News + Ideas

The Impact Blog is a spotlight series that highlights and celebrates the diverse employees that make MGAC tick. Beyond their day-to-day schedules, we want to know how they have a greater impact on their colleagues, their company, and the communities in which they live and work. We want to know what makes them get out of bed in the morning, what led them to their current role, and what they hope their lasting impact will be.

Today, we get to know Zaif Ismail, Senior Cost Consultant at MGAC.

MGAC: Hello and welcome to the Impact Blog, Zaif!

Zaif Ismail (ZI): Thank you!

MGAC: What is your role here at MGAC?

ZI: I am a Senior Cost Consultant at MGAC based in our San Francisco office.

MGAC: And what does your day-to-day look like?

ZI: Daily, I spend roughly 80% of my time on technical production—preparing and delivering cost estimates—and 20% on networking and business development. That 80% covers many activities, such as price research on materials and labor markets, especially in a geographical location you are not familiar with. There’s also benchmarking involved as a cross-check for similar building types and sizes.

MGAC: When did you join the company?

ZI: I joined in June of 2020. Right smack in the middle of the pandemic!

MGAC: Quite an interesting time to join!

ZI: Yes! I got on-board virtually and remotely. Working from home does have some benefits. Not having to commute is a big plus!

MGAC: Very true. What led you to MGAC?

ZI: Well, it’s a long story!

MGAC: Tell us!

ZI: My career journey has taken me from Australia (Adelaide) to Saudi Arabia (Jeddah) and presently here in San Francisco. Originally from Malaysia under the government scholarship, I received my Building (Quantity Surveying) degree in Australia, worked there a couple of years, went on to Jeddah only to be cut short due to conflict in the region, which was unfortunate, as I would have loved to work there longer. At that point, my brother was working in San Francisco and asked me to come here, and so I did! That was almost 30 years ago now.

MGAC: Wow! And then what?

ZI: I worked for a few different cost consultancy companies in the Bay Area. I was fortunate enough to work on some interesting projects—everything from embassies and major airports to world-class hotels and resorts. And I was able to travel domestically and internationally for work, which I always enjoy. Eventually, it was time for a change at my last job, and that’s when I decided to come over to MGAC!

MGAC: That is quite the journey! How did you initially land on studying building technology?

ZI: I was always open to different opportunities and fields of study, and always good with math and science. I’m not great in non-technical subjects. That ruled some things out, and in college, the cost management courses seemed like a good fit. I passed and figured, why change things if something’s not broken?

MGAC: Sound logic! If you think back to when you were growing up, what do you think younger you would think of your role today?

ZI: Wow, that’s a great question. I never think that way! As a small child, I wanted to be a pilot. I’m still quite passionate about aviation. Unfortunately, I wear glasses, and I’m not tall, which disqualifies me. If I were to tell younger me that I was not a pilot but a cost consultant, they’d probably raise an eyebrow and say, “Well, that’s a bit weird!” Kids know what a pilot is or a doctor or an engineer. They don’t tend to know what a cost consultant is! I wasn’t one of those kids who played with LEGOs or built things, either. I was more into marbles and hide and seek. So, I think younger me would probably have a lot of questions!

MGAC: Fair enough! What’s keeping you busy right now at work?

ZI: The two biggest projects I’ve been working on are with Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and the Alamo Museum in San Antonio. Then, I also have a handful of medium-sized and smaller projects—enough to keep me busy and a good variety!

MGAC: With every day looking a bit different, juggling diverse projects, what does your ideal day on the job look like?

ZI: Any day where I’m not too rushed on deadlines is a good day! Cost estimating requires some research time to understand the market trends. When I first joined MGAC, the pandemic was really affecting pricing due to major supply chain disruptions and worksite disruptions. Now, we’re watching to see what happens with the new government administration, as geopolitical changes can also affect the market in a big way. Having the time to keep up with all of that is important when it comes to preparing a cost estimate.

MGAC: Absolutely! When you step back and think about your role in this work, what kind of impact do you hope to have?

ZI: I certainly want to leave behind a positive legacy. We all do, right? I want to prepare and deliver good estimates right on the money. Accuracy is important to me. Beyond that, I really want to be known for bringing a positive attitude to work. We encounter many challenges; that’s the nature of the job. With that, I try to be a positive and reliable team member in those moments. I also want to be a positive mentor to those who are fresh graduates or interns. I think mentorship is an important investment. It helps them, it helps me, and it helps the team and our clients.

MGAC: That’s a great ethos. And, turning this around, how has your time at MGAC impacted you?

ZI: Working with a new company and new team members always helps you grow. With MGAC, there’s a wide range of projects, and exposure to new sectors is always helpful. For instance, MGAC does more high-end residential work or Luxury Living than other companies I’ve worked for.

MGAC: You certainly don’t see that every day! On that note, where do you find energy to tackle each and every day?

ZI: Each day is different, which brings different challenges and requires a positive mindset. People would think cost estimating is a dry subject on the surface, but it plays a very vital role in determining the likelihood of a project moving forward.

MGAC: That’s a great way to look at it! On the flipside, do you have a routine for winding down at the end of a busy day?

ZI: As a Muslim, I have built-in breaks during the day for prayer time. That mandatory stop helps me reset and reflect, especially when I have a busy workday.

MGAC: Makes sense! Now, are you ready for some rapid-fire questions?

ZI: Let’s do it.

MGAC: You’re starting your workday. What’s the first thing you do?

ZI: Make coffee.

MGAC: And the last thing? 

ZI: Check my calendar for the next day.

MGAC: What’s the first item on your to-do list right now?

ZI: Work on a prioritization plan for tackling my upcoming deadlines and projects.

MGAC: What’s the most interesting thing on your desk right now?

ZI: I have a clock that I got in Malaysia. It has a guy with a hand that moves as the seconds tick by, and it actually makes a ticking sound. I like the sound because it reminds me that every second is valuable. I don’t often wind it up in the morning when I have meetings that day though, otherwise everyone would hear it through Zoom. That stays at my home office. I think I’d drive everyone nuts if I brought it into the office!

MGAC: What can you not get through the workday without?

ZI: Coffee.

MGAC: What’s the most-used app on your phone?

ZI: WhatsApp.

MGAC: What’s your go-to weekday lunch?

ZI: I mix it up. Usually, just whatever is quick and easy. It’s bad, but I do often eat at my desk!

MGAC: How might you describe your job in five words or less?

ZI: Interesting. Motivating. Challenging. Inspiring.

MGAC: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

ZI: Don’t burn bridges.

MGAC: What’s your favorite current industry trend?

ZI: Mass timber construction and sustainability.

MGAC: What would your dream project look like?

ZI: It would be something overseas that takes me to a new place for a while. Something to do with the aviation industry would be fun for me.

MGAC: What are you known for around the office?

ZI: Probably being very detail oriented. Even my wife complains about me sweating the small stuff. I must remind myself of the big picture sometimes!

MGAC: What’s something your colleagues don’t know about you?

ZI: Perhaps how much I love to travel and how many countries I’ve been to. I’ve seen most of Europe. I’ve been to Asia. I’ve been to Africa. I studied and have lived and worked in Australia.

MGAC: Where might we find you if you’re not at work?

ZI: I love to get outside and hike. And I’m a big reader too.