Mayella van Vliet

‘A technical profession, especially in construction, is a fantastic sector for girls.’

Creating something together from nothing is what Mayella finds so enjoyable about working in the construction sector. ‘It's tangible; even years later, when you drive past a project, I think: wow, I contributed to that. As a work planner, you encounter all sorts of things, which allows you to gain a lot of knowledge on various subjects. What I also find interesting to see is how broad the role is and how different individuals can completely fill the same position, depending on their interests and character.’

An open and transparent sector ‘One of the prejudices in our sector is that construction companies are 'cowboys' and cannot be trusted.’ Building trust must come from both sides in a project, says Mayella. ‘You have to invest in that because if there is no trust, more time and money will go into contract management than into actual construction. Construction team arrangements are a good starting point: they encourage openness, honesty, and innovation. I am convinced that if you build a good relationship, you will always come to a solution together. Whether it's with a client or a subcontractor. If you supplement that with clear agreements on who does what and how, it can hardly go wrong!’

As for her goal, Mayella is not entirely sure yet. ‘My goal is still somewhat fluid: I'm very drawn to engineering and the preliminary stages because there are still many solutions possible. At the same time, I find the atmosphere during execution unique, and I wouldn't want to miss occasionally stepping outside to see the result of everything we work out behind our laptops. But the most important thing is the enjoyment of the work. Pleasure can mean something different for everyone. Look for it and, at least at BAM, there are quite a few people who can help you with that!’

Technology and construction are a fantastic sector ‘A technical profession, especially in construction, is a fantastic sector for girls. I believe that a balance in any factors contributes to a good team, so in the current distribution, you quickly have a lot of added value!’ A call to young girls: ‘Technology is fun and interesting, and it helps you understand the world better. So don't dismiss it before you've delved into it; your dream job might be in this area!’

International Women's Day in Cameroon Mayella has a special memory of International Women's Day. ‘During my studies, I had the opportunity to experience International Women's Day in Cameroon. We were helping to build a school there with a group of students. The enthusiasm with which this day was anticipated and celebrated by men and women together made an impression. There was even a special fabric for Women's Day that everyone had a dress made from for that day. I still think about it every year: this is a day to celebrate that men and women complement each other.’