From Endurance Sports to Engineering Leadership: Verdantas CEO Jesse Kropelnicki

What does it take to scale an engineering firm from a few hundred to nearly 2,000 people—without losing culture, performance, or purpose? In this episode of the Word on the Street Podcast, we’re joined by Jesse Kropelnicki, CEO of Verdantas (ENR #73), one of the fastest‑growing environmental and infrastructure consulting firms in the U.S. Jesse shares his unique journey from structural engineer to elite endurance sports coach—and how those experiences shaped his leadership philosophy. This wide‑ranging conversation explores how lessons from elite athletics apply directly to engineering leadership, including managing growth, building trust, giving effective feedback, navigating private equity, and preparing firms for AI and data transformation. Jesse also dives deep into culture, emotional intelligence, and why human skills—not technical knowledge alone—will define the future of AEC firms. Whether you’re leading a growing firm, managing teams, or thinking about the future of engineering work, this episode is packed with insight you can apply immediately.