Intervista a Ilaria, macchinista

Summary

The transcript features a woman reflecting on her journey from studying environmental engineering at the Politecnico di Milano to becoming a train driver, a role traditionally dominated by men. Inspired by her family's railway background, she expresses pride in her work with sustainable trains, emphasizing their energy efficiency compared to older models. Despite challenges, including a significant drop in commuter numbers during her tenure, she remains optimistic about her career and is eager to grow within the company. She highlights the evolving nature of the job, which is increasingly technology-driven and accessible to women, showcasing the beauty of her unique profession.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker studied environmental engineering at the Politecnico di Milano, driven by current sustainability challenges.
• 🚆 They now drive sustainable trains, which significantly save energy compared to older models.
• 👩‍🏫 The speaker's family background includes relatives who worked in the railway, inspiring their career choice.
• 🌍 They feel fortunate to work in their field despite the challenges posed by reduced commuter traffic.
• 😮 Many people are surprised to see a woman as a train driver, indicating a stereotype that still exists in the industry.
• 📉 The speaker experienced times with no passengers, highlighting the impact of the pandemic on train services.
• 🎓 They hope to grow within their company, leveraging their degree and experience to advance their career.
• 🔄 The role of train driving is evolving, becoming more technological and less physically demanding than before.
• 🌅 The speaker finds beauty in the job, enjoying the early morning sunrises and quiet drives during off-peak hours.
• 💪 They emphasize that train driving is a profession that women can excel in, challenging outdated perceptions of physical requirements.

Q & A

What degree did the speaker pursue and where?

The speaker pursued a degree in environmental engineering at the Politecnico di Milano.

What motivated the speaker to choose environmental engineering?

The speaker was motivated by the current relevance of the field to issues of sustainability and pollution.

What is the speaker's current job?

The speaker currently works as a train driver, operating sustainable trains that significantly save energy compared to older models.

How does the speaker's family background relate to their career?

The speaker's grandparents worked in the railway sector, and their father's dream was to become a train driver, which influenced the speaker's passion for trains.

What challenges did the speaker face as a female train driver?

The speaker faced challenges such as being mistaken for a conductor and the societal difficulty of associating women with the role of a train driver.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the speaker's work?

During the pandemic, the speaker experienced a significant drop in passengers, resulting in periods where they were the only person on the train with the conductor, making the situation feel isolating.

What are the speaker's future aspirations within the company?

The speaker hopes to grow with the company and attain a higher position, leveraging their engineering education to better understand the organization.

What advantages does the speaker see in modern train driving compared to the past?

The speaker notes that modern train driving is more technologically advanced and accessible, making it easier for women to enter the profession compared to the physically demanding nature of the past.

What personal experiences does the speaker enjoy about their job?

The speaker enjoys the beauty of witnessing sunrises and sunsets while driving trains during quiet hours, which adds to the appeal of the job.

How does the speaker feel about their job compared to others?

The speaker feels fortunate to have a job during challenging times, especially when many others did not, and expresses a strong commitment to their career.