Leadership at the point of impact: How Usman Akram’s perspective is shaping Connico’s field services
Field services professionals are the eyes and ears on the ground at project sites, solving issues before they ever show up in a report. They are essential to execution, yet their leadership value is often underused at the decision-making level for many firms.
Usman Akram, Connico’s Field Services Director, is changing how clients and partners see field services, repositioning these professionals as people who don’t just track what’s happening, but also help shape what happens next.
In this second installment of our director leadership series, Usman shares how that mindset shows up in the field and why it matters to clients navigating complex projects.
Turning field insight into better outcomes
Connico has earned its reputation by being where clients need the firm most: on active job sites where schedules shift, costs rise, and unexpected issues emerge. In those moments, field teams are often the first source of critical insight.
“When a construction schedule slips or a cost issue emerges, the field team is usually the first to see it,” said Usman. When that information reaches decision-makers quickly, clients can act sooner and keep projects moving.
That mindset has shaped how he leads as a director. Drawing on what he saw on job sites, Usman expanded Connico’s independent fee estimate services, giving clients greater confidence that project costs are fair and grounded in real conditions. By staying present and accountable, he’s elevating our client support and setting an example for the team.
Usman’s promotion to director reflects more than his field experience; it reflects Connico’s commitment to leaders who bring forward ideas, challenge the status quo, and strengthen how the firm supports its clients. At Connico, that expectation extends across the team. Field leaders are not there to simply observe what is happening. They are there to understand what it means, speak up when something needs to change, and help guide the project toward a better outcome.
Building the bench through mentorship
With more than 17 years of experience in construction and project management, Usman brings a global perspective to his role as Field Services Director. His expertise has gotten him this far, but his real impact is measured by how he empowers other leaders on the team.
As projects become more complex, no single person can carry every decision. Strong outcomes depend on teams that know how to think critically, communicate clearly, and act with confidence in the moment. Usman makes a point to not just teach his team what to do, but to help them understand how to think.
“There is nothing more rewarding in this work than watching someone grow into their own confidence,” he said.
Connico’s culture is centered on investing in people and elevating leaders from within. Usman’s promotion gives him a greater platform to strengthen the field services team, share lessons from real project experience, and help others grow into leadership alongside him.
That confidence matters. Field professionals who can connect site conditions to project impact are better equipped to support clients, strengthen communication, and help guide projects toward better outcomes.
A data-led approach making a difference
As projects become larger, and move faster, Usman sees field services evolving rapidly.
“The field role is evolving from inspection-focused to intelligence-focused,” he said. “We are not just capturing what is happening, we are contextualizing it and using it to make decisions that have real financial and operational consequences for our clients.”
Usman’s data-backed approach to field services gives clients earlier visibility into risks, clearer understanding of project impacts, and quicker action to protect operations. Data is only as valuable as the judgement behind it. It takes experienced field services professionals to analyze what’s happening on the ground, communicate with clients and partners, and lead through challenges.
With Usman leading Connico’s Field Services, our team is equipped to identify issues and act just as quickly as projects are changing.
Leadership that sets Connico apart
Usman’s leadership style reflects exactly what today’s projects demand: experience, humility, and decisive action grounded in real-world understanding.
“The most important thing you can do on a job site is listen before you speak,” he said. It’s a principle that shapes how he leads teams and serves clients. By emphasizing careful observation, clear communication, and informed decision-making, Usman is helping transform field services from a reactive function into a proactive source of insight and value.
That shift strengthens Connico’s ability to anticipate challenges, protect client interests, and drive better project outcomes. It also sets the company apart in a competitive industry, proving that the strongest leadership does not only happen in the boardroom. It happens every day in the field where the work gets done.
Read the first blog in Connico’s director leadership series to see how Michael Feeney and Charl Neser are raising the standard for estimating across aviation and infrastructure.
