One Leader’s Example of Leading, Learning, and Applying Life Lessons

How Merouane El Kaoussi Seized Success

Recently promoted to Branch Manager of Bohler’s Boca Raton, FL, office, Merouane El Kaoussi, PE, has experienced a remarkable journey to reach this milestone in his career. He has welcomed and overcome challenges that have shaped him into an effective land development consultant and passionate team leader, preparing him well for his new role.

Adapting to New Cultures

Merouane grew up in Morocco, where he spoke Arabic. At the age of 17, he made the bold decision to follow his brother to Quebec, Canada and pursue an engineering degree. To keep up with his coursework in his new home, Merouane needed to perfect his French and soon mastered the language.

Then, in 2014, after graduating and getting married, Merouane moved again, this time relocating to his wife’s home state of Florida. Diving into his career in another new country, Merouane found that the language barrier once again presented challenges. He had to learn English – and the imperial measurement system – quickly.

Merouane encouraged his wife to speak to him in English, and he emersed himself in English TV, radio, and books, enabling him to swiftly become a fluent speaker. “When you don’t have a choice, you learn fast,” he said. “I was determined to succeed.”

His determination has paid off.

Thriving Amidst Challenges

Throughout his career from a design engineer to now Branch Manager, Merouane has experienced accelerated career growth because of his tenacity and initiative. In 2021, Merouane joined Bohler, where he leverages the same persistence that helped him rapidly acclimate to new countries to also thrive within the firm.

He is always on the lookout for new opportunities to practice technical skills, volunteer, or attend events to broaden his understanding of the industry and develop his skills as a leader. “The biggest keys for me were being easily adaptable, understanding other people, and expanding my exposure to the industry,” Merouane said.

In addition to his own dedication to growth, Merouane credits his success to his colleagues, managers, and clients who have served as mentors and have played a pivotal role in his development. “I’ve grown immensely by learning from others’ mistakes and soaking in my mentors’ advice and experience,” he shared. “They’ve been critical in getting me to where I am today.”

Applying Life Lessons to Land Development Consulting

Merouane applies the knowledge that he has acquired through his life experiences, studies, and professional relationships to provide high-quality service to clients. He remains flexible and takes initiative to be a true partner to owners and developers across the industry – committing time to get to know them and help them achieve even their loftiest goals.

“If I’m talking to someone relatively new to the industry, for example, I make sure to go the extra step to walk them through any red flags and explain what they mean,” he shared. “There’s no such thing as over communication. I make sure to set reoccurring, dedicated meetings with my clients to keep them informed.”

Leading with Passion

Merouane leads his team at Bohler in the same way. He checks in regularly to ensure tasks and projects stay on track and that team members feel supported. He gives particular focus to guiding younger engineers along their journeys, mentoring them the way others have done for him.

“Mentoring is the aspect of my job that I enjoy the most,” Merouane reflected. “When I look back on my life, it’s the genuine relationships and being part of empowering and developing my team to do great things that will mean the most to me.”

Looking Forward to the Future

As Merouane officially steps into the Branch Manager role, he remains committed to developing his team and fostering his own learning and growth. “I’m self-aware of my strengths and weaknesses,” he explained. “I’m always reading books and developing my skills to be the best manager I can be.”

Despite Merouane’s humility, Bohler Regional Manager Chris Capellini knows that the future of the Boca Raton office is in good hands under Merouane’s leadership. “Merouane has been instrumental in the growth and consistent performance of the Boca Raton office,” Chris said. “In his new role, he’ll continue to support Bohler’s regional goals of continued growth and service throughout Florida.”

Merouane continues to lean into his experiences and apply the skills that have brought him success. His goal is to continue to grow the office – which has increased from a team of 12 to 22 in the past year – in a steady, sustainable way. “Consistency is the key,” Merouane said. “I hope to continue to grow the team at a steady rate – not too fast or too slow.”

Merouane’s story of how he developed as a leader and consultant is a prime example of Bohler’s commitment to moving people and projects forward. His perseverance and ability to overcome challenges has equipped him to be a true partner to Bohler’s clients and serve in an influential leadership role in Bohler’s Florida region.

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