“Your voice is valuable”: Celebrating International Women’s Day at Applus+

Yasmin Bacigalupo joined Applus+ one year ago as Head of Finance for our laboratories business in North America. Following a year of strong performance and strategic contribution, she was recently promoted to CFO of NOAM. In her current role, she oversees financial performance and strategy across the region. Her professional journey, however, began long before this milestone. Over the course of her career, she has witnessed firsthand how gender, culture and motherhood can shape professional opportunities. She notes that, even today, female representation decreases at higher leadership levels: “My advice, especially to working mothers, is to define the balance that works for you, not the one others expect. You may not be with your children every minute, but the time you are with them can be meaningful and grounding. And professionally, remember: if you were invited to that meeting, it’s because your voice is valuable.” 
 
Laura Marín joined the Energy & Industry Division in April 2018 as an Administrative Assistant in the BDI Network Survey Project in Panama. Over the years, she progressively assumed greater responsibilities across various fronts, consolidating her expertise and advancing her career. Today, she is part of the Predictive Eco-Management of Electrical Networks Project, where she serves as a Project Analyst. Although much of her professional experience has been within predominantly male teams, she hopes her trajectory can serve as a reference point for other women interested in entering the sector. Looking ahead, Laura expresses her hope that future generations of women will encounter workplaces where equal opportunities are fully consolidated practices rather than pending objectives: “Preparation, discipline, and teamwork are essential to achieving sustainable results and proving that talent is not determined by gender.” 
 
Rita Yu joined Applus+ Laboratories in China shortly after graduating, making this her first professional role. She was drawn to sales, where performance, challenge and growth are directly linked to effort and measurable outcomes. Throughout her journey, Rita has relied on the strong support of her colleagues across technical, quality, testing and reporting teams. She has observed strong female representation across the broader medical field and finds the growing presence of women in this highly specialized and regulated industry particularly encouraging. For Rita, this signals that women are not only participating but actively contributing to professional development within the sector: “Every individual achievement may seem small, but collectively they contribute to the progress of the industry and to the broader advancement of women in society. The more women who take a seat at the table, the stronger our collective voice”. 

Leah McGimpsey, CEO of APEM and EVP of the Environmental Services Division in the United Kingdom, has noticed that several team members have commented on the difference it makes to see a woman leading a part of the business. She recognizes that female leadership is still not the norm, and sees this as an opportunity to help change that. Leah focuses on staying true to her values and purpose, contributing based on these principles rather than the gender balance in the room. She has found that this approach is well received and energizes her for a future where gender is better represented and valued for the diverse perspectives it brings. She emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and collaboration: “The strength of what we can achieve comes from tapping into the strengths of everyone on the playing field, regardless of gender. Gender diversity benefits us all, let’s be open to learning from each other’s differences to bring out the best in everyone.” 

Anežka Sekavová holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Engineering Mechanics from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic. Today, as a Body Performance Engineer at Applus+ IDIADA in the Czech Republic, Anežka contributes to the development and optimization of vehicle performance, applying the analytical foundation she built through her studies. She drew inspiration from older female students and colleagues she encountered during her university years and part-time jobs. Seeing other women succeed in technical fields reinforced her belief that such paths were attainable. Supported consistently by her family, she developed the confidence to pursue ambitious goals and trust in her own potential: “I like to think that by pursuing my career in STEM, I may have encouraged others to believe in their own potential. Seeing peers like me in technical roles can be a small but meaningful source of inspiration.” 

Brenda O’ Neill began her professional journey in 1999 at the National Car Testing Service, the first vehicle inspection service introduced in Ireland. Starting as a call center agent, she gradually progressed through the organization and today serves as Office Coordinator at Applus+ Automotive in Ireland. She is also a member of the Operations and Planning team. Throughout her career, she has both received guidance from female colleagues and mentors and supported other women by sharing knowledge and advice: “I would advise other women in the sector to believe in their abilities, not to underestimate their value, to continue developing their skills and not to let gender become a limitation.”