Maite Alonso has been area sales manager at Thermochip for five years. During that time she has participated in marketing the classic sandwich panel, managing and increasing the customer portfolio in northern Spain and throughout Portugal.
What does International Women’s Day mean for you?
I see it as a well-deserved homage to all those women who, in one way or another, made headway in roles that “weren’t for them” and who fought to achieve the equality and rights which we enjoy today.
How has the role of women evolved in your sector and during your professional career?
The building industry is a sector which still doesn’t have many women. The numbers are slowly growing and in 2008 according to the statistics, there were eight percent of us. Now we account for almost twelve percent. I have been in the building industry for fifteen years and, specifically, in the sale of materials and I am increasingly meeting women managers of warehouses and more site managers… It is true that in construction work there were no women, because it wasn’t appealing, generally because of the physical issue, but I think and hope that with the industrialisation of the sector, that can change and we will gradually see more women on site, not only as site managers or doing administrative work.
Have you experienced any difficulties in your working life because you are a woman?
Actually, no. I’ve been lucky in that the companies I have worked for have placed their trust in me and my skills and have not taken my gender into account.
What do you think has been your greatest contribution to Thermochip?
I think dealing with customers; sincerity, honesty and constancy are some of my main values and they help to increase the portfolio of customers, consolidate existing ones and generate trust before and after the sale of the product. Also by being the first female area representative for the company has paved the way to it not being seen as more typically man’s work, being able to demonstrate that “yes, you can”; you can be a mother and travel, you can be a woman and balance work and family life. I think it is a good contribution to the situation of women which is the issue we are discussing today.
Why would you recommend other women join the Cupa Group team?
I would recommend it because it is a great company, constantly growing, and it offers equal opportunities in all posts, as in my case. It is the perfect company for developing your professional career.
