Women in telecoms career stories

In our industry fewer than 1 in 3 of the current STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workforce is female. This is something we want to help change! At Arelion, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (DIB) is an ongoing commitment and one of the areas we’re focusing on is establishing a gender balance within our company.

On International Women’s Day 2023, we’d like to celebrate some of all the extraordinary women working at Arelion. We asked Maureen, Tanuja, Devi, Andrey and Reshma why they choose a career in the telecom sector and what advice they have for women who are looking to do the same.

Tanuja Rameaux
Head of delivery-content, France

I come from a small island in the Indian Ocean called Mauritius. I have always been fascinated by the power of connectivity. We can be surrounded by water and yet be closely connected to the world. Telecommunications make this bridge possible. At a very young age, my family gave me exposure to various tools linked to Telecom and this fueled my passion even further. It was important for me to find a way to contribute to keeping this bridge solid. This meant that I could stay connected to my family and friends. While I was studying at the University, I stumbled upon a video of how a subsea cable is laid; since then, I fell in love with Telecom, and it has not stopped astounding me.

To all the talented women out there, pursue your dreams fervently, channel your aura – this is the power of attraction. There is evidently a need for women in the Telecom sector, we need to challenge the norm and shatter the myth!

Maureen Elshof
Product Management, UK

My first “real” job was in the telecom sector, as I applied as a fresh graduate to a strategic role that looked interesting. And I got hired! The career opportunities were good and there were a lot of openings for cross-functional work which kept things interesting and made me stay in the industry (for almost 10 years now). What makes going to work each day exciting is staying up to date about the latest technologies. From self-driving cars, to working from home, to streaming videos – there are so many applications for which telecom companies are fundamental. It feels good to be part of a company that lays the groundwork for the digital future.

There are many career opportunities that may not be that obvious at first, so my advice to both women and men would be to keep an open mind. If you like more technical roles, there are many interesting career paths within telecoms. There are also a lot of possible careers that are not so technical, but just as interesting. It’s important to enjoy what you are doing, and to be adaptable and to keep developing and learning.

Devi Ganapathi
Key Account Manager, US

My career selection was somewhat accidental, and I´m glad it happened that way back in the late 90s. It would be apt to say telecoms chose me. I went to a wireless company to pick up a full-page ad for the newspaper I was working for, and I ended up chatting with the team and they encouraged me to apply. I got the job and have not looked back since. It feels great to be part of the telecom industry which is constantly evolving.

It may be disheartening to see the percentage of women in STEM today, but we have come a long way. I have been fortunate to have worked with many amazing women who have been great mentors. I think we need more women role models. Work life balance is a daunting thought especially for women and the 1st step is to break that mental barrier. I am truly hopeful and excited for the future of women in STEM related fields, there is no stopping us!

Andrey Chu
Account Manager, Hong Kong

Just like many things in life, my career in telecommunications happened by chance! At first, I was really daunted by all the technical jargon and terminology, but soon learnt what it all meant. Now I feel extremely proud that I am part of Arelion’s legendary carrier story, and that I am supporting digital transformation around the world.

Ignore gender! Fortitude is what makes a difference when pursuing a career in the telecom sector. Grab every opportunity you get for training – to build up your knowledge and confidence. At the end of the day, it is all about business – a universal language, and anyone can be successful with enough hard work and determination. I wish you luck and am sure you will have a joyful life in this industry – just like me!

Reshma Maheshan
Team leader customer support, Sweden

My academic background is in Nuclear Physics & Electronics. However, I was drawn toward the rapidly progressing and promising field of the telecom industry. Even after 16 years working in telecoms, every day still presents new challenges and opportunities to learn.

Telecom is a unique sector where you can find a wide range of career opportunities – like Engineers, Managers, Analysts and so on. The over-representation of men in this field, which is a common perception, is changing – there is a lot of room for women to grow, where we are heard and recognized. Taking the example of Arelion alone, we have many women in leading positions. I have a fine balance between my work and personal life, and I doubt I would have attained the same balance being a Physicist. It is time that we look for opportunities beyond “perceptions”.

Are you looking for a career in telecoms? Some of our open positions include Global Quoting Manager, Head of Infrastructure & Operation, IT Solution Architect, Customer Support Engineer and Lead NOC Engineer – and we would love to talk to you! Learn more and apply here 👉  https://www.arelion.com/about-us/careers