Celebrating the Women at Mykor: Meet Inês Marques, our Head of People & Ecosystem
Inês is our Head of People & Ecosystem and she's based at our office in Lisbon, Portugal. She is experienced in managing design projects and leading workshops on critical design and has been working on the field of social impact and sustainable design for 6 years.
In honour of Women's Month, we made a brief Q&A with Inês to share real insights of women in the construction industry and you can read it below.
How did you first become involved in the construction industry?
“Before working at Mykor, I didn't have much experience in the construction or manufacturing industries, which made it the most challenging element in embracing this project. On the other hand I felt really comfortable in the other areas of operations that we do Mykor, also including the development of advanced materials and circular design as my background is in Design Material Futures.”
What's a career highlight or accomplishment you're most proud of in your time with us?
“I have been with Mykor since the beginning so there are a few, but one of the most impressive is seeing that we are now 12 people with such strong skills, being able to work so well and consistently across two different locations. Becoming the Head of People in the company also makes me proud that I am helping to improve the operations for people to work together and support our team members to feel valorised and acknowledged.”
How do you see diversity benefiting our team's dynamics and performance?
“In my day to day, fostering a diverse and inclusive culture is one of the key priorities, when setting employment schemes, onboarding methodologies and supporting the daily necessities and operations of team members and company. We have an amazing diverse team, from their educational background to diverse nationalities. It’s the different perspectives and contexts that makes us a really strong team, bringing a lot of creativity in finding new solutions. I am also really proud of being part of a company that has two female co-founders and that embraces equal opportunities for career growth. Our policies prioritise inclusivity, addressing work-life balance, mental health and flexibility that is so important for us to feel good and respected at work.”
What advice or encouragement would you offer to other women interested in joining the construction industry?
“Don’t be afraid of challenging stereotypes, be resilient and persistent. Connect with your peers and fellow women co-founders to share your worries and fears. Build a good foundation network that will support you in the beginning of your journey and don’t be shy or afraid to make lots of questions and ask for help, all of us are growing and learning. Don’t forget to celebrate your achievements.”
