Today, we celebrate International Women’s Day. In what may still be seen as a male-dominated sector, we at BESIX build on excellence from all genders. 8 March, International Women’s Day, is the perfect moment to put some of the many talented women working at BESIX Group in the limelight. Meet Lies, Natacha, Preetha and Eveline and get inspired by their stories.
Hi Lies, tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do at BESIX.
After graduating as an Engineer in Construction at the University of Ghent (Belgium), I started my career at BESIX in 2018. For the moment, I’m a Technical Office Engineer in Paris, where BESIX France is building Saint-Denis Pleyel, a metro station that is part of the Grand Paris Express. Once finished, it will be one of the largest stations on the Grand Paris Express, which will handle 250,000 passengers a day and interconnect lines 14, 15, 16 and 17.
What inspires you every day to come to work?
What I like most is that every day is different. There‘s such variety in my tasks. What I like about being on site, is that I witness the evolution of the project day by day. When a building is finished, I am proud to say that BESIX executed this project. Nothing is impossible for us! In addition, being on site guarantees a good mix between technical aspects and social interaction.
What is the best advice you were ever given?
You will have difficult days. Learn from them, because they teach you the most and they will make you take steps forward.
What advice would you give to a female peer starting in our company?
Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and take a leap into the unknown. It will make you stronger. A woman on site is seen as atypical, but there is really no reason why this job could not be done by a woman. You should do what you want and never let the opinions of others hold you back. And I stand by that!
Thanks for taking the time to talk to us, Lies!
Thank you for thinking of me, I’m so happy to participate because I am very proud to work as a woman in construction!
Hi Natacha, what do you do at BESIX?
I have a Master’s degree in logistics and I work as a buyer for BESIX on the F Tower in Abidjan (Ivory Coast).
What inspires you every day to come to work?
In my job, I have to interact with all the other services and departments, which creates a social link. We all form a family.
What is the best advice you were ever given?
The best advice I have been given is to work on your capacity to resist pressure and to be as well organised as possible to achieve your goals.
What advice would you give to a female peer starting in our company?
You are bright, courageous and beautiful: work as a team, enjoy what you do and learn from your mistakes. That's how you'll achieve your goals.
Thanks for taking the time to talk to us, Natacha!
Hi Preetha, what’s your position at BESIX Watpac?
Here in Sydney (Australia), I work with the Ferry Wharf Upgrade Program as Contracts Administrator. Before I moved to BESIX Watpac, I worked as a Civil Engineer for BESIX-Six Construct in the United Arab Emirates.
What did you study?
I have a natural curiosity and I’ve always wanted to thoroughly understand the cosmos, which resulted in a keen interest for engineering during my childhood. That’s why I did my bachelor’s in Civil Engineering. Afterwards I did a Master’s in disaster mitigation and I have a Ph. D. in management studies.
What inspires you every day to come to work?
My job gives me a great sense of meaning and purpose. I enjoy relationship building and being part of a bigger Group.
What is the best advice you were ever given?
You can if you think you can, the sky is the limit.
What advice would you give to a female peer starting in our company?
Have confidence in yourself. The one who is within you is stronger than the one outside! Be accountable for your actions. Show empathy and honesty and strive to be inspirational and optimistic.
Thank you, Preetha!
Hi Eveline, what do you do at BESIX?
After finishing my studies in Civil Engineering at the University of Leuven (Belgium), I worked in Belgium as a Civil Engineer. Since 2019, I’ve been working as a Concrete Technologist at BESIX-Six Construct in the Middle East. In my function, I provide support on defining the concrete strategy for major projects in the Middle East and abroad.
What inspires you every day to come to work?
The responsibility of searching and developing solutions for complex concrete problems to ensure a smooth project progress while working together with different cultures.
What is the best advice you were ever given?
Taking initiative pays off. It is hard to visualise someone as a leader if she is always waiting to be told what to do.
What advice would you give to a female peer starting in our company?
Believe in yourself, lean in and create your own opportunities with the support of great and inspiring mentors you can find within your company. Instead of thinking “I am not ready for that kind of role”, shift your thinking to “I want to do that and I will learn by doing it”.
