If this article’s title piqued your curiosity, you may be wondering, are we referring to a company, or person?
The answer: both!
Meet French native, Delphine Spaterna, an engineering director who’s currently living in Australia. She’s worked at long-standing multinational company with a large Australian presence, Thales, for an incredible twenty-three years plus!
Back in 2000, as a fledgling computer science graduate, Delphine joined Thales’ defense activities in France, eventually growing into a technical leader role, and work-package manager.
“Joining Thales was a dream come true. I always wanted to join a company where I could work on many different types of critical and complex systems, in different domains, around the world! I knew there’d be so much opportunity to learn, progress, and build a real career.”
Two decades on – it’s safe to say, she was right.
Making career moves
After spending six years in a defense focused role, she decided to continue developing her career by taking a new direction as a sales manager.
“When my leaders helped me discover the role, it made me realize building my career in the company was the right choice.
“Despite having knowledge gaps and lacking a specialized certification in sales, they believed in me and supported me with training to succeed. From that point on, I knew anything was possible – I could have a real future here!”
It’s clear to see the ways Thales encourages and supports its people to explore opportunities, undertake training, and progress their careers.
Learn more about employee benefits at Thales – from career development and personal growth opportunities to flexible work arrangements and an inclusive, anti-discrimination culture.
After achieving success in sales, Delphine moved into an engineering delivery and innovation management role, in preparation for her next big step…
“Spending two years in sales enabled me to grow into an Engineering Director of a big software competencies centre and afterwards, to integrate a new Thales business unit in the space domain (Thales Alenia Space).
“After five years in my last role, my career grew again in the new Thales Alenia Space’s environment, taking on a research and development and strategy director position. I learnt a lot, and at the same time, shared my skills in term of new ways of working, digital transformation, and management style – that is, being a servant leader, coach, and mentor, to my team members.”
Always looking for new challenges
If these roles weren’t enough of a challenge, Delphine then decided to up the stakes and move to a completely new country!
“Just last year, I moved to Australia as part of Thales AMS (Aerospace Mobility Solutions) as the Engineering Director. I’ve joined this new global business unit with the same goal: developing and supporting engineering transformation to increase Thales’ efficiency and sustainability in Australia.”
Starting this role has further developed her appreciation for diversity: “It’s essential to achieving more, and being better, together,” she says.
Engineering the future
Delphine is proud of her work in various engineering director roles and being able to contribute to an incredible leadership team that believes in working together.
In her current role, she directs Thales’s air traffic management business in complex project development, delivering quality products, and defines the best processes, tools, skills, and people.
“I’m passionate about providing a purpose and vision towards building a future we all can trust at Thales and in the broader engineering community.”
Like any role, however, it comes with its own unique set of challenges.
“The most challenging parts of my job are finding the right balance between short and long term. We need to deliver program requests successfully – sometimes, within very short timeframes. We also need to keep our long term delivery goals front of mind, to build and maintain sustainable engineering practices, and strong career opportunities for our team members.”
The people are the biggest positive
Nonetheless, great days at work are easy to come by.
“There are so many things I’m proud of and grateful for! Moments when we deliver on time, on cost, and on quality. Moments we receive positive feedback from our customers. Moments when people are happy to work together, improve the way we deliver, or learn something new.”
It’s clear the people at Thales make a positive difference.
“Boris, my Head of Engineering Operation, is a key element – one personality that happens to be the polar opposite of mine! Not only does he help me temper and set the best work pace, but he also helps me to define and take steps in building and achieving the best vision.
“Patrick, Head of System Discipline, is a great! Patrick has a large breadth of experience in engineering, but he’s also incredibly humble. I learn so much from him.
Louise, our HR Manager, is super sharp, and always has good advice to share with us when it comes to people leadership.”
Based on her accomplished resume, perhaps it’s not surprising that Delphine thrives on the intensity of each day, (considering that she loves high intensity outdoor sports like hiking, cycling, and diving too).
“There are lots of parameters we need to consider to make the best decisions and managers we work with in different areas. But that’s something I actually love about my role.”
Delphine’s best career advice for others to achieve a long, prosperous career?
“Take opportunities when they come. Or… create them when there’s something you want! Anything is possible when you set your mind to it.”
