Romina Raneri : Service Desk Operator
The 37-year-old Romina Raneri works as a Service Desk Operator at VINCI Facilities. She is responsible for the ordering and follow-up of tools and equipment for technicians, handels intervention requests and schedules work orders in consultation with the Contract Manager. In addition, she supports both her fleet colleagues with coordinating vehicle repairs and maintenance, and her office colleagues with answering intervention calls.
“My self-confidence has grown tremendously, also thanks to
working with men who trust me like at VINCI Energies, and I discovered
an inner strength I didn’t know existed.“
- Name: Romina Raneri
- Age: 37
- Studies: Executive secretarial work (L’Académie Provinciale des Métiers)
- Function: Service Desk Operator
- Hobbies: Spending time with her two children and designing children’s clothing
You’ve been working at VINCI Energies for two years now. What was your first experience like?
Romina: When I started working at VINCI Energies as a Project Assistant, I was one of the few women surrounded by male contract managers and technical experts. At first, I was insecure because of my lack of technical knowledge and the feeling that this meant I could not adequately support the team. Fortunately, I had two managers and many male colleagues who were willing to guide and support me. Thanks to them, I learned a lot about the technical world as well as its terminology, which now allows me to communicate well with technicians. This is also important in my current role as a Service Desk Operator. Despite previous less positive experiences in more masculine environments, at VINCI Energies I felt understood and supported as a woman. In this company, where everyone gets the same opportunities, women who have a technical background are the most normal thing in the world. Since I started at VINCI Energies, I have noticed an increasing number of women working here, including in management positions. This demonstrates the trust the company has in us. Unfortunately, initiatives such as the Women in Technology campaign are still too rare among companies. Therefore, in order to create more visibility, I did not hesitate for a moment to participate. When I told my friends about this, they immediately suggested the idea to their own employers.
How has all your experience in male-dominated environments impacted your growth?
Romina: My first experience in a male-dominated environment at another company was challenging because of the outdated structure and existing prejudices. When, as a young woman, I wanted to participate in project visits to better understand my work, it was initially met with skepticism. Determined, I put on working clothes anyway and insisted on participating. I even visited sites when I was pregnant. Although initially surprised, my colleagues got used to it and I earned their respect. So my message is that it can be difficult to start in an unfamiliar environment, but sometimes that’s exactly when you discover your true self. My self-confidence has grown tremendously, also thanks to working with men who trust me like at VINCI Energies, and I discovered an inner strength I didn’t know existed.
Which value of VINCI Energies do you identify best with?
Romina: I can say that the mentality of the company is a perfect match for me. The most important value at the heart of VINCI Energies according to me is solidarity, and this is really at the core of our culture. Everyone works together, regardless of differences, to overcome challenges and to ensure that the workflow runs smoothly. Although I sometimes need help from my colleagues, for example to move something heavy, this is never seen as a negative. On the contrary, we realize that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses and are happy to help each other. As a team we are stronger than as individuals. Thanks to the versatility of my job, I am also in contact with just about every department. People often say that I bring the whole team together because I like to organize little moments together like a Secret Santa or going out to dinner. Those small gestures bring in a positive energy.
