Entrevista a
Líder de Color&Trim de Walter Pack
Líder de Color&Trim de Walter Pack
Interview with
Color&Trim Leader at Walter Pack
Project Management Leader at Walter Pack
“Girls should choose the skills they enjoy because gender will be the least important factor in their everyday lives”
Walter Pack’s commitment to equality and its membership in NER Group have inspired two of its leaders, Sonia López and Itxasne Cruz, to participate in an initiative with a strategic objective: to combat potential gender gaps and promote STEAM skills among young students. Through the Inspira STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) program, Itxasne and Sonia have shared their opinions and experiences with boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 12 to test their perception of parity and to explain their firsthand experience as women in a sector traditionally dominated by men. This “super rewarding” initiative also highlights Walter Pack’s profile as a company that generates employment and promotes talent without gender restrictions.
Both of you are part of the 36% of women choosing STEAM-related degrees, compared to the general 56%. What motivated you to enter a technical educational and professional space, where there is a predominantly male presence? Was it a vocation or professional aspirations?
Sonia López. I had a lot of interest in the world of art and design, and the career prospects that Engineering could offer appealed to me. So, I chose the field of Industrial Design. I’ve always believed that these technical studies give you the possibility to later orient yourself towards other branches or professions related to art, while the reverse is more complicated. Also, when I studied, it was well-regarded for women to pursue technical studies; it was quite normal in my environment. I wasn’t a trailblazer; it was quite common around me, but this trend has changed recently…
Yes, it seems that enrollments in these studies have decreased by more than 15% in the last two years… What about your case, Itxasne?
Itxasne Cruz. Mine was different, not vocational at all. I didn’t mind studying arts or sciences; I was a good student, and there was no subject that particularly attracted me. However, a classmate’s father had clear ideas for his son and guided him towards studying Industrial Engineering, so I decided to enroll with him (laughs). What surprised me when I started the degree was that only about 10% of the people in the class were girls, although that didn’t make any difference among students; we were all just students and classmates.
Do you think there is a need to reinforce the interest in technical careers among girls and even boys of school age? How?
For example?
Sonia López. Well, one of them once told me, “My brother doesn’t let me play with the drone because he says I’ll break it, but he lets my little cousin play with it.” These encounters have helped her realize that such situations are not correct. In fact, one thing that struck us when we finished this initiative is the rivalry between boys and girls: on the one hand, that rivalry is reasonable because there are indeed many differences between them, but on the other hand, we shouldn’t give it so much importance, especially on a social level.
Do you believe initiatives like this are necessary?
Itxasne Cruz. We acted more as mentors because the boys and girls had many doubts about studies, professions, etc. In my case, with the girls, I focused more on guiding and empowering them.
Sonia López. My approach, with the boys, was aimed at guiding them in all areas, even losing sight of the STEAM field a bit.
Based on this NER Group experience, do you think the gender gap is gradually narrowing, or is there still a long way to go?
Itxasne Cruz. My experience is that they have things much clearer than we think. There have been moments when the proposed session structure seemed a bit outdated because the boys don’t believe that girls in class can’t do a certain thing due to their gender. Those kinds of stereotypes don’t work as much with them anymore, although it’s also true that they were a bit surprised when I showed them an image of a woman working in a STEAM job. But these are isolated situations that can happen to anyone. In general, they have all accepted that they are equal to girls in these subjects.
Did you receive similar mentoring when you were this age?
Itxasne Cruz. I received it at the age of 15, in the year I had to decide what I wanted to study. They provided information about careers, but it was very general, purely expositional. In this case, the kids are still too young to understand different roles, etc., but it’s interesting for them to start internalizing and assimilating this information through simple games, etc.
Sonia López. What is missed the most is knowing how a company works, what you will encounter, team roles, the different positions you can hold within a company…
Sonia, the Color&Trim department you lead is one of the distinctive elements of Walter Pack’s activity and value proposition. What would you say to young people thinking about getting involved in technical professions like yours?
Sonia López. I would tell them to follow what they like. Then they should seek differentiation among people who want to be trained in the same way and, above all, enhance what each one is good at. This can help you identify jobs that you can do well and enjoy in the future.
Itxasne, you lead project management at Walter Pack. Was it difficult for you to secure a leadership position in the automotive sector, traditionally dominated by men? Would you encourage young people to enter it?
Itxasne Cruz. Throughout my professional experience, I have encountered situations that have sometimes been, at the very least, surprising. Either because you realized you were the only girl in a meeting or because someone thought you should make the coffee or take notes. But aside from that, I would encourage girls to go for these competencies if they think they like them. In the end, you will work side by side and day by day with people and in situations where gender will be the least important thing because what is sought are results.
In the international arena, at events like auto shows, how do you perceive the presence of women in a sector that has traditionally been dominated by men?
Sonia López. I can’t say for sure now, but before the pandemic, auto shows were definitely male-dominated.
O sea, que esa brecha de género todavía existe…
Sonia L. I think so, yes.
What is your overall assessment of the Inspira STEAM initiative?
Itxasne Cruz. I found it to be an enriching initiative. It’s a way to break out of the routine and offer young people a different perspective so that they can become interested in these types of skills. However, I must admit that in all the sessions I felt a fear: that by emphasizing the empowerment of girls, there would be a misconception or misunderstanding on the part of the boys, who might start to ask themselves “What are we doing to them?”. That’s why I tried at all times to give them themselves a leading role as people, beyond the STEAM initiative.
Sonia López. Itxasne already has a lot of fans (laughs). My personal experience has been incredibly rewarding, I’ve learned a lot and I would definitely do it again if I had the chance. I’m sure that we have contributed a lot to them in a different way.
