On International Women's Day we want to pay tribute to all women in general and especially those who work at Luz Negra, by interviewing Jessica López who is Deputy Manager at Luz Negra and who occupies one of the main posts in the company and Paula Moreno who is responsible for our company Luz Negra Centro in Madrid.
Question: What position do you occupy in Luz Negra and what are your main tasks?
Jessica: My current position is Deputy Manager, where it primarily consists of the financial control of the Exinvall group of companies.
Paula: Head of Luz Negra Centro (Lnc). I move within a diversity of tasks, the administrative part together with the functions of Deputy Manager, national purchasing management, analysis of the operations and general management of the delegation of Madrid, together with the heads of each department of the different areas, such as the warehouse, manufacturing, commercial, etc.
Question: How has your evolution been in the company?
Jessica: The road has not been easy, because I started very young and the inexperience in this market, but with hard work and support from the company, my evolution and growth has been especially positive and very satisfactory, both professionally and personally.
Paula: For me, I started from scratch, learning everything from the beginning, how things worked as without this base it’s impossible to understand and comprehend the concepts and the development on a daily basis of each department. I have always taken into account all my colleagues and thanks to each and every one of them, I have learned everything I know so far, to be able to develop my functions.
There are always many changes in the company, however this makes us constantly evolve. I have constantly improved over time and thanks to the managerial vision and confidence they show to each and every one of the workers we logically give results.
Question: Do you think that on a general level, companies in our country offer the same opportunities to women and men?
Jessica: Without a doubt, NO. We believe that we are in a modern and dynamic society, but there are still many obstacles on a daily level which we are aware of and there are still many "mini" worlds where only men can get to.
Paula: Regarding my professional career, in the companies I have worked for, not all of them have been like this. Unfortunately, the same possibilities are not offered to both sexes, no matter how much dedication and effort you devote.
Question: What do you think are the greatest working successes achieved by women in recent years?
Jessica: We could say that women have been able to be part of society, and to contribute to it in the same way as any other gender.
Paula: A great active presence, in different jobs and sectors.
Question: And on a general level?
Jessica: On a general level, it is exactly the same question as before, it’s not about one company or another, but on a general level, where women at the moment, play a very important role in society, just like any other gender.
Paula: To have greater visibility, in a wide variety of jobs, demonstrating dedication and worth.
Question: In what facets of the working sector and personal areas do you think we need to work on to achieve true equality between men and women?
Jessica: It's uncertain, there are still many previous generations, where the mentality is different from today. I believe that it’s not a matter of working, but growing up in an environment where there is equality and respect between men and women which will be enough to achieve equality between any gender.
Paula: One of the most important points is balancing work with your private life. This is always discussed and measures are taken, but unfortunately it is not applied in all sectors and companies. The lack of visible female presence on boards of directors.
Question: Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now and doing what?
Jessica: Well, the truth is that I have never stopped to think, but if I take a minute, I see myself working hard and learning as much as I can and also improving every day both professionally and personally.
Paula: To be quite honest, here in Luz Negra. I’m not saying this because it’s where I’m working now, but really with the constant changes, advances and professional development, it makes my evolution rewarding. Personally, my position is multifunctional, I mean it’s not monotonous, and we are constantly carrying out positive changes and there is room for professional growth. We must never forget that every effort, all types of commitment and dedication always have its reward.
Question: Would you like to add anything else?
Jessica: Being a woman is not something to play down, being a woman is not different, being a woman does not give any right to abuse of any kind, being a woman deserves the same (and not more) respect and opportunities as any other gender.
