Q&A
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Our culture is what makes working at Jacobs special.
There are three integral places where our shared attitudes and behaviors show up – the company's values and practices, your team and network and your experience day to day. By participating in our 2024 build with Bridges to Prosperity, Portland-based project manager Ana Jovanovic was able to engage with our culture in a different way than she had in the past. She shares reflections on the experience and how she applied what she learned to her day-to-day responsibilities.
How long have you been at Jacobs?
I’ve been at Jacobs for more than 6 years now.
Why do you wear the "J?"
To me, wearing the "J" represents the opportunity to make a real difference. I experienced this firsthand when I volunteered as Logistics Lead for our 2024 Bridges to Prosperity build in Rwanda. Our team of ten Jacobs employees built a suspension trail bridge across the Mutumba River – providing safe, year-round access to schools, health services and markets for over 7,000 people.
As someone who had to flee former Yugoslavia during difficult times, this project had special meaning for me. My family was fortunate enough to resettle in a country with infrastructure supporting health, education, prosperity and quality of life – and now I get to provide that same opportunity to others through my work, and volunteerism, at Jacobs.
What does our culture mean to you?
Our culture at Jacobs is about coming together to achieve incredible things. I experienced this firsthand during our bridge build; our team came together from different offices around the world and quickly united behind a common goal. Despite most of us meeting for the first time just before the project began, we quickly formed strong bonds and supported each other through challenging conditions. This specific experience showed me how our culture of collaboration and resilience enables us to deliver meaningful impact.
How do you practice our culture of caring every day?
I practice our culture of caring by supporting my team in our day-to-day work. I apply what I learned on the bridge build in Rwanda – the importance of inclusion and collaboration – to my projects, clients and the teams I lead.
“When I see the 'J,' I think about our incredible team, with everyone playing to their strengths and working together. Each project leaves me with a huge sense of pride in our achievements, and that feels pretty special.”
Ana Jovanovic