Meat our members: Beatriz Curran
Tell us more about how you got to where you are today. What was your career path and how did you end up in your current role?
After graduating in Business, I got my first real job in the Fashion Industry in Spain. It was great, I was young and to be working in such a ‘cool’ environment was a real bonus for me.
Due to international expansion, I decided to move to Northern Ireland for a few months to improve my English and further develop my career in exports.
After 6 months, I decided to stay a bit longer and took on a job in an IT company – I loved it so much there that I decided to stay for a while. After a couple of years in that company, I decided to try a new industry and started working for a Renewable Energies firm where I spent another 5 years working within the Sales Exports Team.
In 2015, an opportunity came up to start working for the International Development Team at Moy Park and I decided to give it a go – I didn’t know much about poultry (other than I love chicken!) or the meat industry and, to be fair, I never thought about working in this sector until then. It was very strange to move from fashion to meat! But here I am and, in all honesty, I love it.
What do you enjoy most about your role and working in the meat industry?
As a Business Development Manager for the International Team I work with many different people, nationalities, backgrounds & cultures – one day I would be visiting a farm in GB and the next day I would be in an embassy somewhere across the world discussing market access for the UK poultry industry … and that variety in my role is something that I really love! I always have something to do or someone to talk to.
Also, how fast paced this industry is. Not one day is the same as the other. We have challenges, (many of them !! ) and what is happening around the world impacts our business in one way or another so we have to action things very very quickly. It really is impossible to get bored!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
I work for a Northern Irish company and naturally I have many British and Irish colleagues. I am from Spain so my appearance, my accent and my ways of working sometimes are different from the majority of my colleagues. In the past, I would be very self-conscious about being ‘different’.
I remember one day, during a one to one meeting with my direct manager, he said to me – You need to be yourself , that’s your uniqueness and people like that!
That really stayed with me and, ever since, I try to embrace my personal brand. I would advise anyone, in a personal or professional level, to always be yourself – that’s what makes YOU different and you bring another perspective to what you do at work and in life.
Could you tell us about your experience with Meat Business Women so far?
I heard about Meat Business Women through one of my colleagues at work and I asked my manager if it was ok for me to join. My manager of course agreed and I am so happy I joined.
I am very passionate about Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging in the workplace and being a female in a male dominating industry has increased my drive to ensure there is good female representation and talent retention.
My experience so far has been great. I have joined quite a few webinars and masterclasses over the past 2 years which have helped to grow my confidence. I have also attended the face to face networking events where I got to meet women (and men) from the meat industry. It is an excellent platform and I would recommend to anyone in any role within our industry to join.
I have also joined the Mentoring Platform that MBW offers where I was matched with the amazing Natasha. Having a mentor has been a key stage in my career. Just by talking to an outsider with insider knowledge. She gives me valuable advice on how to navigate situations, helps me to think through my workload and which areas to prioritise.
What’s your top tip for someone starting out in the meat industry?
Be prepared – when we say fast paced we mean it !! But if you enjoy that, then this industry is definitely for you.
Also, develop relationships, with people at all levels inside and outside your organization. Creating those strong networks will really strengthen and enhance your working experience.
And simply .. enjoy! The meat industry has so much to offer, there are many opportunities worldwide and if you really work hard you will have an amazing career.
Connecting incredible women in the meat industry is what we’re all about at Meat Business Women. If you’d like to connect with Beatriz on LinkedIn, click here.
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