Sepideh “Sepi” Saidi, P.E. (October 10, 1962 – March 24, 2025)
Founder & CEO, SEPI Engineering & Construction

Sepi Saidi was the founder and CEO of SEPI Engineering & Construction, a premier civil engineering firm she launched in Raleigh in 2001. An immigrant from Iran at age 15, Sepi earned dual degrees in Civil and Agricultural Engineering from NC State University, where her resilience and drive laid the foundation for a trailblazing career.

Under her leadership, SEPI grew from a one-person, home-based business to a thriving company with over 300 employees and $40 million in annual revenue. The firm earned repeated recognition on the Inc. 5000 list, Triangle Business Journal’s Fast 50, and Zweig Group’s Hot Firm rankings.

Sepi was equally known for her civic leadership. She served as Chair of the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and held board positions with the NC Chamber, WakeEd Partnership, and NC State’s Institute for Emerging Issues. She was a passionate advocate for diversity in STEM and created the SEPI Leadership Scholarship at Wake Tech to support underrepresented students.

Sepi passed away on March 24, 2025, at age 62, after a courageous health battle. She leaves behind a powerful legacy of innovation, generosity, and mentorship—an enduring inspiration to all who knew her.