The Engineer, The Entrepreneur, and The Airman: Arpan Patel joins ‘The B-Side with Sri’

What do you focus on once you've reached the peak and want to keep growing?

In this podcast episode of The B-Side with Sri, Connico President Sri Kumar sits down with Arpan Patel – an Air Force officer, civil engineer, and founder who’s worked on airport projects across the globe – to explore what success really means when you stop chasing and start reflecting.

It’s a conversation about leadership, vulnerability, and how taking a break can be the boldest move of all.

Below are some highlights from the conversation. You can listen to the full episode below, and follow the podcast for more stories that go beyond the surface.

With everything you’ve done around the world, what grounds you?

For someone who’s spent more than a decade in the military, led teams on global infrastructure projects, and founded his own consulting firm, Arpan doesn’t dwell on titles.

“Whatever I want to lead or pursue is founded in values,” he said. “Routine gives me stability – health, wellness, consistency. It helps me be authentic no matter what hat I’m wearing.”

That internal compass has shaped how he builds relationships, earns trust, and shows up in every chapter of his career.

When the goalpost of "success" moves

Like many high achievers, Arpan’s early version of success was clear: become a fighter pilot. But when that plan changed, the deeper work began.

“I hit that success marker and realized it wasn’t the end. There’s still life to live,” he said. “That definition of success keeps moving, and I think successful people just keep building new versions of it.”

But what happens when the pressure to keep climbing starts to outweigh the payoff?

“I've been all thrust, no vector,” Arpan admitted. “That was good for a while, but now, it’s time to be more strategic with my energy.” 

Failing forward and giving yourself permission to pause

When the conversation turned to failure, Arpan offered a perspective that struck a chord.

“It’s okay to take a knee,” he said. “We tell people to learn from failure, but we rarely talk about the pause it takes to process it. You’ve got to regroup. That pause is what helps you grow.”

He added that failure doesn’t mean you’re unqualified; it means you’re human.

“Failure can be healthy. Especially in a culture where we’re not supposed to show weakness. But the truth is, those moments teach us more than any success.”

Respect isn’t age-gated

As a young leader with big responsibilities, Arpan knows what it’s like to walk into a room and be underestimated.

“You can lead, even when people don’t expect you to,” he said. “Don’t let artificial limiters stop you. Just because someone sees your age before your value doesn’t mean you don’t belong.”

He’s made it his mission to change that perception – not just for himself, but for the next generation.

“If we groom others for leadership early, on purpose, we build organizations that last. You’ve got to teach people how to run on their own.”

Leading with values and letting that be enough

In a world that often feels transactional, Arpan takes a different approach.

“If you give without expecting something in return, and lead with your values, the right people and opportunities will find you,” he said.

His tagline, “Here to help,” is ingrained in everything he does, in business, in the field, and beyond. 

“I’ve learned from good leaders and bad ones. The goal now is to build something that reflects what I believe. And that starts with being authentic.”

Take one step at a time

At the end of the episode, Sri asked Arpan what’s next – what mountain he’s climbing now.

“I’m still climbing,” Arpan said. “The mountain is tall. And the higher you go, the more you realize: you can’t get there alone. You need a team. As long as I’m true to myself and helping others along the way, I know I’m headed in the right direction.”