Subsea business director, Aubin Group, Serena Arif, 48, explains why it’s important to be disciplined and focused to go after what you want in your career
What did you want to be when you were young?
I always knew I would do something science-based. At school, I liked maths and chemistry but it was difficult to know exactly what I wanted to do. I knew teaching might be an option but it wasn’t something that appealed to me. I think it’s important to educate school children on the range of careers available to them, particularly if they have an aptitude for the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths.
What are the main career stepping stones you have taken?
I trained in chemistry and first enjoyed a number of positions in the plastics and paper industry. My first role after graduating was as a production engineer and I believe this was significant as it steered me slightly away from chemistry and guided me in the direction of what I do now.
