Interview | Vasiliki: "Applying as a female engineer? 'Just ask yourself: why not?'"

Studies have shown that 84% of women spend more time in the consideration phase before applying for a job than men. During this period, they seek concrete information and evidence of a company's authenticity. This was not really the case for Vasiliki, Head of Electrical Engineering and Protections at ENGIE. “When I applied ENGIE, I thought: ‘Why not?’ I have always felt that being an engineer gave me strength and opened up many opportunities in life.”
 

A desire to understand how things work

Today, Vasiliki leads a team of around twenty people, mainly in Belgium, but also in the Netherlands and the south of France. “Engineers and technicians working in highly specialised fields: electrical protection systems, excitation systems in thermal power plants and other high-voltage systems.”It is a role that combines office work and fieldwork, as it requires visiting power plants in person. Becoming an engineer was something that had always been part of who she was: “It’s a fairly classic story, but my father is an engineer. As for me, I chose to become an engineer because I didn’t yet know what I wanted to do in life. I wanted to keep as many options open as possible, and I also wanted to understand how things work,” she tells us.

Discovering the world

She was far from the only woman to study engineering in Greece: “Almost 40% of the students were women. It’s very different from Belgium, where girls are not encouraged as much to pursue this type of education.” After graduating as an electrical civil engineer, Vasiliki worked in solar energy systems within her family’s business in Greece. “I had already gained some international experience through an exchange programme in Barcelona and an internship in the Netherlands, and I wanted to discover the world and travel,” she adds. While visiting Brussels, she was told that ENGIE was looking for engineers like her. “I went for an interview and was later contacted about a position as an electrical engineer. It was a highly technical role that matched the internship I had completed. I accepted the position to give it a try... and 18 years later, I’m still at ENGIE,” Vasiliki smiles.

Career opportunities for everyone

The reason she stayed in Belgium is also linked to the development and growth opportunities she found at ENGIE. “The initiative must always come from you. No company will tell you: this is the career path you should follow. It’s up to you to speak up and explain what you want to do and how you would like to grow. ENGIE also gives you the space you need to do that.” During nearly 20 years with the company, in a variety of roles, she has also seen the organisation evolve: “What is very positive is that everyone is given a chance. It is a very inclusive, authentic and transparent environment. People who want to grow are given opportunities, and there are so many different business areas and activities that it is possible to perform several different jobs during one career.” She is a perfect example herself: “I worked in renewable energy and then moved into thermal power plants. Others follow the opposite path.”

All that remains is to apply, just as she did when she started her career as an engineer: “If you are eager to learn and your profile matches what is being sought, you have nothing to lose.” A good reason to take the leap and tell yourself: “Why not?”

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