December 23, 2024 • 19 mins
Curious about how an aerospace engineer made the leap into entrepreneurship? In this episode, Krystina Pearson-Rampeearee, a trailblazer in both engineering and small business ownership, shares her inspiring journey. From challenging stereotypes with her unique "This is what an engineer looks like" pin badges to becoming a powerful role model for young women in male-dominated fields, Krystina is proof that representation matters in STEM.
Krystina also opens up about balancing professional ambition with motherhood and her commitment to being a mentor. She shares insights on stepping beyond comfort zones, bringing her baby to work events, and how she’s used her voice to inspire others.
In this conversation, we dive into Krystina’s journey of personal and professional growth, including her experiences at prestigious events like the Woman of the Year lunch in London. Her story is a reminder that embracing the unknown can lead to limitless possibilities.
Tune in for an episode that celebrates breaking conventions, personal evolution, and the courage to pursue your unique path.
They also talk about…
- The art of planning and tips from a serial planner
- Krystina’s passion for supporting small businesses
- How Krystina’s business grew from lockdown to success
- Her journey as a role model and mentor
- Balancing career, motherhood, and personal growth
- Krystina’s future plans and excitement for what’s next
Join us for an inspiring discussion on embracing change and creating your own opportunities!
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.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, hello and welcome to the we Are Power
podcast.
If this is your first time here, the we Are Power podcast is
the podcast for you, your careerand your life.
We release an episode everysingle Monday with listeners in
over 60 countries worldwide,where you'll hear personal life
stories, top-notch industryadvice and key leadership
insight from amazing role models.
(00:21):
As we Are Power is the umbrellabrand to Northern Power Women
Awards, which celebrateshundreds of female role models
and advocates every year.
This is where you can hearstories from all of our awards
alumni and stay up to date witheverything.
Mpw Awards and we Are PowerNever imitated, never replicated
(00:42):
singularly wonderful,everybody's wonder girl.
Today, I am delighted to bejoined by Christina
Pisa-Rampiare, who is anaerospace engineer, small
business owner, serial planner.
I get from your Instagram,christina.
Welcome to the pod, thank youfor having me.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yes, I am a serial planner, you are.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
I have to plan.
My whole.
My whole life is planned out.
I saw that you know you put areel out earlier this month and
it was like this is who I am andI love that To-do lists
planning.
What's your top tip forplanning Busy women with all
these different kind of thingsthat we do and you know the
lifelong juggle, what's?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
your top tips?
Colour coordinated Googlecalendar.
What's your top tips?
Color coordinated googlecalendar?
That's how we survive in ourhouse.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Basically, yeah, love that, and I cannot go on
without talking about thatamazing shirt.
Talk to us about that.
Made by small business owner.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Yes, yes, so, uh, this is a shirt from pine and
treasure, so she acquires kindof secondhand shirts and then,
um, yeah, you could get themembroidered.
So I've got mine with my two,uh, young children's names and
then mama on.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
But I've got different ones with my initials
on and I'm just obsessed withthem and you are really, really
passionate about supportingsmall business as a small
business career woman, but alsosmall business owner, haven't
you?
And so you're.
I'm very proud to have my womenin maritime badge, which is
from your organization.
But this was a.
This high tussle came.
Was it during COVID or before?
Speaker 2 (02:11):
it was just after the first lockdown.
So yeah, and it wasn't anythingplanned, it was just we were in
lockdown and I was like on Etsylooking for pin badges,
couldn't find the one that Iwanted and then thought, why
don't I do it myself?
Speaker 1 (02:24):
and if not me, who right yeah?
Speaker 2 (02:27):
four years later, it's a small business and I'm
still running it and I've gotover 50 odd badges in my shop
and yeah, it's wild because itstarted.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
This is what an engineer looks like.
That was the whole vibe, wasn't?
It is that you couldn't see,and so you thought I'm gonna
make this it was yes, so alwaysbeen told I don't look like an
engineer.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
So I wanted a badge that said this is what an
engineer looks like and couldn'tsee it, and yeah, so I just got
it made.
And then lots of people reachedout I'm a scientist, I'm a
physicist, I'm a pilot and Ijust started, you know, adding
these new badges and part of theproceeds to very given past
proceeds to various charities,and you know I've sold thousands
now and I just didn't imaginethat would ever happen.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
What's your favorite?
Badge is that.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
That's probably like saying who's your favorite child
right, probably this is what anengineer looks like, just
because it was the first one andyeah, it's the one I always
wear.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
What's the next one?
It's the one in mind, one inthe pipe line.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
So the next one I'm planning to bring out a women in
motorsport one, and this iswhat a dentist looks like.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Oh, and it's interesting because you talk
about.
You know this is all your sortof side hustle, straight after
covid and um.
You know you're, you're anengineer by trade, but you did
this.
It's all about not being ableto.
You talk about.
You can't be what you can't see, and I think you are on your
social medias.
You are an exemplar in how tobe a role model.
(03:51):
At what point did you realizeyou were that role model?
Because you're always out there.
You go and speak at everything,whether it be at big global
conferences or into the school,because it was engineering day
last month, in November, orwhether it's National Day of the
Girl or whatever.
You're there, aren't you?
You're present and you willturn up.
But what was that point thatwent?
(04:11):
I'm going to do this.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yeah, so it started really small.
So it started off doing thingsin COVID, well, just before
COVID and then COVID happened.
So it was more like virtualthings that I was supporting
speaking to classes and yeah,just doing lots of like small
little virtual events and things.
And then, once we came out ofCOVID, I started doing small
in-person events and that builtup and built up.
And then I think it was onlywhen I started getting emails
(04:34):
from just kind of randomly beinglike um, have you got time for
a quick chat?
I'd really love to kind of hearmore about your career and get
your advice on some things.
And it was when that startedhappening that I thought, oh,
I've become a person that peoplewant to go and speak to.
I mean, I didn't picture ithappening, um, and it's, it's.
You know you?
Just you end up doing lots ofthings and then suddenly you
(04:55):
know you start getting somefeedback from it and and it's
not something I didn't Iexpected and I was like I can't
believe this person wants tospeak to me.
Why do they want to speak to me?
But yeah, that's when I startedrealizing actually I am
becoming that role model that Ididn't have when I was younger,
um, and if I can be helpful, ifI if I can be, you know point
them to resources.
(05:16):
Just explain some of thefailures I've had, not just the
successes, um, just highlightthings to them that I've gone
through in my career, thenthat's great if I can share that
knowledge with them.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
And what would you say to it?
Because I think it's somethingabout showing the failure
moments, because sometimes thatgoes oh gosh, that's so much
more relatable.
It's not all perfect.
It's one straight linetrajectory.
It's not for everyone, itdoesn't work like that.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Social media looks like everything's amazing and
you've had the perfect life.
But things, but you know, not,things have not always gone to
plan and it's just pivoting.
That's what I've done and it'sjust explaining that.
You know, that's the realitiesof how I've ended up where I am.
I've pivoted a lot and it'sbecause of failures, because
things haven't gone the way Iplanned and you know, showing
them that even if they fall atthe first hurdle, it's not the
(05:57):
end of the world.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
And what would you say to anyone out there that
want to be role model because,for for me, everyone's a role
model to someone?
What would you say to thatperson who's sort of skirting
around the edge, or sat on theside or procrastinating about
leaning in because they've beenasked to speak at school or
they've been asked to or haven'tbeen asked, but actually I'd
quite like to go and talk whatwould you say?
Speaker 2 (06:15):
I'd say reach out.
I say one of the things I saywhen I sometimes do these talks
is that everyone, like you said,is a role model.
You may not know it.
You may be a role model to acolleague, a family friend, one
of your family, and if it'ssomething you are thinking about
, great, go for it.
I think I've learned by doingthese small things that have
turned into bigger things thatyou don't know that you'll like
(06:37):
something until you try it andyou might end up loving it.
Or you might know that it's notsomething you want to do again,
but you won't know unless yougive it a go.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
and who knows where you'll end up and it's finding
your own sort of ubu, isn't it?
Because it doesn't necessarilyhave to be stood up in a big,
massive school assembly or a big, massive stage at a business
conference.
It can be smaller things, can'tit?
Or be or actually be puttingarticles out on linkedin or
whatever it may be.
It can be different things youcan role model in.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
It can be YouTube videos?
It can be.
You know, I did an event a fewweeks ago Festival of the Girl
and it was great.
So I was speaking but I endedup kind of there was lots of
cushions around and lots ofyoung girls and their parents
all sat on these cushions.
I ended up, you know, there wasa stage but I just sat on the
edge of the stage and I ended upchatting to them and it was
(07:23):
really it felt it was such asafe atmosphere and it felt
really you know personal and youknow things like that.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Experiences like that are just fantastic and that's
the thing, isn't it sometimes?
I remember speaking to a reallysenior chief exec many years
ago and I'd invited her to comeand speak and she was like yes,
I'd speaking to a really seniorchief exec many years ago and I
invited her to come and speakand she was like yes, I'd love
to.
You know it's a real mixedaudience of future talent and
emerging talent.
She was like that's brilliant,it's exactly what I love.
And she goes.
Could someone ask me thequestions?
(07:51):
And you're like okay, this is aFTSE 250 CEO.
She's like I prefer to chatrather than just stand up and
deliver and I think, actuallyput yourself in the best
position you can that you'remost comfortable with to deliver
those messages it's aboutconnecting with the people that
you're speaking to as well,isn't it?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
If you speak to a few young girls, you don't want to
be kind of talking and there's ajargon over their heads.
I think you want to beconnecting with them.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
It takes the barrier away, doesn't it?
I saw that picture.
I saw that picture of you justsort of sat on the edge leaning
in, leaning in to go.
I'm here ask me any question,ask me an awkward one, even more
the best, even more the better,um, and actually last year we
were doing one of our we dothese um talent connection
events where we bring studentstogether with um individuals
(08:40):
from industry, all sectors, andwe did something up at the
university and you came alongwith Ava how old was?
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Ava at that point oh gosh, so that was.
She must have been a couple ofmonths, if that, maybe less and
you came along and we did.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
it's probably a good couple of hours, isn't it, with
a, you know, speed mentor movingfrom sort of group to group and
yeah, she was quiet as a mouse.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
That's the best thing .
At that point, all she did wassleep.
So, yeah, I could tag along toanything, she wouldn't know
what's going on.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
But I remember afterwards I think I've said
this to you before One of theheads of department came up to
me afterwards and said they hada mature student or you know,
and she she'd gone up and said Iliterally wasn't sure what I
might get from an event likethis.
But actually one of the biggestthings I've got is to realize
that I was worried that I'm anolder student and what's my
(09:28):
career prospects going to be.
I never even imagined that I'ma mum.
I never even realized thatactually kids and babies are
welcome in the workplace.
And it was such a visiblestatement and obviously and she
didn't even speak to you, butthat you just being visible at
that moment made such a bigdifference.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Yeah, and it's something that when I had my
first so Ava's my second childwhen I had my first child I
didn't really do a lot because Iwasn't doing a lot of these
events and things.
It was only after he, kind ofhis birth, kind of spurred me on
afterwards to kind of getinvolved and start speaking and
things.
And when Ava was around I wasgetting invited to things and I
was like, well, I'm on maternityleave, I, you know, I am
(10:11):
available if I can bring heralong.
And you know, most of the timethey said bring her.
And she, you know, she went toLondon, she went to the Royal
Academy of Engineering for twodays and she just slept most of
the time.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
But we had a great time and you know those are kind
of memories that I'll neverforget.
But you need to get on LinkedInalready she's, yeah, she's, uh,
she's been very lucky.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
She's met incredible people already, um, but I didn't
, I wouldn't have known unlessI'd asked and I kind of felt
cheeky enough to kind of askbecause why not?
Um, what's the worst gonnahappen?
They'll say no, which is whatyou know I would have expected.
But most of the time they saidyes and I never thought about
the impact of that, of someoneseeing something like that and,
you know, being relatable tothem.
(10:51):
I just kind of did it, um, butit's great that I could, I did
that and people could takesomething away from that, that.
That, oh yeah, you can, youknow, ask to have kids at these
things and you know, showcasingthat I did have Ava.
Oh, you can, like have a careerafter having a child.
It's not.
Sometimes, you know, they say,you know it's the end of your
(11:11):
career, there's nothing up, andwe do lose a lot of women in
engineering and generally kindof after having a child.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
But you know it doesn't have to be that way and
you can show that there ispositive.
You know positive stories aswell and to showcase it's not
all, and this is return for you.
It's maternity return frommaternity leave 2.0 right, and I
saw I loved your post the otherweek is this is what I'm
looking forward to aftermaternity leave and it was going
back to the gym, building up myflying hours, being able to
have drinks and food hot,engaging my brain at work,
(11:47):
booking holidays, four day weeksand appreciating quality time
with the kids.
How's that working out for youso far?
Speaker 2 (11:53):
yeah, oh, it's good to have a refresher.
Actually, I've been back likefive weeks.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
It's accountability, isn't it?
Now you've written it down, youput it on socials yes, no,
thank you for keeping meaccountable.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Um, yeah, I need to go back to that, but yeah, no, I
am um, doing a lot of thosethings.
I've started working well um putmyself on a waiting list to
start building my flying hoursagain and, yeah, start to put
myself out there.
I think I needed to put a listtogether because I was also
quite like, sad about going back, so I needed some things to
look forward to as well.
So so you know, these arethings that I'm looking forward
(12:24):
to, and I'm sad, but also thereis going to be good things that
happen after I go back to workand she starts nursery.
So it was trying to make itpositive for myself and, yeah,
it's helped it's part of yourplanning.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
This is the equivalent of your colour coded
google spreadsheet, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (12:39):
There's a plan I put together before I went back.
Yeah, and these are the thingsI want to do.
And yeah, I'm keeping myselfaccountable.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Does it feel very different sort of coming back
into work after Ava as it wasafter George?
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Yeah, I think it does , because the first time the
first mat leave was before COVIDCOVID, so there wasn't a hybrid
kind of working.
I didn't really involve myselfa lot with what was going on,
but this time I kind of kept intouch.
I made sure I knew what wasgoing on.
So I felt more prepared, didmore keep in touch days, um, so
used what was available in termsof the resources available and,
(13:15):
uh, yeah, felt way moreprepared.
And I've just gone in and it'sbeen a busy few weeks, but I'm
loving being back again and I'mright back in the thicker thing.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
So it's all good, and what advice would you give?
Because you say you lose a lotof women in every sector, but
particularly engineering.
Um, we're losing a lot of womennot coming back in or or sort
of limiting where they come back.
You know, when they come backinto the world of work, how have
?
Is it by giving yourself goals?
Is it how?
Speaker 2 (13:41):
do.
I've given myself goals.
I've gone back four days a weekbecause I do want to spend that
quality time with Ava.
So we do a little baby class ona Friday, which is lovely, um,
spending time just just us, andyeah, I make sure I have that.
That, as I said, on my lessquality time, and also, kind of
as a serial planner, plan mydays so I'm not working.
(14:02):
You know I don't want to fallinto the trap of throwing myself
back in, but then you knowwork-life balance, forgetting
that.
So trying to keep to my plansof you know, this is how I set
out my day.
This is my plan to try and havea walk at lunch, try and get
out, get some fresh air and,yeah, just try and um, yeah, not
throw myself in too much butenjoy it all.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
And for someone who's watching this, who's not really
sure what they want theircareer adventure to be, uh,
again, I'm living vicariouslythrough your Instagram feed.
But you talked about this iswhat an engineer looks like.
We talked about your fabulousbadges, but you actually
sometimes people have assumptionof what an engineer is.
Yeah, where you know, you putout well, you can do this, you
can do that.
(14:43):
It's.
It's not a one size fits allcareer, is it?
There's lots of different.
How did you find your way intoengineering and did you know
they were all available?
Speaker 2 (14:52):
no, I didn't know.
They were all available,available.
Um, I basically wanted to doengineering.
Well, I thought about doingengineering because I loved
solving problems and and enjoyedmaths and physics, so that led
me to engineering.
I didn't know what type um,until I went to an air show, saw
lots of fast jets flying around, the red arrows, you know all
these like fancy jets flyingaround.
I thought cool aerospace,googled it and was like that's
(15:16):
what I'm gonna do.
Um, but only because of thatdid I really fall into it.
Once I decided to do that, Ididn't know what job I was going
to do.
I didn't know what jobs wereout there.
I just started applying once Ifinished university.
So I would say, yeah, there aregoing to be jobs that don't
exist yet.
People are just finishingschool, university now.
(15:37):
There's going to be so manyjobs in the future that we don't
know about yet.
It's exciting.
I think that's the thing thatI've learned in the past few
years is being open toopportunities because,
especially engineering, I'vebeen able to pivot and do lots
of different things, try lots ofdifferent things, end up where
I didn't plan to end up, onlybecause someone said why don't
you try this?
And I was like, why, why not?
And yeah, that's how my careerhas basically gone the last few
(15:59):
years.
And people say, where do youwant to be in 10 years?
Speaker 1 (16:03):
And I'm like I have no idea where I'm going to be.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
I don't know what's going to happen.
I don't know what opportunitiesare going to happen.
Who knows?
Speaker 1 (16:08):
But that's the exciting part, I think, yeah,
it's limitless almost, isn't it?
As the world evolves and astechnology evolves and
everything around infrastructureevolves, it's going to change,
isn't it?
It reminds me, actually, of itwas.
We'd just come out of theNorthern Power Women Awards on
the Monday and we had a visit toHMS Queen Elizabeth in my role
(16:28):
as Honorary Captain in the RoyalNavy and you came on board with
some of the Northern PowerWomen team and gang and I
remember everyone was like thisis really so exciting and you
spent, I think, a good half anhour looking at the engineering
and the infrastructure andeverything that was on that
warship going.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Ah, I can't take the engineer.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
You can take, rather, but you can't take the engineer
out again so, as you've comeback into uh, back into the
world of work again not that bylooking at your feed it didn't
look as though you had much timeaway but what are you excited
for in the year ahead?
Speaker 2 (17:05):
um, oh, what am I excited for?
So I guess you know planningholidays next year, so not just
the career stuff, but holidays,but also just developing my
career, moving forward, seeingwhat comes up, a lot more kind
of you know talks, puttingmyself out there, um, seeing
what happens.
From that, I think it's theunknown that excites me now and
(17:27):
that's the thing that used toscare me, which is quite weird,
because I I didn't used to havea lot of confidence and I was
quite shy and and I'd like to bereally prepared for things.
But I think now I've come tolearn.
You know, it's the unknown andthings that that happen that are
actually the exciting part and,um, yeah, I think that that is
what I'm looking forward to and,yes, seeing where my career
(17:47):
goes, because I may be kind of abit further on in my career,
but that doesn't make it anyless exciting and who knows
what's gonna turn up.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
And you were invited earlier this year to the woman
of the year lunch, which youwere invited to last year, but
you couldn't go because you werejust about to have a baby.
And this is an amazing lunchthat they have in London.
I think it's been around 70years or something like that now
and I've been a couple of times.
It's amazing and there'sliterally full of everyone from
sports people to entrepreneursto celebrities, to everything
(18:18):
who was the highlight of yourday and who you met.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Oh, I mean, there were so many.
It was amazing to see, you knowknow, people like, um, oh my
gosh, I can't even.
There's so many off the top ofmy head.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
Angela.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Rippon, that's who you met.
I know what I got to hold herphone and take a photo for her.
So that's my kind of highlightof the day.
So surreal honestly it was.
It was I think I spent thewhole day just being in awe and
it didn't really like sell kindof, didn't really sink in kind
of what the experience or what,until maybe like a week later
(18:54):
and I was starting work the nextday, but return my return to
work was the next day frommaternity leave.
So I had that event and I waslike whoa, you know, empowered,
inspired, and I was like this isreally surreal To think that I
would be invited to an eventlike that.
I would have never imagined ina million years.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
You are the most humble role model ever, I think,
christina, thank you so muchfor joining us today, really
appreciate all your wisdom,insight and, of course, my new
badge, women in Maritime.
Thank you for having me.
Thanks, Christina.
Thank you so muchitime.
Thank you for having me.
Thanks, christina.
Thank you so much.
Thank you for joining us today.
Subscribe on YouTube, apple,amazon, music, spotify or
(19:34):
wherever you get your podcasts,leave us a review or follow us
on socials.
We are power underscore net onInsta, tiktok and Twitter, or we
are power on LinkedIn, facebookand we are underscore power on
YouTube.
Hello, hello and welcome to the we Are Power
podcast.
If this is your first time here, the we Are Power podcast is
the podcast for you, your careerand your life.
We release an episode everysingle Monday with listeners in
over 60 countries worldwide,where you'll hear personal life
stories, top-notch industryadvice and key leadership
insight from amazing role models.
(00:21):
As we Are Power is the umbrellabrand to Northern Power Women
Awards, which celebrateshundreds of female role models
and advocates every year.
This is where you can hearstories from all of our awards
alumni and stay up to date witheverything.
Mpw Awards and we Are PowerNever imitated, never replicated
(00:42):
singularly wonderful,everybody's wonder girl.
Today, I am delighted to bejoined by Christina
Pisa-Rampiare, who is anaerospace engineer, small
business owner, serial planner.
I get from your Instagram,christina.
Welcome to the pod, thank youfor having me.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yes, I am a serial planner, you are.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
I have to plan.
My whole.
My whole life is planned out.
I saw that you know you put areel out earlier this month and
it was like this is who I am andI love that To-do lists
planning.
What's your top tip forplanning Busy women with all
these different kind of thingsthat we do and you know the
lifelong juggle, what's?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
your top tips?
Colour coordinated Googlecalendar.
What's your top tips?
Color coordinated googlecalendar?
That's how we survive in ourhouse.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Basically, yeah, love that, and I cannot go on
without talking about thatamazing shirt.
Talk to us about that.
Made by small business owner.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Yes, yes, so, uh, this is a shirt from pine and
treasure, so she acquires kindof secondhand shirts and then,
um, yeah, you could get themembroidered.
So I've got mine with my two,uh, young children's names and
then mama on.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
But I've got different ones with my initials
on and I'm just obsessed withthem and you are really, really
passionate about supportingsmall business as a small
business career woman, but alsosmall business owner, haven't
you?
And so you're.
I'm very proud to have my womenin maritime badge, which is
from your organization.
But this was a.
This high tussle came.
Was it during COVID or before?
Speaker 2 (02:11):
it was just after the first lockdown.
So yeah, and it wasn't anythingplanned, it was just we were in
lockdown and I was like on Etsylooking for pin badges,
couldn't find the one that Iwanted and then thought, why
don't I do it myself?
Speaker 1 (02:24):
and if not me, who right yeah?
Speaker 2 (02:27):
four years later, it's a small business and I'm
still running it and I've gotover 50 odd badges in my shop
and yeah, it's wild because itstarted.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
This is what an engineer looks like.
That was the whole vibe, wasn't?
It is that you couldn't see,and so you thought I'm gonna
make this it was yes, so alwaysbeen told I don't look like an
engineer.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
So I wanted a badge that said this is what an
engineer looks like and couldn'tsee it, and yeah, so I just got
it made.
And then lots of people reachedout I'm a scientist, I'm a
physicist, I'm a pilot and Ijust started, you know, adding
these new badges and part of theproceeds to very given past
proceeds to various charities,and you know I've sold thousands
now and I just didn't imaginethat would ever happen.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
What's your favorite?
Badge is that.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
That's probably like saying who's your favorite child
right, probably this is what anengineer looks like, just
because it was the first one andyeah, it's the one I always
wear.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
What's the next one?
It's the one in mind, one inthe pipe line.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
So the next one I'm planning to bring out a women in
motorsport one, and this iswhat a dentist looks like.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Oh, and it's interesting because you talk
about.
You know this is all your sortof side hustle, straight after
covid and um.
You know you're, you're anengineer by trade, but you did
this.
It's all about not being ableto.
You talk about.
You can't be what you can't see, and I think you are on your
social medias.
You are an exemplar in how tobe a role model.
(03:51):
At what point did you realizeyou were that role model?
Because you're always out there.
You go and speak at everything,whether it be at big global
conferences or into the school,because it was engineering day
last month, in November, orwhether it's National Day of the
Girl or whatever.
You're there, aren't you?
You're present and you willturn up.
But what was that point thatwent?
(04:11):
I'm going to do this.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yeah, so it started really small.
So it started off doing thingsin COVID, well, just before
COVID and then COVID happened.
So it was more like virtualthings that I was supporting
speaking to classes and yeah,just doing lots of like small
little virtual events and things.
And then, once we came out ofCOVID, I started doing small
in-person events and that builtup and built up.
And then I think it was onlywhen I started getting emails
(04:34):
from just kind of randomly beinglike um, have you got time for
a quick chat?
I'd really love to kind of hearmore about your career and get
your advice on some things.
And it was when that startedhappening that I thought, oh,
I've become a person that peoplewant to go and speak to.
I mean, I didn't picture ithappening, um, and it's, it's.
You know you?
Just you end up doing lots ofthings and then suddenly you
(04:55):
know you start getting somefeedback from it and and it's
not something I didn't Iexpected and I was like I can't
believe this person wants tospeak to me.
Why do they want to speak to me?
But yeah, that's when I startedrealizing actually I am
becoming that role model that Ididn't have when I was younger,
um, and if I can be helpful, ifI if I can be, you know point
them to resources.
(05:16):
Just explain some of thefailures I've had, not just the
successes, um, just highlightthings to them that I've gone
through in my career, thenthat's great if I can share that
knowledge with them.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
And what would you say to it?
Because I think it's somethingabout showing the failure
moments, because sometimes thatgoes oh gosh, that's so much
more relatable.
It's not all perfect.
It's one straight linetrajectory.
It's not for everyone, itdoesn't work like that.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Social media looks like everything's amazing and
you've had the perfect life.
But things, but you know, not,things have not always gone to
plan and it's just pivoting.
That's what I've done and it'sjust explaining that.
You know, that's the realitiesof how I've ended up where I am.
I've pivoted a lot and it'sbecause of failures, because
things haven't gone the way Iplanned and you know, showing
them that even if they fall atthe first hurdle, it's not the
(05:57):
end of the world.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
And what would you say to anyone out there that
want to be role model because,for for me, everyone's a role
model to someone?
What would you say to thatperson who's sort of skirting
around the edge, or sat on theside or procrastinating about
leaning in because they've beenasked to speak at school or
they've been asked to or haven'tbeen asked, but actually I'd
quite like to go and talk whatwould you say?
Speaker 2 (06:15):
I'd say reach out.
I say one of the things I saywhen I sometimes do these talks
is that everyone, like you said,is a role model.
You may not know it.
You may be a role model to acolleague, a family friend, one
of your family, and if it'ssomething you are thinking about
, great, go for it.
I think I've learned by doingthese small things that have
turned into bigger things thatyou don't know that you'll like
(06:37):
something until you try it andyou might end up loving it.
Or you might know that it's notsomething you want to do again,
but you won't know unless yougive it a go.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
and who knows where you'll end up and it's finding
your own sort of ubu, isn't it?
Because it doesn't necessarilyhave to be stood up in a big,
massive school assembly or a big, massive stage at a business
conference.
It can be smaller things, can'tit?
Or be or actually be puttingarticles out on linkedin or
whatever it may be.
It can be different things youcan role model in.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
It can be YouTube videos?
It can be.
You know, I did an event a fewweeks ago Festival of the Girl
and it was great.
So I was speaking but I endedup kind of there was lots of
cushions around and lots ofyoung girls and their parents
all sat on these cushions.
I ended up, you know, there wasa stage but I just sat on the
edge of the stage and I ended upchatting to them and it was
(07:23):
really it felt it was such asafe atmosphere and it felt
really you know personal and youknow things like that.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Experiences like that are just fantastic and that's
the thing, isn't it sometimes?
I remember speaking to a reallysenior chief exec many years
ago and I'd invited her to comeand speak and she was like yes,
I'd speaking to a really seniorchief exec many years ago and I
invited her to come and speakand she was like yes, I'd love
to.
You know it's a real mixedaudience of future talent and
emerging talent.
She was like that's brilliant,it's exactly what I love.
And she goes.
Could someone ask me thequestions?
(07:51):
And you're like okay, this is aFTSE 250 CEO.
She's like I prefer to chatrather than just stand up and
deliver and I think, actuallyput yourself in the best
position you can that you'remost comfortable with to deliver
those messages it's aboutconnecting with the people that
you're speaking to as well,isn't it?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
If you speak to a few young girls, you don't want to
be kind of talking and there's ajargon over their heads.
I think you want to beconnecting with them.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
It takes the barrier away, doesn't it?
I saw that picture.
I saw that picture of you justsort of sat on the edge leaning
in, leaning in to go.
I'm here ask me any question,ask me an awkward one, even more
the best, even more the better,um, and actually last year we
were doing one of our we dothese um talent connection
events where we bring studentstogether with um individuals
(08:40):
from industry, all sectors, andwe did something up at the
university and you came alongwith Ava how old was?
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Ava at that point oh gosh, so that was.
She must have been a couple ofmonths, if that, maybe less and
you came along and we did.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
it's probably a good couple of hours, isn't it, with
a, you know, speed mentor movingfrom sort of group to group and
yeah, she was quiet as a mouse.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
That's the best thing .
At that point, all she did wassleep.
So, yeah, I could tag along toanything, she wouldn't know
what's going on.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
But I remember afterwards I think I've said
this to you before One of theheads of department came up to
me afterwards and said they hada mature student or you know,
and she she'd gone up and said Iliterally wasn't sure what I
might get from an event likethis.
But actually one of the biggestthings I've got is to realize
that I was worried that I'm anolder student and what's my
(09:28):
career prospects going to be.
I never even imagined that I'ma mum.
I never even realized thatactually kids and babies are
welcome in the workplace.
And it was such a visiblestatement and obviously and she
didn't even speak to you, butthat you just being visible at
that moment made such a bigdifference.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Yeah, and it's something that when I had my
first so Ava's my second childwhen I had my first child I
didn't really do a lot because Iwasn't doing a lot of these
events and things.
It was only after he, kind ofhis birth, kind of spurred me on
afterwards to kind of getinvolved and start speaking and
things.
And when Ava was around I wasgetting invited to things and I
was like, well, I'm on maternityleave, I, you know, I am
(10:11):
available if I can bring heralong.
And you know, most of the timethey said bring her.
And she, you know, she went toLondon, she went to the Royal
Academy of Engineering for twodays and she just slept most of
the time.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
But we had a great time and you know those are kind
of memories that I'll neverforget.
But you need to get on LinkedInalready she's, yeah, she's, uh,
she's been very lucky.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
She's met incredible people already, um, but I didn't
, I wouldn't have known unlessI'd asked and I kind of felt
cheeky enough to kind of askbecause why not?
Um, what's the worst gonnahappen?
They'll say no, which is whatyou know I would have expected.
But most of the time they saidyes and I never thought about
the impact of that, of someoneseeing something like that and,
you know, being relatable tothem.
(10:51):
I just kind of did it, um, butit's great that I could, I did
that and people could takesomething away from that, that.
That, oh yeah, you can, youknow, ask to have kids at these
things and you know, showcasingthat I did have Ava.
Oh, you can, like have a careerafter having a child.
It's not.
Sometimes, you know, they say,you know it's the end of your
(11:11):
career, there's nothing up, andwe do lose a lot of women in
engineering and generally kindof after having a child.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
But you know it doesn't have to be that way and
you can show that there ispositive.
You know positive stories aswell and to showcase it's not
all, and this is return for you.
It's maternity return frommaternity leave 2.0 right, and I
saw I loved your post the otherweek is this is what I'm
looking forward to aftermaternity leave and it was going
back to the gym, building up myflying hours, being able to
have drinks and food hot,engaging my brain at work,
(11:47):
booking holidays, four day weeksand appreciating quality time
with the kids.
How's that working out for youso far?
Speaker 2 (11:53):
yeah, oh, it's good to have a refresher.
Actually, I've been back likefive weeks.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
It's accountability, isn't it?
Now you've written it down, youput it on socials yes, no,
thank you for keeping meaccountable.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Um, yeah, I need to go back to that, but yeah, no, I
am um, doing a lot of thosethings.
I've started working well um putmyself on a waiting list to
start building my flying hoursagain and, yeah, start to put
myself out there.
I think I needed to put a listtogether because I was also
quite like, sad about going back, so I needed some things to
look forward to as well.
So so you know, these arethings that I'm looking forward
(12:24):
to, and I'm sad, but also thereis going to be good things that
happen after I go back to workand she starts nursery.
So it was trying to make itpositive for myself and, yeah,
it's helped it's part of yourplanning.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
This is the equivalent of your colour coded
google spreadsheet, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (12:39):
There's a plan I put together before I went back.
Yeah, and these are the thingsI want to do.
And yeah, I'm keeping myselfaccountable.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Does it feel very different sort of coming back
into work after Ava as it wasafter George?
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Yeah, I think it does , because the first time the
first mat leave was before COVIDCOVID, so there wasn't a hybrid
kind of working.
I didn't really involve myselfa lot with what was going on,
but this time I kind of kept intouch.
I made sure I knew what wasgoing on.
So I felt more prepared, didmore keep in touch days, um, so
used what was available in termsof the resources available and,
(13:15):
uh, yeah, felt way moreprepared.
And I've just gone in and it'sbeen a busy few weeks, but I'm
loving being back again and I'mright back in the thicker thing.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
So it's all good, and what advice would you give?
Because you say you lose a lotof women in every sector, but
particularly engineering.
Um, we're losing a lot of womennot coming back in or or sort
of limiting where they come back.
You know, when they come backinto the world of work, how have
?
Is it by giving yourself goals?
Is it how?
Speaker 2 (13:41):
do.
I've given myself goals.
I've gone back four days a weekbecause I do want to spend that
quality time with Ava.
So we do a little baby class ona Friday, which is lovely, um,
spending time just just us, andyeah, I make sure I have that.
That, as I said, on my lessquality time, and also, kind of
as a serial planner, plan mydays so I'm not working.
(14:02):
You know I don't want to fallinto the trap of throwing myself
back in, but then you knowwork-life balance, forgetting
that.
So trying to keep to my plansof you know, this is how I set
out my day.
This is my plan to try and havea walk at lunch, try and get
out, get some fresh air and,yeah, just try and um, yeah, not
throw myself in too much butenjoy it all.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
And for someone who's watching this, who's not really
sure what they want theircareer adventure to be, uh,
again, I'm living vicariouslythrough your Instagram feed.
But you talked about this iswhat an engineer looks like.
We talked about your fabulousbadges, but you actually
sometimes people have assumptionof what an engineer is.
Yeah, where you know, you putout well, you can do this, you
can do that.
(14:43):
It's.
It's not a one size fits allcareer, is it?
There's lots of different.
How did you find your way intoengineering and did you know
they were all available?
Speaker 2 (14:52):
no, I didn't know.
They were all available,available.
Um, I basically wanted to doengineering.
Well, I thought about doingengineering because I loved
solving problems and and enjoyedmaths and physics, so that led
me to engineering.
I didn't know what type um,until I went to an air show, saw
lots of fast jets flying around, the red arrows, you know all
these like fancy jets flyingaround.
I thought cool aerospace,googled it and was like that's
(15:16):
what I'm gonna do.
Um, but only because of thatdid I really fall into it.
Once I decided to do that, Ididn't know what job I was going
to do.
I didn't know what jobs wereout there.
I just started applying once Ifinished university.
So I would say, yeah, there aregoing to be jobs that don't
exist yet.
People are just finishingschool, university now.
(15:37):
There's going to be so manyjobs in the future that we don't
know about yet.
It's exciting.
I think that's the thing thatI've learned in the past few
years is being open toopportunities because,
especially engineering, I'vebeen able to pivot and do lots
of different things, try lots ofdifferent things, end up where
I didn't plan to end up, onlybecause someone said why don't
you try this?
And I was like, why, why not?
And yeah, that's how my careerhas basically gone the last few
(15:59):
years.
And people say, where do youwant to be in 10 years?
Speaker 1 (16:03):
And I'm like I have no idea where I'm going to be.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
I don't know what's going to happen.
I don't know what opportunitiesare going to happen.
Who knows?
Speaker 1 (16:08):
But that's the exciting part, I think, yeah,
it's limitless almost, isn't it?
As the world evolves and astechnology evolves and
everything around infrastructureevolves, it's going to change,
isn't it?
It reminds me, actually, of itwas.
We'd just come out of theNorthern Power Women Awards on
the Monday and we had a visit toHMS Queen Elizabeth in my role
(16:28):
as Honorary Captain in the RoyalNavy and you came on board with
some of the Northern PowerWomen team and gang and I
remember everyone was like thisis really so exciting and you
spent, I think, a good half anhour looking at the engineering
and the infrastructure andeverything that was on that
warship going.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Ah, I can't take the engineer.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
You can take, rather, but you can't take the engineer
out again so, as you've comeback into uh, back into the
world of work again not that bylooking at your feed it didn't
look as though you had much timeaway but what are you excited
for in the year ahead?
Speaker 2 (17:05):
um, oh, what am I excited for?
So I guess you know planningholidays next year, so not just
the career stuff, but holidays,but also just developing my
career, moving forward, seeingwhat comes up, a lot more kind
of you know talks, puttingmyself out there, um, seeing
what happens.
From that, I think it's theunknown that excites me now and
(17:27):
that's the thing that used toscare me, which is quite weird,
because I I didn't used to havea lot of confidence and I was
quite shy and and I'd like to bereally prepared for things.
But I think now I've come tolearn.
You know, it's the unknown andthings that that happen that are
actually the exciting part and,um, yeah, I think that that is
what I'm looking forward to and,yes, seeing where my career
(17:47):
goes, because I may be kind of abit further on in my career,
but that doesn't make it anyless exciting and who knows
what's gonna turn up.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
And you were invited earlier this year to the woman
of the year lunch, which youwere invited to last year, but
you couldn't go because you werejust about to have a baby.
And this is an amazing lunchthat they have in London.
I think it's been around 70years or something like that now
and I've been a couple of times.
It's amazing and there'sliterally full of everyone from
sports people to entrepreneursto celebrities, to everything
(18:18):
who was the highlight of yourday and who you met.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Oh, I mean, there were so many.
It was amazing to see, you knowknow, people like, um, oh my
gosh, I can't even.
There's so many off the top ofmy head.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
Angela.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Rippon, that's who you met.
I know what I got to hold herphone and take a photo for her.
So that's my kind of highlightof the day.
So surreal honestly it was.
It was I think I spent thewhole day just being in awe and
it didn't really like sell kindof, didn't really sink in kind
of what the experience or what,until maybe like a week later
(18:54):
and I was starting work the nextday, but return my return to
work was the next day frommaternity leave.
So I had that event and I waslike whoa, you know, empowered,
inspired, and I was like this isreally surreal To think that I
would be invited to an eventlike that.
I would have never imagined ina million years.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
You are the most humble role model ever, I think,
christina, thank you so muchfor joining us today, really
appreciate all your wisdom,insight and, of course, my new
badge, women in Maritime.
Thank you for having me.
Thanks, Christina.
Thank you so muchitime.
Thank you for having me.
Thanks, christina.
Thank you so much.
Thank you for joining us today.
Subscribe on YouTube, apple,amazon, music, spotify or
(19:34):
wherever you get your podcasts,leave us a review or follow us
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