From a village with South Asia’s first power station to leading a team of fifteen: Angela on resilience, roots, and opening doors for the next generation

Angela’s family story starts with machinery and migration.

She grew up in Shivasamudram, a small village in Karnataka that happens to be home to South Asia’s first hydroelectric power station. Her ancestors had travelled there from the UK and France to install the machinery and decided to stay. Angela studied in a Kannada medium school until tenth grade, an experience she says shaped her resilience and grounded her values long before she ever entered a corporate office.

Her career path since has been anything but linear. She started at HSBC as a telephone banking executive, moved into content writing, worked at an international school, tried the start-up world as a social media specialist, and eventually found her way to AtkinsRéalis in 2022.

“Each step has taught me something invaluable,” she says. “Growth isn’t always linear, it’s shaped by courage, curiosity, and embracing every opportunity along the way.”

Seven hundred careers a year

Angela is a Senior Lead in Talent Acquisition, based in the Bangalore office, where she and her team of fifteen support Early Careers recruitment for the UK. Together they help bring in an average of 700 graduates, placement and apprentice candidates each year. 

“In Early Careers recruitment, our impact goes far beyond filling roles,” she says. “We focus on identifying students, whether recent graduates, placement seekers, or apprentices who have the potential to grow into the future talent of our organisation. Every hire has a ripple effect. We’re not just supporting career beginnings, we’re helping build a community of capable, confident professionals who will drive our organisation forward.”

The recruitment cycle runs from September to April, and Angela spends much of her time ensuring quality and candidate experience stay high throughout. But she’s equally focused on her own team; motivating them, encouraging creative thinking, and challenging existing processes.

“At its core, my role is about creating an environment where both candidates and my team can have a meaningful, positive, and empowering experience.”
 

A door opened by a friend

The story of how Angela joined AtkinsRéalis is itself a lesson in the power of genuine support.

In 2021, she was working at a start-up, pregnant with her second child, and struggling with limited growth opportunities. She reconnected with an old friend who had recently joined a company he believed in. He told her that whenever she was ready to return to work after the baby, he would forward her CV. 

“After I delivered my son and settled into post-COVID life, I reached out to him, and he immediately kept his promise by sharing my profile with the delivery manager.” 

That introduction led to an interview, then selection onto the newly formed UK Early Careers team being built from Bangalore. “It was a simple act of belief from a friend,” she says, “but it changed the entire direction of my career and reminded me how powerful genuine support can be.”

Since joining as a Senior Advisor, she’s progressed to Lead and then to Senior Lead, taking on increasing responsibility for the Early Careers recruitment operation from Bangalore. “Each role has stretched me, shaped me, and reinforced my passion for building meaningful experiences for candidates, for stakeholders, and for my team.”
 

Her mother’s strength

Ask Angela what International Women’s Day means to her and the answer is deeply personal.

“My own journey is deeply shaped by the resilience of my mother, who found herself raising two children alone after my father passed away suddenly, without a job or formal education to fall back on.”

“When I look at where I am today, financially independent and in a fulfilling career, I’m reminded of how far women have come and why recognising their journey truly matters.”

She’s clear-eyed about what still needs to change. “Despite progress, many women still carry unspoken expectations at home, with children or family, while striving to be treated as equals at work. Equal opportunities, learning, and growth aren’t just ideals. They are necessities.”

As a mother of two herself, flexibility has been essential. “I’ve always been given the space and trust to balance work and family without compromise,” she says. “Coming from a non-HR background, the support I received here has been immense, it helped me learn, grow, and transition confidently into my role.”

Women leading the way

When Angela joined AtkinsRéalis, one of the first things she noticed was different from anywhere she’d worked before, “Being part of different sectors, roles, and companies, I had always seen leadership spaces largely dominated by men. But when I joined, it was truly inspiring to see so many women in leadership roles, leading with poise, candour, and authenticity.”

“It was refreshing and empowering to see women at the forefront, setting the tone with strength.”
But her biggest source of daily inspiration is closer to home. “My own team is made up largely of women who show up every single day with dedication, resilience, and a passion to bring their best to work. They are my everyday inspiration.”
 

“Don’t hesitate to take a chance”

Angela’s advice is shaped by a career built on unexpected turns.

“Don’t hesitate to take a chance on something new. Be open to challenges, because you never know when or where an opportunity may arise. Trust yourself, believe in your abilities, and stay true to who you are. Every step, big or small, has the power to shape your journey in ways you may not expect.”

And through her regular catch-ups with her team, she tries to pay forward the support that once changed her own trajectory. “Whether it’s offering time, mentorship, encouragement, or simply helping them navigate the right opportunities - I’ve seen how even small acts of support can make a meaningful difference in someone’s growth and confidence.” 

“Watching my team succeed and knowing I played a part, however small, in their journey is one of the most rewarding aspects of my role.”

Stories like Angela’s remind us why lifting women and future talent matters. If you're ready to grow, lead, and make a difference, explore our current opportunities.