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Brand Stories: Sónia Santa Maria, Executive Management Assistant
Sónia Santa Maria joined Sotécnica’s team 2 years ago and is an Executive Management Assistant.
Brand Stories
18 November 2021Brand Stories: Sónia Santa Maria, Executive Management Assistant
Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
My name is Sónia Santa Maria, I am married, have two children and a Beagle dog and I have been working as Executive Management Assistant at Sotécnica for the last two years.
About 3 years ago I discovered a vocation that turned into a hobby, to which I dedicate a large part of my free time: Creative Sewing.
What do you value the most in working at Sotécnica?
Despite working for a relatively short time at Sotécnica, I know that this is a company that cares and bets on its people. It is easy to find colleagues who were able to develop their careers within the company, being here for 10, 20, 30 years now.
There is a good team spirit, people who help each other and share smiles.
On the other hand, safety is very present in our day-to-day and this is a constant concern that is felt across the company, from the works (where it is more obvious to be a pressing issue) to the administrative areas.
What do you consider to have been the most challenging times at Sotécnica?
For me, undoubtedly, the most challenging times were those of the beginning of the Pandemic, in 2020. I was only a few months at the company and, suddenly, most workers went home to work remotely. Given the specificity of my role, professional and family management was a bit challenging, as having two elements in remote working and, in the same space, having to reconcile the management of two small children, online classes and household job, was not an easy task. On the other hand, the company managed to adapt in record time to this new paradigm: people were quite available to continue their activity, the collaborative tools worked, and communication flowed.
I think one of the positive aspects of this pandemic was the fact that we were forced to try working in a way that was not part of our culture until then – work remotely – and it proofed to be a success. In this way, it is possible to continue the professional activity, have more time available to dedicate to other aspects of our lives, and contribute to reducing the environmental footprint, thanks to the effect of the reduction in people traffic on pollution and consumption in general.
In your opinion, what is the secret ingredient that makes Sotécnica’s activity a successful one?
Sotécnica brand is a strong brand in the market in which it operates, as a result of its 70 years of existence.
In my opinion, experience and know-how are the secret ingredients, as it is a company that over the years has managed to keep its resources, in which it invested to train.
Additionally, being part of an international group such as VINCI also has given Sotécnica visibility and generates opportunities to reach other markets.