Telent Embrace Equity on International Women's Day

"My role mostly involves producing project schedules which consist of design, procurement, installation, construction, and commissioning programs.

Alongside my apprenticeship, I’m pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering. Although, I love what I study, being at Telent gives me an opportunity to put my vision into perspective and learn practically rather than theoretically only. Getting hands-on experience is something I enjoy the most!

At the start of my degree, I was somewhat nervous because I came to realise that I was one of three women on the course compared to a group of 82 men. For a couple of months, it was challenging to get my ideas across and make myself heard. But I was raised by an inspiring woman, my mother. She taught me to be confident in my own personality and raised me with the knowledge that no matter what, my strength for standing up for myself will always come from within me. Working in the industry itself has allowed me to embrace all opportunities which has helped me to develop a much stronger and confident mindset.

To my understanding, the theme for IWD highlights the importance of playing your part when it comes to equality. We all play a part in showing respect and it’s important to understand the fundamentals of equality. Even if it’s a little something you believe in, move forward with it, and put your ideas on the table.

My advice to other women out there is to always be confident, especially on the low days. No matter what the circumstance may be, don’t let anyone push your boundaries and values. When you get opportunities embrace them with all your heart! I believe that a woman should be two things: exactly who and what she wants to be. A woman alone is enough to achieve everything, and even more so when we support each other."

"HR is the first point of contact for all the new starters that join the company, so part of my role is about making sure they have a smooth integration process. I also support and assist current colleagues by answering any enquiries. We handle a wide range of administrative tasks from sending offers, letters, and contracts to updating employee records.

Before joining Telent, I graduated from Politehnica University of Bucharest in the Faculty of Engineering and Management of Technological Systems (I.M.S.T.) Engineering and Management – Specialisation: Industrial Economic Engineering, bachelor's degree in engineering.

Sadly, I can say that I encountered some negative experiences during university. There was a mentality that only men could be engineers. I even had a teacher who made comments like: “women don’t have the same abilities as men in an engineering career”.

It’s why IWD is so important as it’s a reminder that everyone has the right to the same opportunities no matter their gender, race, or ethnic origin. If we try to be more aware of our actions towards other people, it will give everyone the chance to be themselves and help us all to embrace equality. Many times, we forget that even small gestures (e.g., acknowledging that your colleague sorted out a difficult task, saying thank after you’ve been helped with your query, showing respect etc.) can change the lives of others and it’s so easy to do. Through empathy, inclusion, and collaboration we can grow and improve the lives of people around us, both in our professional and personal lives.

I believe that when you have the maturity not to take others' opinions as being real and true, you can grow and learn to trust yourself and your decisions in life. That would be my advice to other women. If you love people, HR is a great area to work in because this role involves activities that will support them during their journey into the company."