International Women's Day 2024
Happy International Women’s Day! This year’s campaign theme is ‘Inspire Inclusion’, which aims to encourage others to understand and value the inclusion of women. We are proud of all of the incredible women who work at Saab UK, and we are committed to ensuring we foster a diverse and inclusive workplace for them as they push the boundaries to keep people and society safe.
This International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting some of the inspiring women who work at Saab UK: Tanya, Avita, and Masuma.
What is your job title and department?
Tanya: Senior Business Controller, Finance
Avita: Graduate Systems Engineer, BlueBear
Masuma: Engineering Technician (Software), Seaeye
How do you describe your job to friends and family?
Tanya: A finance-based role across Sweden and the UK. I look after numbers and processes. I analyse, and create models to help financial and non-financial staff interpret numbers to support decisions.
Avita: I tell them that my job is primarily about collecting requirements for developing a deliverable, based on the demands from the customer and other technologies that may have to be integrated with it, and I also analyse the consequences in the case of a failure of any function of the deliverable. Unlike how complicated it might sound, I tell them that it is a fun and enjoyable job!
Masuma: A software engineering job where I manage software modules repositories and software releases. I often say DevOps engineer.
Why do you enjoy working at Saab?
Tanya: I get to work with other passionate, determined people. I’ve been at Saab for 6 months so there has been a lot of information! I’ve enjoyed learning, sharing ideas, planning and debating opportunities with teams across the business – each bringing different sets of skills to the table. I also get to dig into processes, understand challenges and look for improvements – which I absolutely love!
Avita: I get to learn and work with the latest technologies developed by Saab in my current project. Another reason is, being a woman myself, I am proud and happy to see the inclusive decisions taken by Saab to increase the number of women in their workforce.
Masuma: I enjoy working at Saab because I feel that my role in the team makes a difference to the overall project progresses. Beyond that I like the flexibility I have with my time and I feel like a trusted individual.
Why do you think International Women’s Day is an important day to celebrate?
Tanya: It is personal. I have two daughters and I want my girls to grow up strong, confident and supportive. International Women's Day is a chance to celebrate and show appreciation and also to remind each other that with ambition, support, and sponsorship, we can be our best.
Avita: I think it is important to celebrate Women’s Day and notable women for their achievements, because it motivates other women to advance in their personal as well as professional lives. Dedicated days like Women’s Day also motivate women to accept challenges and believe in themselves to be capable of achieving big things in life!
Masuma: International Women's Day is an important day to celebrate because it serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for gender equality and the achievements of women worldwide. Although we have come a long way, there is more work to do. I especially felt this after giving birth to my son, I was in a constant conflicted state of whether I should be a stay-at-home mum or keep building my career. Now I know that this is just one of the reasons why women all around the world should be recognised for all the accomplishments and achievements in the work place and out of it too.
What advice would you give to women and girls who are interested in a career like yours?
Tanya: Never stop learning. Be persistent and passionate, and never be afraid to ask why if you don’t understand something.
Avita: My mantra is ‘Dream, make it your goal and work towards it!’ Never stop learning, keep working hard. Talk to people from diverse backgrounds to explore the opportunities. If you have the will, the right opportunity will find you, even before you find it!
Masuma: Keep pushing forward and never give up, even if you find yourself as the only woman in the room. Your unique perspective, skills, and contributions are invaluable to the field of engineering. Seek out mentorship and support networks, both within and outside of your organization, to help navigate any obstacles you may encounter along the way. Remember that you belong in the engineering field just as much as anyone else, and your presence helps pave the way for future generations of women in STEM.