Previous winners
2025: Victor Suchodolski, chairman, president, and CEO of Sargent & Lundy
Victor Suchodolski is recognized for his transformative leadership in steering one of the world’s oldest engineering firms into a new era of global leadership. Since becoming chairman, president, and CEO in 2023, Vic has combined his deep technical roots as an electrical engineer with a bold strategic vision, leading Sargent & Lundy to surpass the $1 billion annual revenue threshold for the first time in its 134-year history.
His merit for this award is defined by three primary leadership pillars:
- Market Resurgence and Innovation. Vic reclaimed the firm’s No. 1 ranking in the nuclear power sector and significantly expanded its footprint in battery energy storage, hydrogen, and grid modernization. His oversight has grown the firm’s backlog by 189% and expanded its international presence across 13 Eastern European countries and the Middle East.
- A People-First Growth Strategy. Under his tenure, the workforce grew by 60%, yet he maintained the “small-firm” culture that results in 20% of employees staying for more than 25 years. He championed a 66% increase in benefit value and secured the prestigious Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health, demonstrating that aggressive corporate growth and employee well-being are not mutually exclusive.
- Visionary Stability. Vic’s leadership is characterized by honest and transparent communication. By maintaining a century-long relationship with the firm’s very first client while simultaneously implementing cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and security protocols, he has ensured that Sargent & Lundy is not just participating in the energy transition, but serving as a key architect for clients navigating it.
With an 89% employee confidence rating and a legacy of moving from entry-level engineer to CEO, Victor Suchodolski embodies the excellence, resilience, and forward-thinking nature of the POWER Executive Leadership Award.
