No Template, No Shortcuts: Divya Mehta on Leadership and Scale

Divya Mehta did not inherit a leadership pathway in Australian construction. Without a template to follow, she built her own. As chief executive of New South Wales residential builder Decode Group, Mehta oversees a workforce of more than 200 and a pipeline valued about $1.4 billion. The business employed five people when she joined. “When I first came to Australia 13 years ago, I didn’t see many women of colour in leadership positions I could look up to,” she says. “And so, for a while, I wasn’t sure what leadership could look like for someone like me.” Mehta was speaking in October at The Urban Developer’s Urban Leader Awards while accepting the Women’s Leadership award. She was addressing an audience drawn from development, construction, finance and advisory firms across the country. The evening had gathered to celebrate industry success but as Mehta took the stage, her words redirected the attention. “I accept this award on behalf of every woman who has ever found herself in a tough situation—on construction sites, in boardrooms, in moments where you felt your voice was questioned, undervalued, or unheard—this award is yours too.” From uncertainty to scale The speech carried weight because of what Mehta has helped build. Decode Group is a NSW-based residential builder delivering apartment, mixed-use and specialised housing projects for third-party developers. ▲ Divya Mehta, chief executive of Decode Group, delivers her acceptance speech at The Urban Developer ’s Urban Leader Awards. The business operates as a head contractor, responsible for program management, sub-contractor co-ordination, safety, quality and delivery certainty. It focuses on delivery rather than project origination. Mehta’s rise coincided with one of the most difficult periods Australian construction had faced in decades. Rapid cost escalation collided with fixed-price contracts. Labour shortages disrupted programs. Capital tightened. Developers, lenders and insurers became more selective about who they worked with. Decode continued to secure residential construction work during this period. The company’s current workbook spans inner-urban apartment buildings and large-format residential communities. ▲ Industry leaders from development, construction, finance and advisory firms gathered for the Urban Leader Awards in Sydney. In Sydney’s north-west, it is delivering Carrington Place at Castle Hill, a $660-million-plus, multi-stage project of more than 800 apartments across 32,000sq m, built in partnership with Ellipse Property and Metrics Credit Partners. Construction has advanced through multiple stages, with works recently reaching the top floor of Building B as facade installation and services continue across the precinct. On Sydney’s Lower North Shore, Decode is delivering The McLaren at 45 McLaren Street, a 12-storey mixed-use development comprising 71 apartments alongside commercial and retail space and designed by Bates Smart for CASA Property. In Newcastle, it is building The Merewether Residences at 40 King Street, Adamstown, a six-storey over-55s community of 178 apartments with cinema, indoor pool and wellness facilities, integrated with the adjacent Merewether Golf Club. Leadership shaped in the work Mehta’s acceptance speech traced the influences shaping her approach to leadership. “I learnt the power of gratitude from my parents—in the way they raised me with courage and humility. “I learnt friendship from my husband—for the way he supports me quietly but fiercely, every step of the way. ▲ Divya Mehta with Hip V Hype’s Katya Crema at the awards. “I learnt unconditional support from my sister, who is my biggest cheerleader—this win is ours together.” She spoke about challenge rather than certainty. “I learnt the value of constructive feedback from my peers and my team—who challenge me.” Mehta also acknowledged the influence of Decode founder Sam El Rihani. “And from my mentor and the founder of our business, Sam—I continue to learn what resilience truly means. “Sam, you’ve taught me to never give up, to keep learning and to lead with a growth mindset. “You believed in me long before I believed in myself and that’s something I’ll always carry with me.” An industry voice Mehta’s influence reaches beyond Decode’s live projects. Her contribution to Hubexo’s Construction Outlook 2026 brought a builder’s perspective to cost pressure, feasibility constraints and delivery risk across Australia’s construction pipeline. Outside day-to-day delivery, Mehta co-founded Funding the Future, an industry-led initiative linking construction and finance professionals around feasibility, risk and execution. Her role also extends into advocacy, serving as an ambassador for Women Building NSW, a state-based network focused on participation and progression for women across construction and related professions. More recently, Mehta was recognised among the Top 100 Women in Construction, a list highlighting senior female leaders across the sector. Why it landed The audience listening in October had spent years navigating delivery risk, financing pressure and margin compression. Mehta’s speech resonated because it aligned with experience. She did not frame leadership as arrival. “Tonight’s recognition isn’t just a milestone—it’s a reminder that every challenge, every doubt, and every ‘no’ can become the reason we all rise a little higher.” Her remarks closed without fanfare. “And to all the women—keep showing up, keep speaking up and keep changing the blueprint.” The moment captured the arc of her career. No inherited pathway. No visible template. Authority built through work, decisions and scale.

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