The power of passion: Tania’s rise to Senior Commercial Manager with EthosEnergy

In the latest of our series of interviews, discover how Atefeh (Tania) Parsa overcame challenges to become a leader in commercial operations at EthosEnergy.

"I had no idea what a commercial manager did. And I had no idea about gas turbines."

Tania's journey kicked off in an intriguing way.

But the special part of this story isn't just the end destination.

It's the fact that someone who moved to a new country, didn't speak the language, and lacked intricate industry knowledge ended up overseeing the entire eastern hemisphere's commercial operations for heavy-duty gas turbines.

This is a story of resilience, curiosity, and a deep passion for technology, knowledge, and people.

The early years

With a university degree in physics, Tania began her career working at a research institution, organizing seminars and conferences, engaging with international scholars, and immersing herself in a highly globalized work environment - key skills that would prove invaluable.

But life took an unexpected turn in 2008 when she relocated to Italy from Iran due to a new working opportunity for her husband, marking a significant reset in both her personal and professional life - and reshaping Tania's future.

Embracing new challenges

Moving to Italy presented challenges - the most significant being that she was now on the hunt for a new job in a country where she didn't speak the language.

Determined to adapt to her new life, she dedicated her time to learning Italian.

"I wanted to start learning Italian straight away. After ten months of studying, let's say I was familiar with the language. So, I started to look for a job."

Her perseverance paid off when she was introduced to EthosEnergy. Though she had no direct experience in the field, she was intrigued by the opportunity.

"They called me from one of the agencies and told me about an opportunity with EthosEnergy as a Junior Commercial Manager. I had no idea what that was, and I didn't know anything about commercial gas turbines. But I wanted to try."

She was excited by the chance to learn something entirely new within an international environment and integrate into the Italian workspace. She was also pleased that the company had shown interest in her and her CV.

After a tough interview process conducted in her newly learned Italian, she was offered the role, marking the beginning of her long-standing relationship with EthosEnergy.

The company had plans to grow its business in the Middle East and wanted somebody who understood the culture and could build strong client relationships.

Thanks to her curiosity and willingness to learn, Tania was perfect for this role.

A journey of professional development and growth

Tania started her career at EthosEnergy as a Junior Commercial Manager, focusing on a small area in the Middle East.

"I was curious, and I was always asking lots of questions."

It was this curiosity, along with support from colleagues and mentors, that helped her gain a footing in the industry.

"I was lucky to have such inclusive and supportive colleagues and an understanding boss who remains a source of inspiration to this day. They helped me settle in and wanted me to succeed as much as I did. There was one especially supportive colleague nearing retirement who wanted to transfer his knowledge to me. He was very passionate about his work, and I think he saw that same passion in me."

This deeply inspired Tania, and she has carried this legacy forward in her own approach to leadership.

Today, as a Senior Commercial Manager, Tania leads a team of five, overseeing commercial operations across the eastern hemisphere for heavy-duty turbines.

"I now have my own team, which is one of the best parts of my journey so far, as I've grown both personally and professionally within the company."

Making her mark

Tania's growth has been fueled by her personal development and the increasing presence of women in leadership roles.

"When I joined the company, the industry was more of a male-dominated working environment. Now, there is more of a balance, as you can see that women are growing and taking leadership roles. This is one of the many positive things I see here."

Her career journey has been marked by her drive to continuously improve and expand her knowledge, and her determination to succeed in a previously male-dominated industry.

Driven by a passion for people and technology

Tania's passion for her work also runs into the technical side of the business.

With a particular interest in gas turbines and extensive knowledge developed over the years, Tania has become a specialist in crafting technically sound and commercially viable proposals and contracts.

Her expertise lies in the core component of the gas turbine - the rotor - and she has developed a keen understanding of how to extend the life of these essential pieces of machinery.

"We have to develop different opportunities and solutions for customers. A particular passion of mine is the gas turbine itself - this is what I really love. I also enjoy crafting strategies that align customer needs with our resources and technology, creating win-win solutions. I love making proposals for rotors and providing different solutions for customers who need to extend their turbines' lives."

A multicultural approach to customer relations

Tania's multicultural background has played a significant role in her success, particularly in her approach to customer relations.

Having worked with clients from Europe, Asia Pacific, Australia, the Middle East and Africa, she understands the importance of adapting to different cultural nuances.

"I think being a multicultural person myself helps me, because I believe that to connect with your customer, you need to understand your customer. We work with people in countries across the world, so you see many different cultures and approaches."

Her ability to blend technical knowledge with cultural sensitivity has strengthened her relationships with customers, leading to numerous successful projects.

"I think the most important part of customer care is gaining trust. Once that is established and you become the key point of contact for them, customer loyalty to the company grows, opening many doors for business expansion. It's crucial that the client feels you are there to support them and have the ability to look at different options from their perspective."

The EthosEnergy difference

Since joining EthosEnergy in 2009, Tania has witnessed both personal and professional growth. She attributes this to the company always providing opportunities for her to learn, grow, and take on new challenges.

"I wanted more and more because I wanted to learn more. I stayed with the company because, during my journey, I was given the opportunity to gain more and more experience."

And now, Tania can pass that knowledge and experience down to the next generation.

"I always had this dream to transfer my knowledge, and this is what I'm doing today, just as my boss and old colleagues did with me. It's absolutely the most important reason that I'm happy with my job, because now I'm managing a young team and seeing them learn and grow. For me, there's nothing more satisfying."

Tania's balanced and bright future

Tania's journey with EthosEnergy is a story of resilience, passion, and continuous growth.

From her early days in physics to her current role as a Senior Commercial Manager, she has consistently pushed herself to learn, adapt, and succeed.

Along the way, she has also become a mother of two boys.

Now, she faces the daily challenge of balancing her responsibilities at work with her role at home. But it's thanks to Tania's passion for her job that she can navigate this balance, ensuring that she remains fully committed to both her career and her family.

"I'll tell you that it's very challenging to have this balance of work and life. But if you have passion for your job, you can manage it. Sometimes it's challenging, but I think my experience helps me to overcome any obstacle. Of course, I'm not perfect, but this is important in my career, the career of a working woman."

This story serves as an inspiration to anyone looking to build a successful career while staying true to their passions and values.

Through her journey, Tania has shown that with curiosity, determination, and a deep love for what you do, anything is possible.