Ms. Ruchi Natekar is a distinguished leader in the field of project management, currently serving as the Assistant Vice President of the Project Management Office (PMO) at Runwal Group in Mumbai. A highly skilled civil engineer with an MBA, she holds a prestigious certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute (PMI) in the USA, an internationally recognized association for project managers. She is also a Fellow member of the Institution of Engineers, India. With more than 25 years of experience in the real estate sector, she has played a pivotal role in enhancing integrated program and portfolio management, particularly for high-rise residential and commercial projects.

Currently pursuing a doctorate in Project Management in Geneva, she has been widely acknowledged for her contributions to the industry. In 2023, she was honored with the Best Women Leader Award in the real estate sector, followed by the Iconic Women Leadership Award for Excellence and Leadership in Project Management at the Golden Aim Awards in 2024. Her illustrious career also includes a decade-long tenure at Larsen & Toubro Realty, where she became a trailblazer for women in the industry. She was featured in L&T’s internal magazine, The L&T-ite, under the “Sheroes” section, earning the title “Radiating @ Realty” for her impactful work in the real estate domain. Ms. Natekar also served as the Presiding Officer for the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) committee and won the Inter IC competition at the ATL Bizathon 2020, a marathon event for innovative project management solutions. At Runwal Group, she leads the PMO, playing a crucial role in overseeing time management for complex residential and commercial real estate projects.

She is instrumental in transitioning the business model towards an asset-light approach, focusing on actionable performance metrics that engage employees and partners throughout the value chain. Her expertise includes addressing critical challenges such as resource allocation, risk management, and stakeholder communication, all essential for navigating the intricacies of real estate project management. Her role extends into construction management, where she ensures the effective management of scope, schedule, and resources while mitigating schedule-related risks. She is also at the forefront of digitizing project controls through Business Intelligence (BI) solutions and MSP server applications, streamlining project monitoring and ensuring timely project completion. She has introduced service level agreements (SLAs) for project delivery and works collaboratively with stakeholders to improve processes and tackle regulatory compliance challenges. In addition to her professional accomplishments, she is a dedicated homemaker and parent.

Her children, who have graduated in Computer Science, are actively pursuing their dreams, a testament to the supportive and nurturing environment she has created at home. Balancing a demanding career with family responsibilities, she exemplifies the ability to manage multiple roles effectively. A passionate advocate for the project management community, she is a member of the South Asia Champion Program by PMI. She actively contributes through volunteering and mentoring, sharing her knowledge and experience to guide young professionals in the field. Her commitment to fostering the growth of the next generation of project managers highlights her dedication to the profession. Her career journey exemplifies her belief in preparation, perseverance, and lifelong learning—a philosophy encapsulated by Colin Powell’s quote, “Success is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.

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