#AgPackStrong: Sepideh Saidi

Founder of top civil engineering firm SEPI, CALS grad Sepideh Saidi has been named one of the top 20 CEOs in the Triangle – and a 2016 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year for the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.

SEPI has worked with NC State since 2008, most recently on the Center for Technology and Innovation, completed in January 2017.

“When I first came to the United States, when my family sent me here to get my education, the intention was for me to go back to Iran. I was very passionate about doing anything that would help the underprivileged … and biological and agricultural engineering sounded like it could do much for the fabric of society.

“I learned a lot, but when I graduated, Iran had gone through its major revolution. … Everyone had left, it was chaos. … So the first job I got was at the North Carolina Department of Transportation. I went back and finished coursework at NC State to get a civil engineering degree as well.

“When I decided to start my business, it was partly because I felt I had to challenge myself. I say that to my staff and to my children — you always have opportunities to grow and evolve, and because of that, if you don’t want to stay stagnated, you will face many challenges.

“Depending on what phase you’re in, those challenges change…Right now, my biggest challenge is to make sure we recruit the right candidates for the right positions, and create a healthy, supportive and positive work environment for our employees to have a very positive work experience.”

“I want to highlight how proud I am to be an alumna of CALS — what a great privilege. The basis of my success is the education I received there.”