The Women of Future Mobility with Manuela Tuveri

Welcome to The Women of Future Mobility, where I interview some of the most intellectual, creative and inspiring female leaders in future mobility. Here you will find insightful knowledge for up-and-coming leaders in the industry and I couldn't think of a better guest to share their journey.

Today I am joined by Manuela Tuveri Head of Engineering Europe and Middle East at CAE . A big thank you to Manuela for her time and for providing some amazing insight.

Navigating the Skies: Manuela's Voyage from Engineering to Strategic Leadership

Manuela's illustrious journey in the aerospace and defense industry spans over two decades, marked by diverse leadership roles and international experiences. Beginning her career in Italy with a company specializing in missile manufacturing, she swiftly ascended through various positions encompassing verification, validation, software engineering, and business development across different companies and nations.

After spending significant periods in the United States and Germany, Manuela currently serves a pivotal role in CAE GmbH, the German entity of the Canadian multinational CAE Inc., leader in training and simulation solutions for the civil and military markets, where she previously led a sizable international engineering organization spanning Germany, Hungary, and the UK. Recently entrusted with spearheading strategic programs and technology innovation, Manuela's focus has shifted towards shaping the company's growth trajectory and fostering new business opportunities, aligning with the mandates of the EMEA – Europe, Middle East, Africa- management team she is also part of.

Transitioning into the realm of strategy has been a seamless process for Manuela, who attributes her adaptability and meticulous planning nature to this smooth shift. She emphasizes the importance of strategic thinking at all levels of professional growth, highlighting the need to anticipate challenges, embrace failure, and remain agile in an ever-evolving landscape.

Manuela's approach to strategy is grounded in customer-centricity, relying on market research and exchanges with customers  to glean valuable insights and adapt strategies accordingly. She acknowledges the dynamic and unpredictable nature of the aerospace industry, emphasizing the need for continuous forward-thinking and readiness to pivot in response to market dynamics.

In essence, Manuela's journey exemplifies resilience, adaptability, and strategic foresight, underscoring the vital role of strategic leadership in navigating the complexities of the aerospace industry's future. Her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring professionals, demonstrating the rewards of embracing change, fostering innovation, and maintaining a steadfast commitment to excellence.

Empowering Leadership and Team Dynamics: Manuela's Approach to Success

Leadership Approach and Qualities: Manuela underscores the significance of continuous learning and adaptability in her leadership journey. She emphasizes the importance of solid expertise while maintaining an open-minded attitude towards reassessment and course correction when necessary. Leading by example, she demonstrates resilience and commitment, never faltering in her dedication to her team's success.

Building Diverse and Complementary Teams: In assembling her team, Manuela seeks individuals with diverse backgrounds and skill sets, valuing differences that complement her own strengths and weaknesses. She believes in fostering a dynamic environment where passion, determination, and a shared vision for innovation drive the team forward. Embracing dreamers and open-minded individuals, she cultivates an atmosphere of creativity and collaboration.

Investing in Potential and Collaboration: Reflecting on her own career, Manuela acknowledges the importance of mentorship and opportunities for growth. She advocates for investing in individuals who show potential, echoing the support she received in her own professional journey. By nurturing talent and fostering a collaborative spirit, she believes in unlocking greater innovation and creativity within the aerospace industry.

Catering to Diverse Customer Needs: Recognizing the diversity of customer needs in the aerospace industry, Manuela stresses the importance of building teams that reflect this diversity. By embracing individuals with varied perspectives and experiences, she believes in better serving the evolving demands of customers and driving innovation forward in the industry.

Celebrating Milestones: Manuela's Proudest Professional Achievements

Manuela reflects on several significant milestones throughout her career that she holds dear. Firstly, she recalls the demanding yet rewarding experiences of successful flight tests in the missile industry, highlighting the challenges overcome with her dedicated team. She also cherishes the memory of her first presentation, navigating being the youngest and often the only woman in the room, receiving validation from customers, which affirmed her path. Moreover, the acknowledgment of making a difference in someone's career left a lasting impact, emphasizing the value of mentorship and leadership. Finally, Manuela takes pride in her ability to adapt and succeed in various environments, moving countries, learning different languages. Overall, demonstrating the importance of personal growth alongside professional achievements.

Embracing Diversity: A Key to Company Success

Manuela articulates a profound belief in the transformative power of diversity and inclusion within organizations. She distinguishes between companies that merely pay lip service to diversity initiatives and those that earnestly implement inclusive practices. According to Manuela, the latter group harnesses the considerable advantage of fostering open-mindedness among employees. This environment of openness nurtures creativity and innovation, as diverse perspectives lead to more dynamic problem-solving approaches. While she acknowledges that assembling diverse teams can pose initial challenges, particularly during the forming phase, Manuela emphasizes that the long-term benefits far outweigh any temporary obstacles.

Manuela underscores the critical role of authenticity in creating an inclusive workplace culture. She contends that individuals thrive when they can bring their whole selves to work, operating in alignment with their core values and beliefs. This authenticity not only enhances employee satisfaction and well-being but also drives productivity and engagement. Manuela shares a poignant anecdote about a conversation with a colleague who emphasized the importance of working in an environment where one can truly be oneself. This insight resonated deeply with her and reinforced her commitment to championing diversity and inclusion in her own career and team.

Manuela expands on the concept of continuousassessment, the evaluation of fit between an individual and an organization extends beyond the initial hiring process. Even after joining a company, employees continue to assess whether they align with its values, culture, and goals. She highlights the significance of minimizing attrition by cultivating an environment where employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute fully. In Manuela's view, enabling every individual to participate authentically and leverage their unique expertise and perspective is key to fostering a culture of inclusivity and driving organizational success.

Cultivating Creativity: Manuela's Approach to Innovation

Manuela prioritizes open communication and trust as foundational elements for fostering innovation and creativity within her team. She ensures that her team members feel empowered to freely share their ideas and insights by maintaining an open-door policy and creating platforms for idea exchange. Initiatives such as innovation labs, web portals for idea submission, and tech talks enable team members to contribute their expertise and propose improvements across products, technology, and processes.

Hackathons and international collaboration further enhance creativity by providing diverse perspectives and technical expertise. Manuela emphasizes the importance of involving everyone in the early stages of idea generation, allowing them to feel invested in the development of future products and services. Additionally, hosting customers in innovation labs facilitates direct engagement between engineers and clients, fostering a deeper understanding of customer needs and preferences.

This collaborative and dynamic environment not only drives innovation but also motivates team members to strive for excellence in realizing client aspirations. By encouraging continuous learning and knowledge-sharing, Manuela creates a rewarding experience for her team, where every member has the opportunity to contribute meaningfully and learn from others, ultimately leading to the development of groundbreaking solutions.

Nurturing Growth: Manuela's Mentorship Philosophy

Manuela's approach to mentoring and coaching is deeply rooted in her belief that it's not just about guiding others but also about continuous personal growth. She views mentorship as a two-way street where both the mentor and mentee learn from each other's experiences. This philosophy stems from her own journey, where she benefited greatly from the guidance of exceptional mentors throughout her career.

Having been fortunate enough to have mentors who believed in her potential, Manuela feels a sense of responsibility to pay it forward by offering her time and expertise to those seeking guidance. This commitment led her to take on leadership roles in mentoring programs, such as heading the European Professional Women Network, where she actively supports and empowers aspiring professionals.

For Manuela, mentoring goes beyond just professional development; it's about fostering a sense of community and shared learning. She finds inspiration in the energy and resilience of the individuals she mentors, recognizing the unique perspectives and insights they bring to the table. Through her interactions with mentees, Manuela gains fresh insights into emerging trends, technologies, and work cultures, which enriches her own understanding and keeps her grounded in the realities of today's workforce.

In her mentoring journey, Manuela emphasizes the importance of offering oneself for mentorship, encouraging others to look beyond their immediate circles and offer support to those in need. She believes that diverse perspectives and experiences are vital for fostering innovation and growth within organizations. By creating a culture of mentorship and collaboration, Manuela strives to build resilient teams capable of navigating the complexities of the ever-evolving professional landscape.

In essence, Manuela's mentorship philosophy embodies the spirit of empowerment, inclusivity, and lifelong learning, serving as a guiding light for individuals seeking to chart their own paths to success in the dynamic world of today's workforce.

Empowering Women in Aerospace: Manuela's Advice for Success

Manuela offers invaluable advice to aspiring female professionals looking to succeed in the aerospace and defense industries. She emphasizes the importance of finding one's passion and studying diligently while never compromising one's identity.

Highlighting the industry's need for diverse talents, Manuela urges young women to challenge stereotypes and contribute their unique perspectives to drive innovation. She cites research the Harvard Business Review, which underscores the positive impact of gender diversity on business performance and innovation. They analysed levels of gender diversity in research and development teams from 4277 companies in Spain using statistical models. They found companies with more women are more likely to introduce radical new innovations into the market over a 2 year period. And also that in a global analysis of 2004, 100 companies conducted by Credit Suisse, organisations with at least one female board member had a higher return on equity and higher net income growth than those that did not have any women in the board. Studies show that companies with more women in leadership roles tend to introduce radical innovations and achieve higher financial growth.

In light of this evidence, Manuela's message is clear: women have immense value to offer to the industry, and doubting their potential is unwarranted. By embracing diversity and inclusion, both individuals and organizations can thrive and stay competitive in the rapidly evolving aerospace sector. Manuela's words serve as a beacon of encouragement for women navigating their careers in traditionally male-dominated fields, inspiring them to pursue their passions and make meaningful contributions to the industry's success.

Reference Why Diverse Teams Are Smarter (hbr.org)