Women at HellermannTyton

Many factors led me to my current role.  First, my dad was an engineer with Cutler Hammer (now Eaton) and Rockwell Automation. And Milwaukee is a manufacturing hub in Wisconsin. I didn't realise until later how much that influenced my decision to go into manufacturing. I thought I would be in advertising in New York or San Francisco. But when a communications specialist position opened up at HellermannTyton, I took it. I thought I would be there for a year and then move on. But the company's winning culture of entrepreneurship, fun, and growth captivated me, and I have stayed ever since - despite opportunities to move elsewhere. And I am glad I did. The company is a real gem!
 
HellermannTyton recognises talent and results, and does not judge the gender or package in which a person comes in. Was it always easy? Absolutely not – but through strong mentors - men within the company - I learned that greatness is hard to achieve. Stick with it, change things that are unfair, and make sure that the ecosystem you work in is supports you to do the right thing.

My tip: Be strong, be forthright, be results-oriented – and be heard.

Manufacturing is a great career. We make things that make the world work. There is sometimes a perception that you have to be overly technical to work in manufacturing. Depending on your role, this is not always the case. Are you inquisitive? Logical? Persistent? Ask “what if?” The rest comes in whatever functional excellence you choose to pursue. Be strong, be forthright, be results-oriented – and be heard.
 
I love leading the North American organisation. It's a great honour – and my goal is to ensure that the many voices of the organisation are heard in order to achieve the best financial results for HellermannTyton. We challenge each other but always respect different opinions. That is where the best answers come from.

I lead the HellermannTyton Iberia team. I have been with the company for almost two decades now and I am still enjoying my journey. I have qualifications in human resources, marketing and international communications. Before coming here, I worked mainly in HR in other organisations. The attraction for me was, and still is, that HellermannTyton is a great multinational organisation.

I started at HellermannTyton as an assistant in the Human Resources, Quality and Marketing departments. I was always curious to learn more about our customers, so I changed roles and joined the sales department. From there I was able to develop my knowledge of the electrical wholesale and solar business.

I've been in my current role for a year now. It is certainly a challenge to try and balance the collaboration of people in all the different departments and to see that their personal and collective goals are met. But it is a challenge that I enjoy. In my experience, the diversity of roles, regardless of gender, is important to the success of the whole. That is why I am committed to ensuring our employees have the opportunities they need, want, and deserve.

My tip: Be authentic, be genuine, be active –  and don't give up.

I am driven by my desire to learn, and I am determined to excel at what I do. Challenges will always bring new experiences. Staying true to yourself and your values will help you to be more confident. There will be occasions when things don't go as you expect, but as long as you remain confident and true to yourself, you will be able to embrace those difficult moments. It helps if you remember to stay professional and not take things personally. If a project, meeting or sales pitch, hasn't gone as you hoped, listen to the feedback you get from those around you.  
 
Finally, don't forget to exercise! Go to the gym, go for a run, anything. it is important to keep active and your mind and body will thank you for that. Personally, I love a good spin class after a stressful day. I feel completely renewed, both physically and mentally, and it helps to keep me in shape along with a healthy lifestyle.

During my studies, I thought I would enjoy an analytical and project-based role, but during my graduate programme in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), I rotated through different business functions and found my love for manufacturing operations roles.
 
The buzz and excitement of the day-to-day tasks and being part of a team working together to achieve a common goal ticked all my boxes. And now, years later, I have worked my way up from that base, gaining experience in variety of operations focused roles. 
 
Prior to joining HellermannTyton, I worked as a Business Unit Manager for a manufacturing and distribution facility within the automotive industry. This position cemented my previous experience as a Site Lead for a large European company. Despite all the downsides of the Covid pandemic - the isolation actually increased my confidence in running a business independently, with limited guidance from a global team.

My tip: Be true to yourself, be true to your team – and be confident.

I love working with people, understanding issues and finding solutions amongst the problems, so joining HellermannTyton felt right to me. The company has a clear commitment to its people, its customers and its products. 
 
When you love what you do and are surrounded by like-minded people, gender is less of a factor - but of course, when men dominate in these roles, being the only woman brings its own extra challenges.  Stepping out of your comfort zone doesn't mean you have to feel uncomfortable though.
 

Read more about equality, inclusion and empowerment in our blog article by Juliet Morgan, global lead for HR Projects at the HellermannTyton: 
Breaking down unconscious bias and removing barriers