Women engineers in gender diversity
AS the Pacific region's leading beverages company, Paradise Beverages has a mission to be recognised as the premier place to work and is continuously celebrating diversity in the workplace.
General manager people, culture and sustainability Banuve Yalimaiwai said, "Celebrating and embracing diversity has always been the way in which we do business.
“Having a gender diverse workforce means we can harness the great ideas from people which will keep them engaged and help our customers thrive.
“It will also help us create millions of moments of happiness and possibilities.”
Engineering document controller, Viniana Satakala, embodies diversity through her work with the engineering team.
"When I started in the engineering industry some people weren't as receptive to my ideas as they were to men at the same level in our team – but the team at Paradise Beverages have always been great to me.
"When you are in an industry where you are the minority it is important you find your voice, stand up for yourself and become resilient which is actually very empowering.
“Feeling like you are valued in an industry where you have had to stand up and prove that you are just as capable to do the job makes it much more rewarding.
"I consider myself lucky as I know that woman at other companies have bigger issues with the male and female divide than I do.
"Skill isn't determined by gender in any industry. If people stop stereotyping, I think we will all be happier at work and in life," she added.
Ms Satakala is currently the only woman in the engineering team and she is proud of her development over the past four years.
"I joined Paradise Beverages in 2016 as a mechanical fitter before my role changed to assistant MEX planner.
" In 2019, I was assigned responsibilities for the engineering document controller.
"Every day I come in and check our files to ensure all project documents are in order, compliant and progress is recorded." she said.
"I also make it a point to learn from the seasoned engineers I work with so I can upskill myself to be a better engineer. It is encouraging to see that they are always ready to teach me and help me to be the best that I can be." She added, "Your progress in life starts with you. "Open your mind to the opportunities available to you daily and never base your decisions on stereotypes created for a particular role."
About Paradise Beverages
Further information on Paradise Beverages is available from the Paradise Beverages website www.paradisebeverages.com.fj or by contacting Public Relations & Communications Specialist on Demayble.Pasoni@paradisebeverages.com.fj.
“When you are in an industry where you are the minority it is important you find your voice, stand up for yourself and become resilient which is actually very empowering...
Viniana Satakala. Picture: SUPPLIED