Natalia Rucinska - Environmental Director, Menard Group

“True equality extends beyond professional spheres to encompass all aspects of life, including the division of household chores.”
Natalia Rucinska, Environmental Director, Menard Group

People say, “you have to be careful what you wish for, because it might just come true” – and so it did for me!

At the age of 24, as a young graduate with the title of MSc in Geotechnical Engineering, I dreamt big. I wanted to see what the world had to offer, and I was open to exploring the adventures that came my way. I had the itch to live a full life, filled with travels, experiences, and challenges.

Not long after graduation, I found myself living in one of the most exciting cities in the world – Dubai, working for a world-leading geotechnical company Menard on one of the most unique artificial islands projects on the shores of Dubai. I still remember gazing through the window of my site cabin, looking at the blue water and white sand, thinking – this is something special. Today, in the same location, where my site office once stood, is a luxurious Bvlagri hotel.

I never identified myself as being a woman in a male dominated industry; I simply always tried to do my best.

Working for Menard, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to go through so many different experiences – from being a site engineer, design engineer, business development to overall management positions. This really created a very interesting working environment, and I continued to grow and learn new things each step of the way. I am not one for routine!

At almost each step of the way, I was being asked how it felt to be a woman in these positions and I would always answer – no different than being a man! I guess, looking back at some moments in my past. I see that being a woman in the industry does actually offer an additional quality – as women we bring more empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence to the workplace.

The key thing is to make the right choices early on. As a woman, be sure to understand the culture at your workplace before committing to it. Make sure that you find yourself working in a supportive, inclusive environment, and observe if there are accomplished senior professionals in your organization. Choose wisely, do not think about here and now, but think about what ifs and the future.

I strongly believe that employing women offers a great benefit to the workplace. When some might argue that employing a mother can be a constraint due to her limited availability, I would argue that it is an opportunity to have a dedicated, multi-tasking, well organized professional on board. It is all a matter of perspective!

True equality extends beyond professional spheres to encompass all aspects of life, including the division of household chores.

I believe that the argument that women should refrain from reservations to achieve genuine equality, is a dynamically changing debate. By challenging traditional gender roles and encouraging men to take on a more active role in caregiving and domestic tasks, we create a more equitable and balanced society where responsibilities are shared based on abilities and preferences, rather than gender norms.

More and more countries are introducing some forms of shared parental policies, which is a great step to create more equality between men and women and giving them fairer chances in the career run. Promoting equal sharing of domestic responsibilities not only benefits women by alleviating their burden but also benefits men by fostering deeper connections with their families, promoting work-life balance, and dismantling harmful stereotypes about masculinity.

Family support is indeed invaluable in any professional journey. It serves as a pillar of strength, providing encouragement, guidance, and emotional sustenance during both triumphs and challenges. Just as you need to choose your workplace wisely – looking for places promoting equal opportunities and inclusive career progression paths, you all need to do the same with your personal choices. Having a supportive partner, who thrives with your progress and is committed to share the hardships of everyday life is key.

My message for emerging women civil engineers and professionals is “remember that your gender does not define your capabilities or limit your potential”.

For emerging women civil engineers and professionals, my message is this: believe in yourself and your abilities, do not think about any way in which your gender might define – do your best, offer what you’ve got – full package, the professional aspects along with the soft skills. You have chosen a path that may come with its own set of challenges but be bold in pursuing your goals and seek out mentors and allies who support and uplift you. Remember – it all starts with us. If today we have a chance to thrive, tomorrow we might be the ones offering the same opportunity to other women.