As WSP's new mobility lead for emerging technology, Charvi Gupta heads up a multidisciplinary team of planners, technologists and data analysts, where she often closes the gap between high-level policy and technical implementation. Committed to sustainable and inclusive mobility, she holds a dual role as the company’s inaugural fellow for its Center for Clean Transportation. In this capacity, she collaborates with global experts to help communities deploy future-ready solutions to mitigate climate and air quality impacts.  

Recently, she led New Jersey Transit’s Community Transportation Electrification Planning and Pilot Program to advance the agency’s zero-emission strategy in over 2,200 microtransit and paratransit services, spanning 89 operators. While leading the program, she prioritized workforce development and training, community engagement, interagency collaboration and strategic technology enhancements to drive systemic change. Her leadership acumen on this project led her to receive the New Jersey Planning Excellence and Great Places Leadership Award, highlighting her technical expertise and commitment to inclusivity. 

Her dedication to fostering inclusivity and empowering communities isn’t project specific—it's woven into the fabric of who she is. For instance, she is creating the Clean Community Transportation Taskforce, a mentorship framework designed to uplift local leaders, engage community stakeholders and assist technical specialists. She’s also supported numerous public, private and nonprofit organizations on integrating multimodal systems, public-private partnerships and innovative fleet solutions—all while centering equitable access and technology adoption in marginalized communities. Her efforts have led to improved driver and rider experiences, reduced carbon emissions and more integration of emerging technologies.  

These efforts were made possible thanks to Gupta’s commitment to creating diverse, cross-disciplinary project teams. She established a collaborative environment, so decision-making reflects a multitude of perspectives while also supporting mentorship and professional development.  

In addition to her team, Gupta shares her insights at industry events, helping grow the next generation of transit professionals. This extends to global transportation and energy forums, where she reinforces the importance of engaging local communities to ensure transit solutions address actual needs.   

Outside of industry events, Gupta shares best practices through industry whitepapers, where she covers a range of topics such as zero-emission operations, fleet and facility transitions, vehicle automation, micromobility and the future of shared mobility.  

On top of her industry contributions and work with WSP, Gupta is designing an initiative in India to help socially and economically disadvantaged girls access STEM education, including financial assistance, essential tools, resources and ongoing support they need to thrive.

Is there a specific experience that led you to where you are today? 

A formative experience for me was working on the National Transport Master Plan of Kenya, a World Bank–sponsored project for the government of Kenya. I supported the development of a framework to assess how proposed transportation corridors could affect communities and identify mitigation strategies to support environmental and social impact assessment. The experience helped shape my interest in transportation—balancing critical infrastructure investments with community needs, equity and long-term regional goals that extend beyond borders. 

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

The opportunity to collaborate with people from all walks of life from around the world. These experiences have broadened how I see challenges, strengthened the way I approach my work and helped me build meaningful professional and personal connections. I’ve also been fortunate to find mentors who continue to guide and inspire me as I learn and grow in my career. 

What’s the most challenging part of your job? 

I’m fortunate to work on issues that genuinely motivate me, and the biggest challenge is often simply time. There are always more ideas I’d like to explore, projects I’d like to contribute to and people I’d like to support more fully.

What is the accomplishment you’re most proud of and why? 

One accomplishment I’m especially proud of is leading a C40 Cities and Uber initiative focused on electrifying high-mileage vehicles, including ride-hail, taxi and delivery fleets. These vehicles play a critical role in urban mobility and contribute significantly to transportation emissions. What makes the work meaningful to me is that we’re developing an equity-centered framework that cities around the world can adapt and build on.

What is an accomplishment you would like to work towards in your career? 

I hope to continue contributing to initiatives that are built to scale—pilots, tools and strategies that can be adapted across different cities and contexts. I’m especially motivated by work that can translate into practical implementation frameworks and meaningfully benefit marginalized communities globally.

What is your best advice you can share from your area of expertise? 

As a technology consultant, it may sound counterintuitive, but one lesson I keep coming back to is not to get too caught up with technology. The most meaningful solution often begins with understanding people’s experiences—lived, perceived and conceived, as Henri Lefebvre described.