This blog shouldn’t be necessary. Gender equality should be a given – in telecoms and in every other sector. But the reality is that women remain underrepresented in STEM and in technical leadership roles across our industry. So as we approach International Women’s Day, we take a moment not just to celebrate the women who power Arelion, but also to acknowledge the work still ahead of us.
At Arelion, we’re proud that 35% of our leaders today are women – a significant share in an industry where the averages remain far lower. It reflects meaningful progress, but not completion. Rather than setting numerical goals, we’re focused on building systems, communities, and pathways that make gender equality a natural outcome of an inclusive culture.
One example is Women@Arelion, our Employee Resource Group focused on empowering women and fostering a more inclusive, equitable workplace. The group brings colleagues – men and women – together for community building, professional development, mentorship, allyship, and open conversation – creating a space where experiences can be shared, perspectives heard, and women across the business feel connected as they grow in their careers.
The experiences of our colleagues illustrate both the progress made and the challenges that remain.
When Ana Romero, our Director of Network Engineering & Architecture, looks back on her 20+ years in telecoms, she remembers the surprise on people’s faces when she arrived at a site as the engineer. “There were raised eyebrows,” she says. “But once you show what you can do, the surprise fades. Still, you never forget that you were the only woman in the room.”
Ana’s career took her from hands‑on engineering roles to leading teams responsible for Arelion’s optical and IP strategy – a journey built on persistence and deep technical skill. But even now, in recruitment, she sees a challenge: “We don’t get enough female applicants. If girls don’t see examples early on, they won’t imagine themselves in these roles later.”
Sumita Sharma, our Director of Network Planning and Build, entered telecoms almost by accident. First through an internship, then through the excitement of discovering how networks connect people across the world. Over nearly two decades, between India and the UK, she has experienced both opportunities and obstacles.
“Sometimes I noticed people reacted differently to me than to my male colleagues,” she says. “Not always consciously – but it was there.” She developed her own way of handling these moments: trust your competence, and speak up when something isn’t right. But she also stresses how dynamic and diverse the industry truly is: “You work with people from everywhere. The mix of perspectives is what makes telecom exciting.”
Both Ana and Sumita point to something that should feel obvious but often isn’t: representation matters. Seeing women lead engineering teams, architect global networks, negotiate complex partnerships, or design infrastructure for a new generation of traffic – that visibility shifts what younger women believe is possible. And shifting what’s possible is exactly what this industry needs.
At Arelion, we are working hard to accelerate that shift. Through more inclusive hiring practices, expanded mentorship and sponsorship opportunities, and better pathways for women returning to work after career breaks, we’re creating an environment where talent can grow regardless of gender. We have made progress, but we know progress cannot slow. Equality is not a moment – it is a continuous commitment.
Telecom is, at its core, about connection: between cities, continents, businesses, and people. To build networks that serve the world, we need a workforce that reflects it. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we reaffirm our commitment to making Arelion a place where women not only join the industry – but lead it, shape it, and thrive within it.
And hopefully one day, this kind of blog won’t be needed at all.