic Development
    • Regional Transportation Alliance
    • Triangle Inclusivity Alliance
    • Wake County Economic Development
    • Young Professionals Network
  • Directory
    • Search
    • New Members
    • Categories
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Meet the Chamber Staff
    • Chamber Leadership
    • Raleigh Chamber Foundation
  • Membership
    • Join the Chamber
    • My Account
    • Member Resources
    • Board of Advisors
    • Member News
    • Coupons
    • Sponsorship and Advertising
  • Live & Work
    • Overview
    • Relocation Resources
    • Work in the Triangle
    • Board of Advisors Job Page
  • Do Business
    • Overview
    • Raleigh Economic Development
    • Wake County Economic Development
    • Rankings
    • Small Business
  • Media
    • Media
    • Blog

Greater Raleigh Chamber Blog

A Builder at Heart - Coffee with Sepi Saidi

9/16/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
By Jovane Henry, communications intern

Sepi Saidi is always building – be it a construction project, a business relationship, or a new goal.  
 
The successful (and personable) entrepreneur, who started the now award-winning SEPI Engineering and Construction business in her home’s bonus room in 2001, shared her journey and insight with Chamber members at our Coffee with Leaders event on Sept. 5.
 
SEPI, Inc. provides an expansive portfolio of services, including civil, construction, traffic, and water engineering, asset management and maintenance, geomatics, and landscape architecture. 
 
Saidi chronicled her journey from Iran – where she grew up surrounded by strong professional women who championed education and financial independence – to North Carolina, where she faced challenges finding commonality with her mostly male fellow engineers. 
 
Her solution? Focus on building.
 
“I had to consciously work to find our common points and build a relationship with my cohorts,” she explained.  “I became curious about their likes and lives, and from there, it got easier.”
 
Saidi shared her expertise and answered questions on a range of topics such as hiring talent, finding a family/work balance, learning to delegate, equality for women in business, harassment in the workplace, and the importance of connection. 
 
“Every time you meet a person, it’s like adding $100 to your personal capital,” she said. “Focus on those connections not for status, but for purpose, and you’ll be able to build bridges that bring value to both your life and business.” 
 
She also encouraged business owners to step outside the walls of their company and enhance their interaction in the communities they call home.
 
“Get out of the box,” she challenged. “Join boards and committees, and get your face out there – not only does it help the community, it also helps you build and cultivate relationships. There’s always a connection to be made.”
 
With award-winning recognition on lists for Inc. 5000, Inc. Magazine, the Zweig Group, a designation as one of the Top 500 Design Firms for the Engineering News-Record (all multiple years running), and the distinction of being named Triangle Business Journal’s 2018 Businessperson of the Year, one might think Saidi is content with her accomplishments. 
 
They’d be wrong.
 
Armed with passion, vision, and a desire to push her potential to the limit, she’s just getting started. There’s much more, she says, to build.
 
“Whatever you want to do, the most important ingredient is to be excited about what you’re doing,” she advised. “Expect more from yourself and from your team- there’s always a higher bar to be reached.” 
 
We want to thank Saidi for sharing her story and perspectives with us. If you want to see more of our conversation with her, check our Coffee with Leaders series hashtag on Twitter, #ChamberCoffee.
 
Our next Coffee with Leaders will be on Friday, Nov. 15, where we will host Kristen Hess, president, CEO, and business development leader of HH Architecture. Last year, AIA Triangle named her company Architecture Firm of the Year. 
 
We hope to see you there!
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce

    Archives

    March 2025
    January 2025
    October 2024
    September 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015

    Categories

    All
    Arts
    Chamber
    Communication
    Community
    Connect NC
    Economic Development
    Economy
    ED Recap
    Education
    Emerging Leaders
    Entrepreneurship
    Export Import
    Export-Import
    Government Affairs
    Growth
    Innovate Raleigh
    Jobs
    Leadership
    Leadership Message
    Leadership Raleigh
    Media
    Networking
    News
    Professional Development
    Quality Of Life
    Raleigh
    Rankings
    Regional Transportation Alliance
    Small Business
    Technology
    Transit
    Transportation
    Wake County
    Weekly Recap
    Women's Programs
    Young Professionals Network

    RSS Feed

Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
800 S. Salisbury St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
CONTACT US
Phone:  919.664.7000
Email:  [email protected]
Events
Programs
Directory
Membership
Live & Work
Do Business
Media
About Us
My Account
Join the Chamber
Event Calendar
Subscribe
© Copyright 2024 - Terms  |  Privacy Policy  |  Sitemap