January 7, 2024 • 20 mins
Charting uncharted skies with both a baby on her hip and a business in her grasp, Krystina Pearson-Rampeearee joins us to talk about juggling the high-flying world of aerospace engineering and the grounded realities of motherhood. Krystina shares her experience on how to navigate a field where women are still pioneering their presence, all while nurturing new life and a burgeoning business, Aviate Her, that champions the often-unseen diversity within STEM.
Listen to learn:
🎙️The profound impact maternity leave has had on Krystina's personal development
🎙️The challenges of dispelling self-doubt in a male-dominated workplace
🎙️The power of networking
🎙️How Krystina harnesses her capabilities to advocate for herself and others
Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Simone Roche MBE (00:19):
The Northern Power Women podcast for your
career and your life, no matterwhat business you're in.
Hello and welcome to theNorthern Power Women podcast.
My name is Simone and we loveevery week to chat to some of
the most brilliant role modelswho we talk to about their
personal and professionalstories and hopefully pass along
(00:40):
some of the advice, tips, Sidehacks know what it is?
Super hacks whatever it is thatmay help you to navigate you on
your way up through along yourown special career path.
And today I am KrystinaPearson Rampeearee, who is a
multi-award winning, a charteredaerospace engineer, BAE
(01:02):
assistant, owner of SmallBusiness Aviate Her and
currently joins us frommaternity leave.
Welcome, Krystina, welcome tothe podcast.
Hi, thanks for having me,Simone.
Oh, always a delight to talkwith you and the last time I saw
you was only a few weeks agowhen we were doing a power-up
live for Liverpool John Moores,third year, final year business
(01:24):
students, and you came with anadded bonus of a it's probably
eight week, nine week old Ava.
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (01:34):
Yeah , she must have been around
eight weeks.
Wow, I've lost track now sinceChristmas.
Simone Roche MBE (01:39):
How was she with all the people?
Krystina Pearson Rampeear (01:43):
She's good, she's good.
Yeah, nice to get her firstmentoring session under a belt
already.
It's like you know, you havethose milestone cards kind of
first smile, first laugh.
This is like first mentoringsession done.
Simone Roche MBE (01:57):
Absolutely, there you go.
That's one for a 18th or 21st,isn't it?
Where did you start mentoring?
Well, I was about eight or nineweeks old and my mum took about
, you know, take your kids towork day.
One of the things that wasreally that jumped at me that
day is one of the professorsfrom the university came up to
me after sort of the first orsecond session and just said you
(02:20):
know, I've got a young womanwho is a single parent, has come
back into education to sort ofreboot her knowledge.
She really was wary about comingalong to this mentoring event
today, but she did, andabsolutely having the
conversations with amazing, youknow, role models there and
(02:40):
actually I don't think youactually spoke to her directly,
but you just you've been therepresent with Ava made her
believe she could.
So, you know, you talk aboutrole models and actually just
being there you talk about.
If you don't see the change, beit.
You literally are the change,aren't you?
When it comes to being a rolemodel, Was that a hard thing to
sort of take responsibility for,if you like?
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (03:03):
Well , honestly, I guess in
situations like that obviously Igot in touch with her before is
it okay to bring Ava, andbecause she's slacked through
the whole thing, so she was fine, but it was nice to be able to
get out and do something andalso have over there.
Obviously, I felt comfortablein the situation.
If I needed to step aside orthere or anything I could do,
(03:27):
but for me it was just nice tobe outside and talking to people
, which is what I love doinganyway, and so it's good for my
mental health as well and, youknow, if someone else sees it,
and it helps them as well then,even better and you talk.
Simone Roche MBE (03:40):
When we were chatting in advance of the
podcast, I said what are thethings that you're really
passionate about right now, aswe, as we start a new year?
I'm not a massive fan of NewYear's resolutions.
I always think they're kind ofbroken by about day five or six
or something like that.
But but you talked about, atthe moment you're loving,
balancing and joining maternityleave, but still doing the
(04:02):
things that you love, and that'sthat's that's you, isn't it?
That's what makes you K.
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (04:07):
Yeah , and I feel like if I couldn't
do that then I wouldn't be beingmyself and obviously I wouldn't
be as happy as I am now.
And obviously me being happyalso helps with Ava, because she
and George because he's aboutfive they'll see me being happy
and I don't want them to see menot enjoying being off for a
(04:31):
year because I'm obviously I'm abit of a workaholic and I like
doing things and I like beingactive and I've had to step
aside from most of that being onleave, but there's still little
bits that I can do that youknow.
You know running my smallbusiness or doing things like
this.
That that you know are thingsthat I love doing.
So it really helps me enjoy thetime that I have with Ava, and
(04:54):
most of the time we're justsitting on the couch watching TV
.
So it's nice to keep my brainactive as well, because I feel
like the first year, the firsttime that I did maternity leave
with George, I wasn't doing kindof things like this.
So all I did was kind of playon the Xbox for months and I
felt a bit isolated reallybecause I wasn't really keeping
(05:16):
in touch with work for the wholetime.
So I took a whole year.
So when I came back I felt itwas more of a struggle getting
back into work, whereas thistime I've set kind of how I want
it to be, where I check inevery month with my line manager
.
We have a chat.
Obviously I'm managing team now, so it's a bit different to
when I was with George, but Ilike to know that they're doing
OK.
So having those chats monthlychecking on how the team are
(05:39):
doing, check my emails, keep ontop of things a bit more, so I
feel more connected than I didthe first time, which is nicer
as well.
Simone Roche MBE (05:45):
So you talk about your small business.
Can you summarize?
Ava it here.
Krystina Pearson Rampeearee (05:50):
Yes , so Ava it here.
I started off basically afterbeing told throughout my career
that I don't look like anengineer, so it's basically a
business that I started to smashthe stereotypes that are in
STEM and for people to showcasethemselves in different careers
in STEM and showcase thediversity that there is in those
careers that we don't often seein society.
Simone Roche MBE (06:13):
Oh, we love it .
And you have so many badges,don't you?
You have so many.
This is what an engineer lookslike.
This is what a scientist looklike.
They are absolutely amazing andwe can.
They're all on your feed oryour website, yeah, on.
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (06:25):
Etsy , so through any of the social
media pages I have.
There's, like some, my Etsypage and they're through there.
Simone Roche MBE (06:30):
Fabulous.
We will put the details of thatin our show notes.
And I've got, you know, areally sort of high power job.
You've got a team.
Now you know you've changedsort of roles as well, yet you
still sort of grow the growth ofbusiness, your small business,
your Ava hair.
What advice would you give foranyone else out there who has
got that busy job and has gotresponsibilities?
(06:51):
But I've got this idea.
What advice would you give tothem who go?
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (06:55):
Yeah , it can be hard balancing
things.
I'm not gonna lie.
I think, being an engineer, oneof my skills is that I'm very
organized and that has helped methrough everything.
Basically, every day is kind oforganized and what I need to do
.
I've got a planner, googleCalendar, everything.
If I wasn't organized I thinkit would all fall apart.
(07:19):
But yeah, and I think it's aswell, just keeping in mind that
it's okay to step back as wellif things are getting too much.
But just, you know, when Istart the small business, I got
a business advisor for free fromthe women's organization in
Liverpool, so they really helped.
And just, if there is someoneout there who's got an idea,
(07:40):
reach out to people, get advice,get help as you can, it's okay
to ask for help and it's thereand it will help you as well
With starting a business.
For me it was somethingcompletely new.
I had no education in businessand it was something that I
hadn't imagined that I would bedoing.
So to get that advice and tohelp me through it.
(08:02):
And, yeah, it really helpedwith it and I'm always, you know
, someone who, throughout mycareer, has been receptive to
advice.
And when I decided, you know,am I ready for the next step, to
become a manager of a team?
Am I?
I don't know?
I reached out to a lot ofpeople to hear about their
(08:22):
career journeys and get advicefrom them, so that really helped
me as well.
So, yeah, don't be afraid toreach out to people and get that
help and advice when you needit.
Simone Roche MBE (08:31):
Yeah, I couldn't agree more.
We've just started on our.
We have a digital hub, ourpower platform, and we're asking
role models like yourself youprovided one of the videos.
We're calling them our you knowour power profiles role models
on demand, because sometimes youmight not have the confidence
to come to one of those liveevents or come to our virtual
events, but actually justhearing those stories and then
it may, just, may just give youthat motivation to reach out,
(08:53):
because fundamentally, I thinkpeople wanna help and people do
wanna give back and pay itforward, don't they?
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (08:58):
They do.
You'll be surprised, I guess,at the amount that people are
willing to help.
I, you know, I've reached outto people in my company who are
way senior that I wouldn'timagine kind of having the time
to respond to me in the firstplace, but you know, they've
responded.
I've sat up a half hour callwith them and it's been great.
(09:19):
And likewise I've receivedmessages from LinkedIn of people
you know.
Can I have 15 minutes just withyou to speak about your career?
I'm interested in aerospaceengineering.
Can I speak?
And you know people are reallyreceptive to these things, so
don't be afraid to reach out.
Simone Roche MBE (09:34):
It's valuing that.
That's probably one of the mostprecious commodities, isn't it?
It's time, it's time, and giftin that time.
So take us back to I think youwere attending a careers fair.
What made you want to pursuethe career adventure that you've
had?
Krystina Pearson Rampeearee (09:50):
I didn't actually know that I
wanted to do aerospaceengineering until I went to an
air show and but I knew I wantedto do engineering because I
always enjoyed science and mathsand solving problems.
So I knew I wanted to doengineering but didn't realize
how many different sectors therewere in engineering until I
started doing my own researchbecause I guess when I was at
(10:13):
school it wasn't reallysomething that was spoken about,
apprenticeships weren't reallydiscussed as an option and so
it's a lot different.
Probably would have taken adifferent career path now if I
was redoing things, butobviously I did what I did at
the time it was a given thatyou'd go to university straight
after school.
So after going to an air show Istarted looking up kind of
(10:35):
careers in aviation andaerospace engineering was
something that appealed to meand it went from there really
and did you face many challenges?
Simone Roche MBE (10:44):
You say there were so many different
opportunities that you didn'tknow actually existed within
engineering.
But did you find any challengesalong the way as a woman trying
to get in into the industry andwork your way through?
Krystina Pearson Rampeearee (10:56):
I think the main challenge that I
faced was my own confidence, andthis was like something that
I'd always had because I wasalways shy.
When I was younger, when I wasat university, I didn't really
do any networking or join anysocieties, I didn't apply for a
year in industry or any workexperience, and it was only when
(11:16):
I really came out of universityand I didn't really.
I had my degree but I didn'treally have any real world
experience to show for it andstarted struggling kind of
looking for jobs afterwards thatI realised that maybe I should
have done things a bitdifferently.
And then, after the paternityleave, the first time, that was
when it really hit home that Ineeded to kind of do a bit more
(11:39):
and work on my confidence, andthat was when I started
volunteering and doing thingslike, which led to the sudden
kind of spike in my career.
That's happened since and it isbecause of just putting myself
out there and I think that wasthe challenge that I faced
really.
It was my own confidence and myown nervousness to kind of move
(12:05):
out of the bubble that I was inand kind of put myself out
there.
And things have really changedsince I started doing that.
Simone Roche MBE (12:12):
And how did you sort of suppress the?
We talk about imposter syndrome, we talk about the chimp
paradox.
How did you suppress the sortof that chimp on your shoulder,
or whatever that was, that wasstopping you from going?
You know what I'm just gonnalean into this, don't you?
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (12:27):
Yeah , so I think it was.
Obviously I gained a lot ofconfidence on maternity leave
after my first child.
I was like I've done this, he'sokay, he's healthy, he seems to
be thriving.
I can do hard things andmaternity leave the first time
was a bit different because tonow, because my husband was away
most of the time, obviouslyevery day, working far away, so
(12:51):
this time's a bit different whenhe's home a lot, but yeah, I
was mostly on my own.
So I gained a lot of confidencefrom being able to do that on my
own and then startingvolunteering.
It was starting small and thensuddenly increasing in the scope
of the things that I was doing.
So starting from not being onmy own talking to maybe 30
(13:12):
school children to stepping infront of 200 people on my own
kind of speaking to people.
So it was gradual and that'show that really helped.
I think, rather than puttingmyself in a situation where I
was completely uncomfortable andmaybe freezing up, it was
building up being I can do this,maybe I can do the next step
and then the next step and thenit grew into okay, I've gained
(13:34):
confidence from that and movingforward and I know I can do
these things now because I'veworked up to it.
So, yeah, that really helped.
Simone Roche MBE (13:44):
And you talk about the spike.
So you spike in your career,but equally the spike.
Then that started to happenwith winning stuff, right, and
that recognition factor.
So I think it was 2020 in ourfuture list, and then many, many
other awards and then, even atthe back end of 23, you were
(14:06):
finalist in Young Engineer aswell, of the year.
You know it's young winner.
I mean this is amazing, right.
You know, how do you feel aboutthat?
I spoke to an amazing womanonly, probably a few weeks ago,
and she was saying oh, havesomeone not been nominated for
quite a few things, but I'mreally struggling with how to
(14:27):
embrace it and not feel like Idon't deserve it.
What would you say to her?
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (14:33):
Yeah , I mean there is a lot of
imposter syndrome with it,especially when you see other
finalists and you think, oh mygosh, how amazing are they.
Like how am I kind of alongsidethese other people?
And it is tough.
But I think sometimes you haveto push for yourself and
advocate for yourself as well,because if you're not gonna do
(14:56):
it, you know who else willsometimes and that's something
that has led to I mentioned kindof the spike in my career Doing
suddenly kind of progressingthrough my career is kind of
advocating for myself andshowcasing what I am doing and
speaking up about those things.
I was given that advice oncethat you know I'm looking like I
(15:17):
am working a level above thelevel that I am now, but I need
to be showing off about what I'mdoing to show people that
actually, yeah, I'm deserving ofmoving up to the next level.
And that has really kind ofstuck with me since then,
because then it's like, okay,yeah, I really need to show you
know I am doing these things,but kind of put my head down.
(15:38):
Thinking that you know I am doisn't going to progress me.
I need to be, you know, such,you know telling people that I'm
doing this, these things, um,so that they're aware of it and
you know, they're aware that Iwant to move up to the next
level and progress and that Ithink that that advice has
really kind of helped my career,since I think it's really
important.
Simone Roche MBE (15:56):
You know, we created the awards back gosh,
we're all we know eight yearsago and it was all about, um,
you know, fundamentally theywere about encouraging people to
high five their achievements.
Don't, you know, hide thatlight, you know, in a, in a, put
in the in the back of thecupboard to really sort of you
know sort of celebrate,celebrate those achievements.
And so do you think part ofthis is is do you think we're
(16:17):
getting better at promoting sortof that diversity across the?
Krystina Pearson Rampe (16:20):
industry ?
I think so, and I think it'swhat the industry needs, because
the industry needs those rolemodels.
Um, and by promoting ourselvesand the work that we're doing,
we are being those role models,but for the younger generation
to see.
Well, look what these likewomen are doing and and I want
to get involved in this and Iwant to, you know, do something
like this.
So, yeah, I think we're doingbetter and we are seeing
(16:44):
progress as a result of it aswell.
Simone Roche MBE (16:46):
So what is your most proud achievement from
2023?
I can't even believe you couldpick one, to be honest.
Krystina Pearson Rampeearee (16:53):
Oof , oh, it's a struggle.
I mean, obviously, um, having achild is my kind of highlight of
2023, but I guess, um I'mreally proud of I started this
new role in January 2023,managing a team for the first
time, um, I know I was alsofound out um a kind of a month
(17:18):
after starting that I waspregnant.
So managing to kind of, yeah,learn a lot as as moving into a
new career, um in a new sectoras well, which is new to me.
So I'd been in aerospace andmoved more into, kind of
maritime.
So kind of learning on the job,a lot balancing being pregnant
(17:38):
and, um, the small business andthe things that I managed to do.
I'm quite proud that I managedto, you know, survive that and
also, um found out at the end ofthe year that um I had, um
speaking to my line manager,gave me a kind of high
performance rating, so to tomanage to do that and to, you
know, turn the team around aswell from um where they'd been,
(18:02):
uh, and be able to be thatsupport to the team as well, um,
something I'm really proud of,um as well as my little girl.
Simone Roche MBE (18:11):
But thank goodness for those lists, say
thank goodness for all thatlists and all that planning.
And as soon as we, as we diveand start running through 2024,
what's your goals for, for bothpersonally and professionally?
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (18:22):
Yeah , so, um, goals for 24, um,
haven't really set goals instone yet, but, um, along the
lines of enjoying maternityleave because, um, you know,
this is probably the last timethat I'll have um as on
maternity leave.
So, enjoying that and makingthe most of it as well as um,
(18:44):
taking the time to um, maybe dothe things that I didn't get a
chance to do last year.
Well, I've got some, somedowntime when she's napping and
things, um and um.
Yeah, keep the, keep the smallbusiness going, um, and do some
personal development as well.
Um, whilst I've got the yearoff from work, um, but, yeah,
(19:06):
just enjoy maternity leavemainly and then do the little
things that I can do.
Um, in the time, but don't puttoo much pressure on myself to
do things.
But, yeah, do the things thatenjoy doing as well.
Simone Roche MBE (19:15):
Oh, Krystina, thank you so much for joining me
on the podcast.
I can't believe.
I can't believe you've not beenon here before.
I couldn't believe it when wewere scheduling it.
Krystina, thank you so much.
You are a phenomenal role model.
You're a brilliant wife.
You're a brilliant ambassadorand advocate for everything you
do.
So thank you so much for givingus the time.
I can hear Ava in thebackground as well.
(19:35):
She's cheering.
She's your number onecheerleader.
In the back as well, we'realong with Nick and George.
But thank you so much forjoining me today.
Thank you for having me.
Oh, thank you all so much forlistening.
We really appreciate yourfeedback.
So please stay connected withus and all our socials at North
Power Women on Twitter andNorthern Power Women on all the
others, and we'd love you to doan old school review.
We'd love that and keepconnected with everything we're
(19:57):
doing on our digital hub WeA rePower.
net.
Thank you so much for joiningus.
This podcast is a weekly.
This is the Northern PowerWomen podcast a what goes on
media production.
The Northern Power Women podcast for your
career and your life, no matterwhat business you're in.
Hello and welcome to theNorthern Power Women podcast.
My name is Simone and we loveevery week to chat to some of
the most brilliant role modelswho we talk to about their
personal and professionalstories and hopefully pass along
(00:40):
some of the advice, tips, Sidehacks know what it is?
Super hacks whatever it is thatmay help you to navigate you on
your way up through along yourown special career path.
And today I am KrystinaPearson Rampeearee, who is a
multi-award winning, a charteredaerospace engineer, BAE
(01:02):
assistant, owner of SmallBusiness Aviate Her and
currently joins us frommaternity leave.
Welcome, Krystina, welcome tothe podcast.
Hi, thanks for having me,Simone.
Oh, always a delight to talkwith you and the last time I saw
you was only a few weeks agowhen we were doing a power-up
live for Liverpool John Moores,third year, final year business
(01:24):
students, and you came with anadded bonus of a it's probably
eight week, nine week old Ava.
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (01:34):
Yeah , she must have been around
eight weeks.
Wow, I've lost track now sinceChristmas.
Simone Roche MBE (01:39):
How was she with all the people?
Krystina Pearson Rampeear (01:43):
She's good, she's good.
Yeah, nice to get her firstmentoring session under a belt
already.
It's like you know, you havethose milestone cards kind of
first smile, first laugh.
This is like first mentoringsession done.
Simone Roche MBE (01:57):
Absolutely, there you go.
That's one for a 18th or 21st,isn't it?
Where did you start mentoring?
Well, I was about eight or nineweeks old and my mum took about
, you know, take your kids towork day.
One of the things that wasreally that jumped at me that
day is one of the professorsfrom the university came up to
me after sort of the first orsecond session and just said you
(02:20):
know, I've got a young womanwho is a single parent, has come
back into education to sort ofreboot her knowledge.
She really was wary about comingalong to this mentoring event
today, but she did, andabsolutely having the
conversations with amazing, youknow, role models there and
(02:40):
actually I don't think youactually spoke to her directly,
but you just you've been therepresent with Ava made her
believe she could.
So, you know, you talk aboutrole models and actually just
being there you talk about.
If you don't see the change, beit.
You literally are the change,aren't you?
When it comes to being a rolemodel, Was that a hard thing to
sort of take responsibility for,if you like?
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (03:03):
Well , honestly, I guess in
situations like that obviously Igot in touch with her before is
it okay to bring Ava, andbecause she's slacked through
the whole thing, so she was fine, but it was nice to be able to
get out and do something andalso have over there.
Obviously, I felt comfortablein the situation.
If I needed to step aside orthere or anything I could do,
(03:27):
but for me it was just nice tobe outside and talking to people
, which is what I love doinganyway, and so it's good for my
mental health as well and, youknow, if someone else sees it,
and it helps them as well then,even better and you talk.
Simone Roche MBE (03:40):
When we were chatting in advance of the
podcast, I said what are thethings that you're really
passionate about right now, aswe, as we start a new year?
I'm not a massive fan of NewYear's resolutions.
I always think they're kind ofbroken by about day five or six
or something like that.
But but you talked about, atthe moment you're loving,
balancing and joining maternityleave, but still doing the
(04:02):
things that you love, and that'sthat's that's you, isn't it?
That's what makes you K.
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (04:07):
Yeah , and I feel like if I couldn't
do that then I wouldn't be beingmyself and obviously I wouldn't
be as happy as I am now.
And obviously me being happyalso helps with Ava, because she
and George because he's aboutfive they'll see me being happy
and I don't want them to see menot enjoying being off for a
(04:31):
year because I'm obviously I'm abit of a workaholic and I like
doing things and I like beingactive and I've had to step
aside from most of that being onleave, but there's still little
bits that I can do that youknow.
You know running my smallbusiness or doing things like
this.
That that you know are thingsthat I love doing.
So it really helps me enjoy thetime that I have with Ava, and
(04:54):
most of the time we're justsitting on the couch watching TV
.
So it's nice to keep my brainactive as well, because I feel
like the first year, the firsttime that I did maternity leave
with George, I wasn't doing kindof things like this.
So all I did was kind of playon the Xbox for months and I
felt a bit isolated reallybecause I wasn't really keeping
(05:16):
in touch with work for the wholetime.
So I took a whole year.
So when I came back I felt itwas more of a struggle getting
back into work, whereas thistime I've set kind of how I want
it to be, where I check inevery month with my line manager
.
We have a chat.
Obviously I'm managing team now, so it's a bit different to
when I was with George, but Ilike to know that they're doing
OK.
So having those chats monthlychecking on how the team are
(05:39):
doing, check my emails, keep ontop of things a bit more, so I
feel more connected than I didthe first time, which is nicer
as well.
Simone Roche MBE (05:45):
So you talk about your small business.
Can you summarize?
Ava it here.
Krystina Pearson Rampeearee (05:50):
Yes , so Ava it here.
I started off basically afterbeing told throughout my career
that I don't look like anengineer, so it's basically a
business that I started to smashthe stereotypes that are in
STEM and for people to showcasethemselves in different careers
in STEM and showcase thediversity that there is in those
careers that we don't often seein society.
Simone Roche MBE (06:13):
Oh, we love it .
And you have so many badges,don't you?
You have so many.
This is what an engineer lookslike.
This is what a scientist looklike.
They are absolutely amazing andwe can.
They're all on your feed oryour website, yeah, on.
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (06:25):
Etsy , so through any of the social
media pages I have.
There's, like some, my Etsypage and they're through there.
Simone Roche MBE (06:30):
Fabulous.
We will put the details of thatin our show notes.
And I've got, you know, areally sort of high power job.
You've got a team.
Now you know you've changedsort of roles as well, yet you
still sort of grow the growth ofbusiness, your small business,
your Ava hair.
What advice would you give foranyone else out there who has
got that busy job and has gotresponsibilities?
(06:51):
But I've got this idea.
What advice would you give tothem who go?
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (06:55):
Yeah , it can be hard balancing
things.
I'm not gonna lie.
I think, being an engineer, oneof my skills is that I'm very
organized and that has helped methrough everything.
Basically, every day is kind oforganized and what I need to do
.
I've got a planner, googleCalendar, everything.
If I wasn't organized I thinkit would all fall apart.
(07:19):
But yeah, and I think it's aswell, just keeping in mind that
it's okay to step back as wellif things are getting too much.
But just, you know, when Istart the small business, I got
a business advisor for free fromthe women's organization in
Liverpool, so they really helped.
And just, if there is someoneout there who's got an idea,
(07:40):
reach out to people, get advice,get help as you can, it's okay
to ask for help and it's thereand it will help you as well
With starting a business.
For me it was somethingcompletely new.
I had no education in businessand it was something that I
hadn't imagined that I would bedoing.
So to get that advice and tohelp me through it.
(08:02):
And, yeah, it really helpedwith it and I'm always, you know
, someone who, throughout mycareer, has been receptive to
advice.
And when I decided, you know,am I ready for the next step, to
become a manager of a team?
Am I?
I don't know?
I reached out to a lot ofpeople to hear about their
(08:22):
career journeys and get advicefrom them, so that really helped
me as well.
So, yeah, don't be afraid toreach out to people and get that
help and advice when you needit.
Simone Roche MBE (08:31):
Yeah, I couldn't agree more.
We've just started on our.
We have a digital hub, ourpower platform, and we're asking
role models like yourself youprovided one of the videos.
We're calling them our you knowour power profiles role models
on demand, because sometimes youmight not have the confidence
to come to one of those liveevents or come to our virtual
events, but actually justhearing those stories and then
it may, just, may just give youthat motivation to reach out,
(08:53):
because fundamentally, I thinkpeople wanna help and people do
wanna give back and pay itforward, don't they?
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (08:58):
They do.
You'll be surprised, I guess,at the amount that people are
willing to help.
I, you know, I've reached outto people in my company who are
way senior that I wouldn'timagine kind of having the time
to respond to me in the firstplace, but you know, they've
responded.
I've sat up a half hour callwith them and it's been great.
(09:19):
And likewise I've receivedmessages from LinkedIn of people
you know.
Can I have 15 minutes just withyou to speak about your career?
I'm interested in aerospaceengineering.
Can I speak?
And you know people are reallyreceptive to these things, so
don't be afraid to reach out.
Simone Roche MBE (09:34):
It's valuing that.
That's probably one of the mostprecious commodities, isn't it?
It's time, it's time, and giftin that time.
So take us back to I think youwere attending a careers fair.
What made you want to pursuethe career adventure that you've
had?
Krystina Pearson Rampeearee (09:50):
I didn't actually know that I
wanted to do aerospaceengineering until I went to an
air show and but I knew I wantedto do engineering because I
always enjoyed science and mathsand solving problems.
So I knew I wanted to doengineering but didn't realize
how many different sectors therewere in engineering until I
started doing my own researchbecause I guess when I was at
(10:13):
school it wasn't reallysomething that was spoken about,
apprenticeships weren't reallydiscussed as an option and so
it's a lot different.
Probably would have taken adifferent career path now if I
was redoing things, butobviously I did what I did at
the time it was a given thatyou'd go to university straight
after school.
So after going to an air show Istarted looking up kind of
(10:35):
careers in aviation andaerospace engineering was
something that appealed to meand it went from there really
and did you face many challenges?
Simone Roche MBE (10:44):
You say there were so many different
opportunities that you didn'tknow actually existed within
engineering.
But did you find any challengesalong the way as a woman trying
to get in into the industry andwork your way through?
Krystina Pearson Rampeearee (10:56):
I think the main challenge that I
faced was my own confidence, andthis was like something that
I'd always had because I wasalways shy.
When I was younger, when I wasat university, I didn't really
do any networking or join anysocieties, I didn't apply for a
year in industry or any workexperience, and it was only when
(11:16):
I really came out of universityand I didn't really.
I had my degree but I didn'treally have any real world
experience to show for it andstarted struggling kind of
looking for jobs afterwards thatI realised that maybe I should
have done things a bitdifferently.
And then, after the paternityleave, the first time, that was
when it really hit home that Ineeded to kind of do a bit more
(11:39):
and work on my confidence, andthat was when I started
volunteering and doing thingslike, which led to the sudden
kind of spike in my career.
That's happened since and it isbecause of just putting myself
out there and I think that wasthe challenge that I faced
really.
It was my own confidence and myown nervousness to kind of move
(12:05):
out of the bubble that I was inand kind of put myself out
there.
And things have really changedsince I started doing that.
Simone Roche MBE (12:12):
And how did you sort of suppress the?
We talk about imposter syndrome, we talk about the chimp
paradox.
How did you suppress the sortof that chimp on your shoulder,
or whatever that was, that wasstopping you from going?
You know what I'm just gonnalean into this, don't you?
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (12:27):
Yeah , so I think it was.
Obviously I gained a lot ofconfidence on maternity leave
after my first child.
I was like I've done this, he'sokay, he's healthy, he seems to
be thriving.
I can do hard things andmaternity leave the first time
was a bit different because tonow, because my husband was away
most of the time, obviouslyevery day, working far away, so
(12:51):
this time's a bit different whenhe's home a lot, but yeah, I
was mostly on my own.
So I gained a lot of confidencefrom being able to do that on my
own and then startingvolunteering.
It was starting small and thensuddenly increasing in the scope
of the things that I was doing.
So starting from not being onmy own talking to maybe 30
(13:12):
school children to stepping infront of 200 people on my own
kind of speaking to people.
So it was gradual and that'show that really helped.
I think, rather than puttingmyself in a situation where I
was completely uncomfortable andmaybe freezing up, it was
building up being I can do this,maybe I can do the next step
and then the next step and thenit grew into okay, I've gained
(13:34):
confidence from that and movingforward and I know I can do
these things now because I'veworked up to it.
So, yeah, that really helped.
Simone Roche MBE (13:44):
And you talk about the spike.
So you spike in your career,but equally the spike.
Then that started to happenwith winning stuff, right, and
that recognition factor.
So I think it was 2020 in ourfuture list, and then many, many
other awards and then, even atthe back end of 23, you were
(14:06):
finalist in Young Engineer aswell, of the year.
You know it's young winner.
I mean this is amazing, right.
You know, how do you feel aboutthat?
I spoke to an amazing womanonly, probably a few weeks ago,
and she was saying oh, havesomeone not been nominated for
quite a few things, but I'mreally struggling with how to
(14:27):
embrace it and not feel like Idon't deserve it.
What would you say to her?
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (14:33):
Yeah , I mean there is a lot of
imposter syndrome with it,especially when you see other
finalists and you think, oh mygosh, how amazing are they.
Like how am I kind of alongsidethese other people?
And it is tough.
But I think sometimes you haveto push for yourself and
advocate for yourself as well,because if you're not gonna do
(14:56):
it, you know who else willsometimes and that's something
that has led to I mentioned kindof the spike in my career Doing
suddenly kind of progressingthrough my career is kind of
advocating for myself andshowcasing what I am doing and
speaking up about those things.
I was given that advice oncethat you know I'm looking like I
(15:17):
am working a level above thelevel that I am now, but I need
to be showing off about what I'mdoing to show people that
actually, yeah, I'm deserving ofmoving up to the next level.
And that has really kind ofstuck with me since then,
because then it's like, okay,yeah, I really need to show you
know I am doing these things,but kind of put my head down.
(15:38):
Thinking that you know I am doisn't going to progress me.
I need to be, you know, such,you know telling people that I'm
doing this, these things, um,so that they're aware of it and
you know, they're aware that Iwant to move up to the next
level and progress and that Ithink that that advice has
really kind of helped my career,since I think it's really
important.
Simone Roche MBE (15:56):
You know, we created the awards back gosh,
we're all we know eight yearsago and it was all about, um,
you know, fundamentally theywere about encouraging people to
high five their achievements.
Don't, you know, hide thatlight, you know, in a, in a, put
in the in the back of thecupboard to really sort of you
know sort of celebrate,celebrate those achievements.
And so do you think part ofthis is is do you think we're
(16:17):
getting better at promoting sortof that diversity across the?
Krystina Pearson Rampe (16:20):
industry ?
I think so, and I think it'swhat the industry needs, because
the industry needs those rolemodels.
Um, and by promoting ourselvesand the work that we're doing,
we are being those role models,but for the younger generation
to see.
Well, look what these likewomen are doing and and I want
to get involved in this and Iwant to, you know, do something
like this.
So, yeah, I think we're doingbetter and we are seeing
(16:44):
progress as a result of it aswell.
Simone Roche MBE (16:46):
So what is your most proud achievement from
2023?
I can't even believe you couldpick one, to be honest.
Krystina Pearson Rampeearee (16:53):
Oof , oh, it's a struggle.
I mean, obviously, um, having achild is my kind of highlight of
2023, but I guess, um I'mreally proud of I started this
new role in January 2023,managing a team for the first
time, um, I know I was alsofound out um a kind of a month
(17:18):
after starting that I waspregnant.
So managing to kind of, yeah,learn a lot as as moving into a
new career, um in a new sectoras well, which is new to me.
So I'd been in aerospace andmoved more into, kind of
maritime.
So kind of learning on the job,a lot balancing being pregnant
(17:38):
and, um, the small business andthe things that I managed to do.
I'm quite proud that I managedto, you know, survive that and
also, um found out at the end ofthe year that um I had, um
speaking to my line manager,gave me a kind of high
performance rating, so to tomanage to do that and to, you
know, turn the team around aswell from um where they'd been,
(18:02):
uh, and be able to be thatsupport to the team as well, um,
something I'm really proud of,um as well as my little girl.
Simone Roche MBE (18:11):
But thank goodness for those lists, say
thank goodness for all thatlists and all that planning.
And as soon as we, as we diveand start running through 2024,
what's your goals for, for bothpersonally and professionally?
Krystina Pearson Rampeeare (18:22):
Yeah , so, um, goals for 24, um,
haven't really set goals instone yet, but, um, along the
lines of enjoying maternityleave because, um, you know,
this is probably the last timethat I'll have um as on
maternity leave.
So, enjoying that and makingthe most of it as well as um,
(18:44):
taking the time to um, maybe dothe things that I didn't get a
chance to do last year.
Well, I've got some, somedowntime when she's napping and
things, um and um.
Yeah, keep the, keep the smallbusiness going, um, and do some
personal development as well.
Um, whilst I've got the yearoff from work, um, but, yeah,
(19:06):
just enjoy maternity leavemainly and then do the little
things that I can do.
Um, in the time, but don't puttoo much pressure on myself to
do things.
But, yeah, do the things thatenjoy doing as well.
Simone Roche MBE (19:15):
Oh, Krystina, thank you so much for joining me
on the podcast.
I can't believe.
I can't believe you've not beenon here before.
I couldn't believe it when wewere scheduling it.
Krystina, thank you so much.
You are a phenomenal role model.
You're a brilliant wife.
You're a brilliant ambassadorand advocate for everything you
do.
So thank you so much for givingus the time.
I can hear Ava in thebackground as well.
(19:35):
She's cheering.
She's your number onecheerleader.
In the back as well, we'realong with Nick and George.
But thank you so much forjoining me today.
Thank you for having me.
Oh, thank you all so much forlistening.
We really appreciate yourfeedback.
So please stay connected withus and all our socials at North
Power Women on Twitter andNorthern Power Women on all the
others, and we'd love you to doan old school review.
We'd love that and keepconnected with everything we're
(19:57):
doing on our digital hub WeA rePower.
net.
Thank you so much for joiningus.
This podcast is a weekly.
This is the Northern PowerWomen podcast a what goes on
media production.
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