Every great endeavor begins with a simple idea. For iConnectEngineers®, that idea was rooted in a simple yet profound concept: connecting. Comprised of a team of industry-renowned and trusted professionals, we blend traditional engineering excellence with the dynamic demands of today’s world, committed to delivering innovative, cost-effective solutions that support our clients in making strategic decisions and driving impactful results.

Leila Hajalilou brings over 30 years of transportation and engineering leadership experience to iConnectEngineers®, where she serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer. With a career rooted in public service and innovation, including 27 years at Caltrans, Leila has been instrumental in shaping California’s transportation infrastructure through a blend of technical expertise, policy insight, and visionary leadership.

Expertise & Impact

Transportation Leadership: Played a pivotal role in the evolution of California’s multimodal transportation system, with a focus on sustainability, safety, and resiliency.

Program & Project Management: Led diverse initiatives encompassing design, environmental compliance, pavement and bridge rehabilitation, structure design, and contract delivery.

Climate & Resiliency Focus: Pioneered efforts in climate action planning, fire resiliency, and sustainable infrastructure design to support long-term community and environmental goals.

Procurement Strategy: Deep experience in estimating, specifications, bid cost analysis, award recommendations, and contract management to ensure cost-effective project delivery.

Career Highlights

Department of Transportation, Caltrans
Held roles supporting the delivery of critical infrastructure projects throughout California, earning recognition for a steadfast commitment to innovation and public service. The recipient of the Superior Accomplishment Award from the California Department of Transportation recognizes an individual employee or group of employees who have made an exceptional contribution to the efficiency or economy of the State Government or an exceptional improvement in its operations.

Former Co-Chair – San Diego Regional Construction Procurement Committee (RCPC)
Spearheaded collaborative efforts across 25+ regional agencies to tackle procurement challenges, material shortages, and evolving market conditions.

Former Innovation Liaison – Caltrans
Promoted a culture of innovation by launching and supporting agency-wide fairs, workshops, and knowledge-sharing initiatives that spotlighted emerging technologies and best practices.

Advisory Board Member – University of California, Irvine
Former member of the Advisory Board for Customer Experience (CX), where Leila provided strategic insights into customer journey mapping and its alignment with organizational ROI. Her work focused on identifying and resolving pain points across customer interactions to drive satisfaction and achieve measurable business outcomes. This role demonstrated her ability to bridge technical, operational, and customer-focused strategies for comprehensive value creation.

Former Co-Chair – Global Communities (formerly PCI), 28th Annual Event
Led fundraising initiatives totaling over $550,000 to support global programs focused on health, education, and poverty alleviation.

Leadership & Stengths

Leila is recognized for her ability to lead with vision, communicate with purpose, and problem-solve with strategic precision. Her strengths include cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

Credentials

M.S., Transportation Management – Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI), San José State University

B.S., Civil Engineering – Sacramento State University

Advanced Certificate, Transportation Security Management (TSM) – MTI, San José State University

About iConnectEngineers®:

iConnectEngineers® is committed to delivering innovative, cost-effective solutions. We specialize in Executive Program Management Advisory Services, comprehensive Strategic Branding and Marketing, and Website Solutions. Learn more at www.iconnectengineers.com.

Built on Trust. Driven by Innovation.