Jesus Garcia Aleman, PhD ’02

Jesus Garcia-Aleman says his career highlights have more to do with the “how” of getting work done than the “what.”

For the last 18 years, he’s worked for a multinational consulting firm (formerly CH2M, now Jacobs), starting out as a junior engineer, and now as the global technology lead for surface water treatment.

“I have fun at my job every day,” he says. “I have been fortunate to work with many clients, suppliers and colleagues that I consider friends.

“There is an immense sense of satisfaction to know that many communities are positively impacted by what my colleagues and I do. These have led to a number of high-profile drinking water projects (award-winning, first or largest of their kind) on which I’m proud to have worked.”

After graduating from university in Mexico, Garcia-Aleman arrived at McMaster in 1997, earning first his master’s degree and then, in 2002, his PhD in chemical engineering.

Over his career he says he has looked for interesting opportunities, leading to a fun but non-linear career path in water treatment design and consulting. In his current role, he “connects people with opportunities and vice versa.”

“It’s my job to develop and get the word out to my colleagues and my clients about best practices and technology innovations, and to support people deploying those innovations,” he explains.

“It’s a role that lets me leverage skills spanning technical expertise, business acumen, sales, client management and project delivery.”

His advice to students: “You are not going to make it alone. Cultivate meaningful personal connections with your peers, clients, and competitors.

“EQ beats IQ every day. Have and be a great mentor. Have fun, be compassionate, ask for help, be prepared, be humble, learn every day, listen to understand, teach.”