Establishing Culture with Nicholas Brien, PE

Actions Speak Loudest

In the interview, Nick described his culture carrier initiatives to achieve business objectives and personal goals. He’s an active member of the Vistage Worldwide executive peer advisory group, Marcellus Shale Coalition Transportation Committee, and Future City Central PA Regional Competition focused on middle school engineering education [watch our video].

Nick served as regional competition coordinator and judge for the Future City Competition hosted at the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg Winter 2024.

As a multistate, multinational company, it was critical for Dawood to develop fundamental culture habits helping our employees, and ultimately our clients, succeed. Documenting and espousing these actions are differentiators for us, showing the world that we practice what we preach.

Nick Brien, Dawood Executive VP

Communication is Key

During company culture meetings, Nick encourages ideas describing the best way to accomplish a task and the reason why—whether it be safety, efficiency, productivity, innovation, and/or financial—not just a “that’s the way we’ve always done it” mentality. This collaborative coaching versus “command-and-control” leadership style fosters employee buy-in.

Leaning into communication also helps break down the silos when sharing project knowledge. Nick prefers that all task leaders are aware of an issue so complications can be averted. For example, he explains that if a bridge replacement project detour is posted, extra coordination and effort is required related to the route used so a contractor with heavy equipment for the job doesn’t leave the road in worse condition.

As part of building great teams, Nick added understanding that not everyone communicates the same way is an undervalued leadership skill. “We all might communicate differently, but if you can assume positive intent, it goes a long way to fostering positive communication.”