Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
My name is Ana Sofia Mendes, I am 42 years old and Project Manager at Maintenance Services South (MSS), Sotécnica’s business unit, where I also give support to Safety and Environment.
I am married and I have two fantastic daughters, aged 5 and 11 years old. My birthday is the 26th of April, I’m a Taurus sign, cheerful and full of energy!
I took my major at the Military Institute of Pupils of the Army – Bachelor’s Degree in Machine Engineering – and later developed other areas of interest. I leave my LinkedIn profile to anyone interested in knowing a little more about my academic and professional path.
You’re turning 10 years at Sotécnica. What is it like to be a woman working in the area of facilty management? What are the challenges you face?
Being a woman didn’t stop me from doing what my colleagues were already doing. On the contrary, I feel that I can bring more sensibility and empathy within the customer and colleagues.
Fortunately, we live in a society in which the integration of both genders in the labor market is gradually recognized. I am grateful to work in this area and in a company that has the vision to recognize that all its employees are a great contribution and an asset.
I started my career at Sotécnica in June 2011 as an Operational Technician and supported contract management. However, after 2 years, I was invited to join a Facility Management contract, as Site Manager, which represented a great challenge for me in this area. It was the first time that my business unit was responsible for the maintenance operation of Vodafone’s headquarters building in Hard Facility Management.
For 6 years I was at the customer’s side and it was a very enriching experience for my continuous learning, from a professional as well as a personal and social point of view.
It was much more than delivering a product or a service. It was a day-to-day experience alongside the team and the customer in the way we anticipate needs, analyze them and re-evaluate solutions.
“Get closer than ever to your customers. So close that you tell them what they need well before they do it themselves.” – Steve Jobs
I returned to the headquarters office in 2019, already as a Project Manager and I went from having a large customer to having several customers to manage. A new challenge, to re-establish the relationship of trust, exceed expectations and anticipate needs with new customers and with my new team.
Never forget: “Success is a Team Sport” (Simon Sinek).
