GENERAL NEWS / 02-05-2022
Hi Leire, thanks for taking part in these chats. To start, can you tell us how you came to Arania?
My career at Arania started in 2009, still at university, through a collaboration programme to develop materials for the Innovation, Development and Quality team.
And how has your career evolved within the company?
I've worked in several areas, initially in technical support for customers, seeking out new projects and ensuring satisfaction with the product. Then, in the management systems of different areas, such as quality, safety, environment and process engineering; defining methods to ensure integration and coherence between the different areas of the plant to improve their effectiveness and efficiency.
What's been the biggest challenge you've taken on?
I think stopping the various management systems from becoming closed off from each other, and having them work together with everyone that makes up ARANIA. In the end, the goal is that a culture of safety, quality and environment becomes part of people, in other words, the company's DNA, with the resulting cultural change at all levels.
What do you think has been the biggest change within Arania in this field? How do you think it will evolve in the coming years?
There have been a lot of changes. Specifically within the scope of the environment and, like in society, it hasn't been just evolution, more a revolution. The environment has become an essential point in the company's strategy. The challenge lies in visualising and designing a sustainable ARANIA.
One of the projects completed in 2021 was the calculation of the organisation's Carbon Footprint, which determines the carbon emissions produced and shows us the main areas of emissions, divided into 3 scopes.
There is action we have already implemented in the short term, but we expect a great transformation in the steel sector, toward “green steel”.
How did you become interested in the industrial field?
I had always been interested in the technical side, and of course, I was drawn to the possibilities I saw in the environment. In addition, industry is full of opportunities, where young people can develop their careers, and where they are going to be needed to lead the transformation, digital to name just one, that we are going to face.
And of course I'd like to encourage women who are thinking of a career in the industrial sector. This sector is constantly regenerating, and through equality policies and objective tools that evaluate people for their performance and not their gender, the incorporation of women in industry is already a reality.
And on a more personal note, what is your biggest passion or pastime? Has it helped you in your work in any way?
Nature, travelling and sport: mountain climbing, skating, diving, swimming, pilates…
I've always liked to set myself challenges in pastimes and mix them up. It takes planning and sacrifice, but it inspires me, from climbing Mount Fuji, to swimming from Getaria to Zarautz.
This attitude, without doubt, has helped me in my work. Each project I have to take on professionally also requires planning and sacrifice and, in the same way, it inspires me.
And finally, what are you like when you're not working?
On one hand, I'm a very dynamic person, I'm always planning my next challenge, my next trip; but I'm also calm and family-oriented and I enjoy my everyday surroundings.
Thank you very much, Leire.