2026 Ones To Watch - Rising Stars: Elisa Albuquerque, Group PMX

“Elisa’s path to construction is anything but conventional — bringing together experience in law, architecture, and project management to deliver thoughtful, impactful outcomes. A lifelong learner, she consistently seeks new ways to add value, proactively supports her team, and brings a broad, insightful perspective to every challenge. Her positivity, collaboration, and drive make her a true rising star in the industry.” 

What accomplishment or project so far in your career are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of my current assignment: a multi-phased, half-billion-dollar corporate campus renovation for a global financial client, for which our firm was brought in to put back on track after it fell behind schedule and over budget. Our team reset the scope, phasing, and processes, and rebuilt collaboration among more than 100 stakeholders. Seeing consultants who once struggled to work together now lead joint lessons-learned sessions as we deliver the first phase shows what structured communication can accomplish.

Who has been a mentor or influential figure in your career, and what is the most valuable advice they have shared with you?

Vicente Coelho Araujo, a partner I worked with early in my legal career, gave me advice I still live by: take care of the ‘rice and beans’ first. In Brazil, that’s the foundation of every meal. His point was that brilliant work means little if people can’t count on you for the fundamentals — the daily follow-ups, the consistency, the details, the routine done well. In project management, that discipline is exactly what earns the trust to take on the big, strategic moves.