“All women in this world have great personalities and each of them has her own strengths. We women should support each other. We can achieve great things together”

In our Diversity@NORMA series, we highlight the diversity of employees who work at NORMA Group. In 2021, the series focuses on NORMA Group’s female employees. Female colleagues from a variety of departments and countries report on their professional and personal experiences and provide insight into their wishes for the future.

Natasha Vatsilas is Marketing Coordinator at NORMA Group’s Dandenong South site in Australia. In this interview, she talks about her role models, professional challenges and what she hopes for in the future.

Natasha, what woman has had the greatest impact on you in your life?

My mother, but also my grandmother, have had a great personal influence on me. Both of them worked full time and managed to raise their children on the side. For instance, my mother always had time for us despite her job. She drove my siblings and me to all of our recreational activities. My grandmother also achieved great things. She emigrated from Greece to Australia as a young woman. She started her own company here in Australia and raised four children along the way. These two power women showed me that I can achieve a lot if I work hard enough for it. I have also generally been fortunate to be surrounded by many wonderful women in my life. All of them together have helped me become the person I am today.

Do you have professional role models? Why are you professionally where you are today?

I don’t have a specific professional role model. Throughout my professional life, I have worked with many colleagues who have inspired, motivated and encouraged me. I have learned a lot from them.

During my high school years, I already developed a great passion for graphic design and then decided to study in this field. During my studies, I worked part-time in marketing and thus laid the groundwork early on for my current work in this industry.

What does your career mean to you?

I love my job. Before I came to NORMA Group, I worked in marketing in the sports industry. The products and systems, irrigation systems from NORMA Group, for example, were completely new to me at the beginning. In the meantime, I have become very familiar with our product portfolio. It is as diverse as my job. I learn something new every day and I also get to take on new challenges every day. I appreciate that very much. For us, no two days are the same.

What challenges have shaped your career?

The sports industry, where I worked before, is a very male-dominated industry. I realized very quickly that I had to prove myself among my male colleagues. I noticed that I was often not taken seriously at the beginning and always had to work harder than my male colleagues. Especially at the beginning of my career, I had to work hard to earn the recognition of my colleagues. I don’t feel that gender should play a role in the working world. Everyone should be taken seriously. We have to get away from these mainly subconscious prejudices against women.

Natasha, what do you wish for the future? And do you have any advice for women in general?

I wish that women – no matter in which part of the world and in which industry they might work – receive the same chances and opportunities as men. I wish for more equality and I hope that we will contribute through our work, our dedication and our commitment so that future generations will no longer be confronted with these inequalities.

All women in this world have great personalities and each of them has her own strengths. We women should support each other. We can achieve great things together and make life easier for future generations.