Leaders

The construction industry, a cornerstone of global development, thrives on innovation, efficiency, and sustainability, shaping urban skylines and driving economic growth. Karishma Edroos, Director of Excel Group, exemplifies leadership in this dynamic sector, guiding the Ajman-based, multi-disciplinary engineering and manufacturing company to new heights over the past decade. Renowned for its skilled teams and global collaborations, Excel Group has flourished under Karishma’s direction. Her expertise in negotiating robust supplier agreements, optimising production by eliminating bottlenecks, and reducing inventory waste has driven operational efficiency. Securing the EN 1090-2 certification under her leadership expanded the company’s market reach while fostering a culture of empowerment, and enhancing team engagement and accountability. By overseeing strategic and operational initiatives, Karishma ensures Excel Group remains adaptive and poised for sustained growth in an evolving market.

In a close interview with Women Entrepreneurs Review, Karishma shared her industry insights, her personal life journey, and the critical challenges she faced in building her career. Let’s read on.

How has your education and hands-on experience in supply chain, production, and client management shaped your approach to driving growth?
I earned my undergraduate degree in Finance from Indiana University, followed by a Master of Science in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics. My career began as a trainee, where I worked closely with our supply chain and negotiated agreements with both local and international vendors. This role provided valuable insights into the foundations of procurement and supplier relations. I later transitioned to the production division, immersing myself in the intricacies of the manufacturing process. I monitored key production metrics such as daily tonnage, man-hours, and productivity per worker, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the operational workflow, from material preparation and cutting to bending, welding, fabrication, blasting, and painting.

This hands-on experience provided valuable insights into optimizing operations, reducing bottlenecks and improving overall efficiency. Subsequently, I took on the responsibility of managing key customer relationships in various verticals. During the global downturn in 2020, these partnerships became critical as our company navigated challenges by restructuring the value chain to eliminate inefficiencies and bottlenecks. Outsourcing core processes has made us leaner and more adaptable, enabling success across sectors like construction, oil and gas, waste management, and aviation. With an ambitious 2025 roadmap, we are poised for sustained growth and innovation.

Introduce us to Excel Group. What are the key roles and responsibilities you shoulder as the Director of the company?
Established in 1981 by Sayed Khizar Edroos and headquartered in the UAE, Excel Group is a privately owned leader in innovative engineering and manufacturing solutions, excelling across diverse verticals such as scaffolding and formwork, waste management, aviation, tube manufacturing, and galvanizing. With over four decades of excellence, the company is renowned for delivering cutting-edge solutions, maintaining high-quality standards, and fostering lasting partnerships worldwide. As the Director, I drive strategic growth by leading diversification efforts, optimizing operations, and investing in advanced technologies like roll-forming machines, cuplock automation, laser cutting systems, and galvanizing kettles to meet evolving industry demands. My role also encompasses cultivating a customer-centric culture through employee development programs, empowering teams to innovate and lead, and collaborating with key clients like Emirates and Etihad to ensure agility in addressing market dynamics. Through these efforts, I am committed to sustaining Excel Group’s legacy of innovation while steering it toward sustainable growth and industry leadership.

Tell us about the challenges you encounter in your current role. What steps do you undertake to overcome these roadblocks?​
A significant challenge we face is navigating market volatility, including fluctuating raw material prices and supply chain disruptions, while simultaneously driving innovation to remain competitive. These pressures can strain project budgets and extend timelines, requiring us to strike a careful balance between cost efficiency and strategic investments. To address these challenges, we focus on establishing long-term supplier agreements, diversifying sourcing strategies, and building resilient supply chains to mitigate risks. Simultaneously, we prioritize innovation by initiating pilot projects that test the feasibility of new ideas, technologies, and processes before scaling up successful initiatives. By aligning technological advancements with our financial goals and collaborating with key partners to share risks and costs, we build resilience and maintain agility. This integrated approach not only safeguards operations but also positions us to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing market landscape.

Throw light on the most significant professional milestones that you have achieved throughout your professional journey. 
Reflecting on the past year, the significant milestones achieved are not just a result of individual efforts but the collective hard work of our entire organization. We've experienced nearly 40 percent growth compared to the previous year, and this growth spans across all facets of the business, including sales, employee headcount, departments, and product offerings. We've also strengthened key customer relationships, which have allowed us to expand our reach and continue to grow together. The partnerships we established during the challenging COVID period have laid the foundation for mutual success, and now, as we ride this wave together, we are seeing the positive outcomes of these efforts.

Karishma Edroos, Director, Excel Group
With a strong background in business, accounting, and finance, Karishma has over a decade of experience in the construction and manufacturing sectors. She has played a pivotal role in driving the company’s growth, implementing lean management practices, securing critical certifications, and fostering a culture of ownership and agility within the organization.