Insights Why more women lead with us

Hello! I'm Shaila, Associate Director and IT Business Partner at AtkinsRéalis in India. I lead diverse projects, nurture teams, and champion equality, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I). Using my project management skills and passion for learning, my teams and I tackle significant infrastructure and IT initiatives. In this blog, I want to tell my career story, using it to share my…

Top 8 reasons AtkinsRéalis is the best place for women to take their careers to new heights:

1. You'll gain diverse project experience

Starting from my initial days, I cherish every opportunity at AtkinsRéalis. I've worked on numerous projects, learned commercial processes, and participated in stage gates and crucial read reviews .

I’ve worked on challenging roles and programmes, including an on-site secondment in Doha. Working on major Transportation project AWPR and leading the largest Infrastructure project in UK and Europe, Hinkley Point C (HPC) has been a surreal experience. Through the work delivered on one Contract in HPC, we won multiple contracts, transforming the Business to become the Centre of Excellence.

My quest to learn and venture into new challenges, sparked my curiosity to explore new avenues, leading into the realm of Corporate IT. This shift marked the beginning of a new perspective for me.

2. You'll lead and develop teams

I also had the opportunity to grow and nurture the team, transforming it from 12 people to nearly 500, establishing best practices in the industry, and creating a center of excellence.

3. Enjoy continuous learning in line with your interests

This journey sparked my curiosity to explore new avenues, leading me into the realm of corporate IT. This shift marked the beginning of a new perspective for me.

Today, as a business partner for GTC in India and Egypt for the past three years, every day feels like a new learning experience. The journey so far has been enriching and continues to provide valuable insights.

4. You'll be on a career path to leadership

Time flies, it’s been around three years. I was exploring for an interesting role in Tech when I came across this newly introduced ITBP role. It was not easy, having spent my entire career in Business. But I was confident and committed as this role aligned with my aspirations. It was a brilliant opportunity to understand technology across the organisation and bring value to the GTC Businesses.

I must acknowledge that it takes a whole universe to make things work for you. I was curious and keen to take leap, but it wouldn’t have happened without the trust and support from the Leadership. The rest is history… a dream come true indeed!

5. You'll work on a range of significant projects

During my tenure at AtkinsRéalis, I've had the opportunity to work on several multidisciplinary projects across various regions. One is the largest infrastructure project in the UK and Europe, Hinkley Point C, which I led for 5 years. During this time, I developed multiple digital tools, built a high-performing team, and created a Centre of Excellence for the organization, driving revenue growth.

6. You'll be visible, recognized, and rewarded

As a result, we won several external awards. One that is particularly meaningful to me is the 'People Manager of the Year' award received from the UK&E CEO in 2021, which speaks volumes about the team we built and nurtured to become leaders of the future.

7. Strategic initiatives

Leading ED&I as a Business Leader in the GTC has allowed me to evolve as a Leader. The concept was new and driving a change which everyone embraces is never easy. With Senior Leadership support, we chalked out a vision and moulded our approach. From a small group of 5-10 members, we built strong committed Networks, spread awareness, conducted impactful initiatives, thus driving a transformational change in the organization. The impact was so overwhelming, that we were recognised externally as well as internally across the organisation.

8. AtkinsRéalis champions ED&I

I'm one of many senior leaders dedicated to promoting an inclusive workplace. I’ll always relish the change in mindset which we were able to drive, through the ED&I programme. We conceptualized five ERGs / Networks, implemented awareness programs, introduced the first ED&I Charter for AtkinsRéalis, and organized panels featuring senior women etc. We also integrated ED&I into our recruitment processes, tracked metrices and progress. There’s still more which can be done but the legacy of this change will benefit the future generation.

Find a role at AtkinsRéalis India today.