From reception to national and international construction sites. Gloria joined Imesa in 2019 as a receptionist. Today he is a point of reference for the Service team. A growth built day after day, with passion, determination and team spirit.
Michela: Gloria, you joined Imesa in 2019. How did your journey begin?
Gloria: I was 43 years old and I responded to an ad for the position of receptionist. I already knew Imesa as a solid and recognized company in the area, and this immediately gave me the push to get back into the game. I came from different experiences: I graduated in law and over time I had approached the issues of internationalization, also thanks to my participation in the European project “Leonardo” in London at university, which made me realize how much I liked working abroad. Imesa immediately gave me confidence, and it all started from there.
Michela: Then you moved on to Service. How did this change happen and what prompted you to accept this new challenge?
Gloria: It was a natural transition but also an important turning point. The role of the Service was being completely reorganized in the company, which until then had been managed in a fragmented way by various departments. We intervened above all in response to emergencies, without a structured and proactive vision.
In that reorganization phase, I started to support Fausto Di Marzio, the head of the Service team, dealing in particular with the organization of trips and the preparation of documentation for access to the construction sites, in tandem with our HSE office. It all started from there: I discovered an extremely dynamic field, which requires readiness, precision and an overall vision.. A challenge that I accepted with enthusiasm, aware that I was entering an evolving context.
Today, in fact, the idea is to have a real dedicated Business Unit, which combines Service, Automation and Spare Parts, transforming a support activity into a strategic lever with great potential, also from the point of view of margins. There is still room to optimize, grow and bring added value.
Michela: Exactly what do you do today?
Gloria: I actually support the entire Service team, carrying out various operational functions: I coordinate with customers in organizing colleagues’ trips, I prepare documentation for access to construction sites – where safety is a fundamental issue – I follow offers, order confirmations and reporting.
Working in a predominantly male environment has pushed me to enhance aspects that I feel are more mine: listening, attention to detail, attention to tone and communication, especially under pressure. I believe that the presence of women in this type of team brings an important balance, capable of creating harmony and cohesion. It is a role that requires flexibility, constant presence and a lot of adaptability. Basically, I take care of a bit of the whole cycle… but always with an eye to the human side of things.
Michela: You mentioned a passion for internationalization, how is this inclination concretely reflected in your daily work?
Gloria: It is an aspect that really reflects who I am! This morning, for example, I had a call with Brazil and later I will have one with China. These are moments that I find stimulating because they combine my predisposition for relationships with the global dimension of business. Even without specific technical training, I have always felt at ease in dealing with foreign countries, because it is an area that reflects my personal inclinations and makes my work more dynamic.
At Imesa, this approach is valued on a daily basis: the company gives space to the aspirations of its collaborators and creates an environment in which people can express themselves at their best, as our CEO Marco Achilli often emphasizes, for whom the centrality of people represents the true distinctive value of the company.
Michela Doing a job you enjoy is a real privilege and creates a comfort zone that makes you feel comfortable. However, there is also a lot of unpredictability in your work: how do you experience this balance?
Gloria I don’t consider myself an organizer by nature and, in fact, I’m a chronic latecomer! But it is precisely this inclination of mine that helps me to manage the unpredictability of work, because it has taught me to be flexible and ready to quickly change plans and find quick solutions, keeping calm even when things do not go as planned.
The service, in fact, assumes continuous availability, 24 hours a day, with very tight reaction times in the event of an emergency. Our technicians are often away for months, even on board the ship, and in those moments it is essential to know how to work in the team with timeliness and empathy.
Michela: If you had to sum it all up in one fun line?
Gloria In Imesa I found a space in which to express myself, learn, grow, and also have fun. I share with my colleagues the fact that we work with great passion and we have also learned, on the most difficult days, to play it down with a joke!
Michela: Thanks, Gloria. All the best with your work!