Our Jacobs Chair and CEO: A Q&A with Bob Pragada

Hi, Bob. What year did you join #OurJacobs?

2006.

How has the company changed since you joined?

To understand how our company has changed, it's probably valuable to understand what has remained the same and what has grown– and that's the spirit of the people and our desire to do what's right for our clients, what's right for our teammates, what's right for our stakeholders, and go above and beyond to hold to our values.

I think what's changed is our culture. Our culture has evolved, especially during this last seven years, to become a culture of much more transparency, a culture of inclusion, a culture where we can feel we're liberated to bring our authentic self to work and be who we are – be our very best selves.

How have your responsibilities changed over the years?

I’ve held many positions in my time at Jacobs such as Group Vice President for the Northern Region (Advanced Facilities-Global); Senior Vice President, Global Sales; President of the Global Industrial and Buildings & Infrastructure lines of business; Chief Operating Officer and now Chair and CEO. So, I’ve been responsible for various different geographies in sales, operations and corporate functions and witnessed firsthand how the company operates.

What makes you stay at Jacobs?

The people and the impact we have on the world. I look forward to coming to work every day and connecting with our enthusiastic people from around the world.

What is your proudest moment at Jacobs so far?

The successful acquisition of CH2M HILL in 2017 and subsequent integration. It still is the largest and most successful acquisition in Jacobs’ history and within our industry. More recently, the launch of our Boldly Moving Forward strategy. Both events were a massive team effort over months and years – resulting in the advancement of Jacobs for all. 

Additionally, the separation of our Critical Mission Solutions and Cyber & Intelligence businesses with Amentum. This marks a significant milestone in our evolution to becoming a more focused and resilient critical infrastructure player. As a team of about 45,000 people around the world, we’re energized to continue delivering end-to-end services in Advanced Manufacturing, Cities & Places, Energy, Environmental, Life Sciences, Transportation and Water.

So, significant transformation at Jacobs?

It’s an exciting time at Jacobs. We are beginning a new chapter. Building on our strong foundation and nearly eight decades of designing and delivering some of the world’s most iconic projects, our streamlined portfolio allows us to do more - for our people, our clients, our shareholders and the communities where we live and work. More than ever before, we’re harnessing our expertise, pushing boundaries and redefining what’s possible.

You mentioned a “new chapter” at Jacobs, tell us more about how this will benefit Jacobs’ clients?

Our clients’ project portfolios are becoming more complex and digitized. Our comprehensive expertise allows us to integrate solutions for our clients' across the private and public sector. We work with governments, cities, communities and private sector clients to rethink how they advance sustainability and resiliency, cut carbon and environmental impacts, and deliver a better life for future generations. 

Government organizations and national security operations continue to be critical to our portfolio. We also continue to deliver innovative and resilient solutions to our civil nuclear clients in ways that support the transition to a sustainable and secure energy future and deliver net zero.

What do you want people to know about Jacobs future?

Our future is bright – maybe the brightest it’s ever been as we take on the world’s increasingly complex challenges with even greater focus and purpose. At the center of our success is our people. We’ve got some of the best minds in the industry and it’s our responsibility to unlock opportunities and empower our people. That’s the only way we’re able to continue seizing opportunities alongside our clients to deliver a more sustainable, equitable future for our industries, communities and the planet.

Together, we will “accept the challenge” to make a lasting impact on the world.  

Now, let’s get a little informal. What was the first job you ever had?

In the eighth grade, I worked as a dishwasher at an Italian restaurant in Chicago, Illinois.

What’s the best advice you ever heard?

It was from my uncle, who provided a lot of advice over the years, but my favorite I continually share with my sons is to: forever be humble, but always with confidence.

If you were to go to the moon, who would you take with you?

My family…if they weren’t available and I could take anyone (dead or alive) then I’d probably ask Gandhi to join me.

What is your favorite weekend activity?

On the weekends, you’ll find me either participating in or watching sports. When I was younger, my sport of choice was rugby, but my body doesn’t recover like it used to. These days, you’ll probably find me on the treadmill or the golf course.

Walk us through your morning/evening routine.

I must start each day by working out in the gym or going for a run to get myself into the right frame of mind. I enjoy walking to work in the morning if I am in the Dallas office and getting a cup of coffee to set me up for the day. In the evenings I often work quite late, have a client/network dinner or an event to attend. Once home I try to chill out and switch off by watching sports (literally any sport will do!),  If no sports are on, I’ve been known to watch the occasional Netflix series. But catching up with my family in the evening is my favorite kind of down time. 

On that note, what have TV shows or series have you been watching lately?

A recent one that I polished off and then recommended to my mother was “Bad Sisters.” I’m also a big “Jack Ryan” fan.

What are your most played Spotify songs and playlists?

At the end of the year, Spotify reports to users their most played songs for the year in what they call Spotify Wrapped, which can be shared across your personal social channels. My younger son called me when they started coming out in December and asked me to send my most-played songs so he could show his friends. The reason being is because my list looked awfully similar to both of my sons' lists.

The way my fatherhood has worked out is up until the point they were 14-15 years old, my sons learned from my musical taste, then it flipped, and I began to learn from theirs. This years' list was pretty much dominated by Meek Mill, Drake, Jay-Z, Migos and maybe a few others. You can tell rap is my top genre.

On the flipside, there’s also a playlist I listen to when winding down for the day. You can follow my ‘Chill List’ on Spotify here.