Valérie Willems: Project Engineer
The 23-year-old Valérie Willems is a Project Engineer at VINCI Energies, and is rotating within the group's four different specialty areas of infrastructure, industry, services and ICT during her first year of work. With a background in nuclear technology and a passion for the environment, she is exploring where her ideal future lies within the company.
“You graduate as an engineer with plenty of knowledge but little connection to the realities of the working world
— the Womenpreneur & VINCI Energies Award changes that.”
- Name: Valérie Willems
- Age: 23
- Studies: Master in industrial sciences: nuclear technology with a focus on environment (UHasselt & KU Leuven)
- Function: Project Engineer
- Hobbies: Walking my dog, horseback riding, diving, backpacking, snowboarding, running and gardening
How did the Womenpreneur & VINCI Energies Award influence your start as an engineer, especially considering you originally had a different plan?
Valérie: After my studies, I was considering taking a sabbatical year to regain perspective and review my options. Engineering studies are intense, but what is often lacking is a connection to the realities of the working world. We get little to no internship experience, so as a graduate you know what interests you in theory, but not how that translates into practice. As a result, many young engineers step into a first job without a clear picture and quickly drop out. For me, things turned out differently. My master’s thesis on the life cycle analysis of deep geothermal installations with only one borehole was selected for the Womenpreneur & VINCI Energies Award. At first I hesitated, because I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself, but I felt this program was a rare opportunity to spend a year exploring different sectors within one company. The program not only gave me access to a wide range of professional fields, but also time and space to truly find out where I belong and to discover my interests and strengths. This is something that many young engineers miss at the beginning of their careers. So this award really helps you gain a much clearer vision of your future.
What has been the biggest surprise when making the shift from theory to practice?
Valérie: Each specialty area brings new insights and I find that my real growth, besides my gained knowledge, is in my people skills: working with colleagues of all ages and backgrounds, and managing customer and subcontractor expectations. This allows me to further develop my communication and leadership skills. What I also really value about VINCI Energies is that although it is a large company, there is a clear choice to keep decision-making as close as possible to the people and the business units themselves. That creates an agility that you would not expect. Finally, I appreciate the freedom I get to help determine which projects I want to focus on.
You grew up with a father as your role model. How important is such a support figure?
Valérie: Many people ultimately conform to stereotypes, just because it is socially easier. But that also means that a lot of talent remains unused, simply because people follow the traditional path. What made the difference for me was the support of my family. My father and brother always encouraged me not to be limited by what society expects. ‘Why not try,’ my dad often said. That simple creed gave me a lot of confidence. He is an industrial engineer himself, so I saw in him someone who followed his passion, and he believed that I could do the same. That gave me the push I needed to say to myself: I just have to do this. That is why it is crucial to show girls early on that their interests are entirely valid, even when they do not align with traditional expectations. Technological development needs different perspectives, and that is what makes the sector interesting. So my message is: you do not have to fit into a box to be good at something. And believe me, the pride when you have found your niche? It is totally worth it.
