At TRL, we recognise our people as our greatest asset and take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where all our employees can fulfil their professional potential. International Women’s Day provides us with the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the talented women who work here and we’re celebrating this week with a special series of interviews with some of our female staff. We asked some of the women here at TRL, what’s your greatest achievement and who inspires you?
What is your greatest achievement in your career so far?
Getting my MSc in senior leadership from De Montford University during a pandemic, working full time, whilst also bringing up my two teenagers! I needed oodles of tenacity and resilience to keep going.
Can you name a woman you find inspiring?
I’m an avid listen to Women’s Hour- Radio 4 and find Emma Barnett completely inspirational. She possesses all the qualities I admire authentic, energised, confident and a great communicator. Plus, she is a brilliant journalist, tough interviewer and is passionate about women’s issues and getting to the truth of the matter.
What is your greatest achievement in your career so far?
My greatest achievement is my PhD, entitled “Systems for the automotive industry for improved safety of pregnant occupants”. It was a part-time PhD, and I’ll happily admit there was a lot of procrastination on the way, but I got it finished (eventually) despite working too hard on the day job. The thesis sits on my shelf and I do have a sense of pride when I see it. It gave me a valuable lesson that all the learning from my academic career could be put to good, practical use in saving lives; it didn’t need to be hypothetical or disconnected from the real world. To this day, this is what motivates my working life; that we can make a difference in terms of road safety and save lives.
Can you name a woman you find inspiring?
The woman that inspires me is my sister. She fell pregnant during the course of my PhD studies, and was very patient with my photographing and measuring her expanding bump. It makes me proud that she features in that thesis. And she continues to be my guru in all things motherhood. She is a wonderful mum, creative and caring, and always has a good bit of experience or advice to share.
What is your greatest achievement in your career so far?
I am very proud that I managed to change country and company amidst the pandemic and still evolve and get promoted!
Can you name a woman you find inspiring?
I very much admire Frida Kahlo for her passionate way of living and overcoming all the difficulties life has thrown at her.
What is your greatest achievement in your career so far?
I was a co-founder and CEO for 7 years for a social enterprise which in 2018 won a Nature Research Innovating Science Award: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-07199-y
Can you name a woman you find inspiring?
All women who are not afraid to live their life without giving up their own dreams are inspirations. One of my personal hero is Professor Sarah Sharples (Chief Scientific Officer for DfT), who was my mentor when I worked for the Transport Systems Catapult. She had been always leading by example and putting her team before herself.
What is your greatest achievement in your career so far?
I believe our greatest achievement comes from consistency. Through my career, I have consistently pushed myself outside my comfort zone to learn new discipline areas and skills. This has led to many individual achievements, including managing organisations through major crises, bringing a new product to market, growing a new business division, public speaking and mentoring and coaching team members who’ve gone on to greater roles.
Can you name a woman you find inspiring?
I am inspired by women who are motivated by serving others and who stand up for what they believe in. One such woman who inspires me greatly is Simone Roche, Founder of Northern Power Women, because she constantly strives for more for a cause she believes passionately in and also brings other people with her on the journey, celebrating their achievements as much as her own. Her success is derived from others’ successes.
What is your greatest achievement in your career so far?
My greatest achievement is that I have been able to support and mentor some of my colleagues.
Can you name a woman you find inspiring?
A woman I find inspiring is Dame Stephanie Shirley. Shirley arrived in the UK in 1939 as a child refugee. In 1962, she went on to set up the software company Freelance Programmers, which is now a part of the Sopra Steria Group. She adopted the name 'Steve' in order to be taken seriously in the business-world, as company letters signed using her real name were not being responded to.
What is your greatest achievement in your career so far?
My greatest achievement was receiving multiple highest achiever awards throughout my project management career in telecommunications which resulted in promotions and ultimately a leadership role within the organisation. I love what I do and feel that it matters especially in developing people and driving change for the better.
Can you name a woman you find inspiring?
All women doing everything in their power to achieve their dream, from the little things to big adventures. Lots of women have inspired me through my life to keep reaching for the next goal and live life as a model for others.
What is your greatest achievement in your career so far?
Making it to Research Director so quickly in my social research career.
Can you name a woman you find inspiring?
My three sisters – they’re all such high achievers through simple determination and just getting on with it!
Can you name a woman you find inspiring?
The woman I find inspiring is Rachel Carson. Rachel Carson was a conservationist who led the movement against harmful pesticides and the many dangerous man-made chemicals pose to the environment. She had a long career in the US government and once she retired she wrote the book Silent Spring in 1962. Silent Spring challenged the US government, chemical production companies and scientists and even though she was well educated and held a long career in the US Bureau of Fisheries she was accused of being hysterical because she was a woman. The Secretary of Agriculture for the US even wrote to the President naming her a communist and asking why she was so concerned with genetics. Rachel Carson still continued to teach the world about the natural world and our responsibility in protecting it. She passed away in 1964 but she helped begin the environmental movement and challenged the stigmas around being a female scientist. The Friends of Earth and the US Environmental Protection Agency trace their origins to the publishing of Silent Spring. I therefore find her inspiring because she shows the power of one person to create a positive change across the world.
What is your greatest achievement in your career so far?
The greatest achievement in my career so far was my involvement in changing the practical driving test in Great Britain in 2017. I conducted the statistical analysis understanding the impact of the proposed changes on post-test collision risk of young and novice drivers. The study supported changes to the practical driving test that were aimed at improving safety for young and novice drivers. I am currently leading the statistical analysis of a further study which looks at the effect of various interventions on the post-test collision risk of over 14,000 young drivers across the country.
Can you name a woman you find inspiring?
I am constantly inspired by the women who have supported me in my career. Professor Jane Hutton (University of Warwick), Caroline Wallbank (TRL) and Ciaran Ellis (ex-TRL) have all been my mentors at various points in my career. I admire their drive, attention to detail and passion for their work.
What is your greatest achievement in your career so far?
Having had the opportunity to manage and mentor many early careers colleagues throughout my career, my greatest achievement and what I’m most proud of is seeing them realising and achieving their potential and goals.
Can you name a woman you find inspiring?
My first female line managers, Louise Mullier and Pauline Stewart, who were fantastic role models.
