Leaders

IIM Kozhikode is recognised for developing professionals who combine strategic thinking with practical leadership. Among its distinguished alumni is Bulbul Saraf, Head of Design at Brick & Bolt, whose career brings together design strategy, project delivery, and business leadership.

Bulbul earned her Bachelor of Architecture from IIT Roorkee and began her career with Dar - Al - Handasah. She later spent eight years at Bhartiya City Developers, progressing to Assistant General Manager–Design Development.

During this period, she contributed to their hospitality, retail, residential, and commercial developments, including the Leela Residences, Bhartiya Retail (1.4 million sq. ft.), and the Bhartiya Centre of Information Technology (2.2 million sq. ft.).

She subsequently joined Godrej Properties as Project Manager–Design Strategy, where she managed design development and consultant coordination for projects such as Godrej Splendour, Godrej Athena, Godrej Air, and Godrej Air Next (3,150 units). Her responsibilities included product planning, BIM coordination, project execution, consultant management, and alignment with sales, marketing, and construction teams.

These experiences strengthened her expertise in design strategy, large-scale project delivery, stake­holder management, cross-functional leadership, and commercially driven development planning. At Brick & Bolt, she now leads multidisciplinary design teams and drives initiatives focused on design efficiency, cus­tomer satisfaction, innovation, scalability, and revenue growth.

Looking back on your professional journey, which achievements have been the most meaningful, and how have they shaped your growth as a design leader?

One of my earliest milestones was securing Second Prize in the National Architectural Competition – Yuvaratna during my time at IIT Roorkee. This recognition strengthened my confidence in pursuing architecture as a profession. Professionally, I consider the successful delivery of large-scale projects to be one of my greatest accomplishments. Godrej Properties also recognised my contributions with the “Service Excellence – Design Quality 2023” award for my commitment to design excellence and project quality.

At Bhartiya City, I had the opportunity to contribute to large commercial developments over several years and seeing them completed was deeply rewarding. At Brick & Bolt, every satisfied customer is equally fulfilling. These experiences have taught me the importance of anticipating challenges early, leading teams proactively, and ensuring every project is delivered with excellence.

How do you ensure that your design philosophy successfully balances customer expectations, functionality, and commercial viability?

I believe that in real estate, design is the business itself. A successful design begins with understanding the customer's aspirations, budget, and the realities of the market. Every project requires balancing aesthetics, functionality, structural efficiency, and commercial feasibility. Brick & Bolt, customers often work within fixed budgets, so my responsibility is to maximise value without compromising quality.

Clear communication is equally important, as it helps bridge the gap between expectations and practical possibilities. We support this through in-house frameworks that guide layout planning, material selection, structural optimisation, and cost management. These frameworks help us create designs that are meaningful for customers, efficient to execute, and commercially sustainable.

Collaboration is critical to project success. What principles have helped you build strong coordination across multidisciplinary teams?

I strongly believe that problems should be resolved in design rather than on-site. Effective coordination between architects, structural engineers, and MEP consultants is essential for smooth execution. Every discipline contributes to the building's performance, and even a small coordination gap can create significant challenges later.

I often compare a building to the human body, the structure forms the skeleton, architecture defines its appearance, while MEP systems function like the body's internal organs. Every component must work together seamlessly. Thorough planning, open communication, and cross-functional collaboration are the foundations of delivering projects efficiently and successfully.

How do you promote continuous learning and encourage innovation within your team?

I have always believed that learning should never stop. Pursuing my MBA at IIM Kozhikode helped me broad­en my perspective beyond architecture and understand business strategy. I continue to invest time in reading about emerging technologies, construction methods, and industry best practices. I also learn extensively from peers and observe how leading organisations in­novate.

Within my team, I encourage cross-functional collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous ex­posure to new technologies such as precast construc­tion and cloud-based systems. I believe architects learn not only through books but also by carefully observing the built environment around them.

What advice would you offer to aspiring women professionals who wish to build successful leadership careers?

My advice is to remain focused on understanding the expectations of your stakeholders while never losing sight of the end user's experience. Leadership begins with creating value for others. I also encourage every professional to embrace lifelong learning because industries are constantly evolving.

For women especially, I believe it is important to set aside time for self-reflection and regularly evaluate personal and professional goals. Most importantly, I strongly advocate financial independence. It builds confidence, strengthens decision-making, and empowers women to pursue leadership opportunities with greater clarity, resilience, and long-term purpose.

Bulbul Saraf, Head - Design, Brick & Bolt

Bulbul Saraf is the Head of Design at Brick & Bolt, bringing extensive experience across commercial, residential, and mixed-use developments. An IIT Ro­orkee graduate with management education from IIM Kozhikode, she combines architectural expertise with strategic business insight to deliver custom­er-centric, design-led solutions while driving innova­tion, collaboration, and project excellence.