Soraya Kudding

Let's not talk about football for once.

Setting sustainability more firmly on the agenda at Schakel & Schrale. That's the goal Soraya Kudding (27) has set for herself for the coming years.

Six years ago, she started as an intern at BAM's restoration company. Soon after, she was offered a permanent position as a work planner. Working on prestigious and complex projects such as the Trippenhuis in Amsterdam, the Kantongerecht Jansstraat in Haarlem, and the maintenance of various churches in The Hague, she got to know the restoration trade, partly thanks to the willingness of experienced colleagues to guide her. With a recurring motto: the best way to learn the trade is by not being afraid to make mistakes.

‘My heart lies with Schakel & Schrale, but I always seek new challenges in my daily work. So when I had an open conversation with the management about this, an opportunity presented itself quickly. Sustainability has my broad interest, and I see it as an important goal for Schakel & Schrale to be distinctive in this regard. I now spend one day a week with the Sustainability team at BAM Nederland in Bunnik. The experience and insights I gain there are used to fill in the sustainability section of our operational plan. We have traditionally been sustainable by reusing materials extensively, but there is still much room for improvement. There is a lot of low-hanging fruit, such as reducing packaging materials to curb plastic waste streams. And by focusing on raising awareness among our people and working as emission-free as possible on our construction sites, we can become even more sustainable.’

Everyone is equal The male-dominated world that construction still is benefits from more women, Soraya is convinced: ‘With more women in construction, a different dynamic truly emerges. Put a woman among a group of men, and the atmosphere changes. I sometimes say that we should not talk about football for once. Of course, there are sometimes harsh jokes made, but I can handle that well. In fact, I'm often the one making the worst jokes. 'Go wash your mouth out,' I'm told then. At Schakel & Schrale, everyone is equal. That's why it's not difficult to speak up if you're not comfortable with something.’

Ambassador ‘Women are resilient. During my vocational education and subsequent bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, I was the only woman in my class. Sometimes you feel alone, and you have to be able to take a hit now and then. Overall, I look back on my study time with pleasure. The women I met during my studies and afterward in construction consciously chose technology and are ambitious. I think that explains their perseverance. I want to be an ambassador to interest more women in a career in construction. I used to give presentations at schools to girls about how fun it is to work in construction. I don't have time for that anymore, which I regret because we really need young people to prevent our craftsmanship from disappearing. Fortunately, young people, including women, are still joining us. That also makes it a lot more enjoyable for me.’

Enjoyment from collaboration ‘My personal ambition is to advance at Schakel & Schrale. Having sustainability in my portfolio now is a great step. At the same time, I want to acquire more project management skills and then become a project manager. I derive a lot of enjoyment from the collaboration at Schakel & Schrale and the honest way we operate in the market. I always want to be able to look at myself in the mirror, and in all aspects, I can do that at Schakel & Schrale.’