“Few things are more rewarding than seeing someone succeed and knowing you helped create that opportunity.”

That’s Sandhya Mutreya, our VP People, Internal Communications & Workplace, perfectly reflecting this year’s IWD theme, ‘Give to Gain’.

We’ve been talking to 10 women from different locations, departments and roles. Their profiles show the breadth of expertise within our teams and reflect our commitment to creating growth for every Yondr-ite.

Let’s hear from them about common themes and challenges, the way they’ve been helped and what advice they’d give to the next generation.

Carving a career path

 

It’s fascinating to learn about our Yondr-ites’ different career paths and see what has led them to where they are today.

Environmental experience

Our Senior Environmental Manager, Athina Koligkioni, came to her role after gaining hands-on experience in environmental management at a large-scale data center in Denmark.

From the Army to Amazon

Sammi Gartland, Preconstruction Director, started her construction career as an Engineer Officer in the Army, before taking a remote role with Amazon and joining Yondr five years later.

Curiosity and code

Curiosity attracted Sandhya Mutreya, to her first job – writing code. And that curiosity eventually expanded beyond technology into organisations, and ultimately into HR.

Bridging gaps

Chantel Hinson, VP HSE, had a lightbulb moment when she realised the safety programme her company was introducing was disconnected from field operations. So, she started bridging the gap between policy and real-world work. Fast forward, she brought her experience to the world of data centers.

Transferable skills for supply chain

Romy van Wezel, our Workplace Services & Travel Manager, began her career in hospitality. After several rejections trying to get into the corporate world, someone saw her transferable skills, and she became a Supply Chain Intern before making the shift to her current role.

From teaching to operations

Tiffany Collier, our Operations Site Coordinator, was a middle school teacher before she changed direction and joined Yondr in 2024. She says a career change is always a little unnerving, but it was one of the best choices she could have made.

Driving immediate change

Yasmina El Hamdani, Compliance Manager, came from a background in International Public Law, but soon realised she wanted to be in an environment where she could drive immediate change.

She says, “Compliance is about more than just adherence; it is about building an ethical foundation that empowers employees and strengthens the business from within.”

Auditing and analysis

Amber Nawazish is a Financial Planning and Analyst (FP&A). After graduating from university, she began her career training in auditing. She moved into FP&A because she wanted a role that offered her the opportunity to deliver meaningful analysis.

From property to data center development

And for Ailish McDonnell, Senior Development Director, EMEA, her career started as a Property Manager before becoming an Estates Executive. She joined Yondr in 2020 as a Development Manager and quickly moved up to her current role.

All our Yondr-ites’ profiles show that careers are often not a straight line. They’ve found meaningful and uplifting roles by pushing on with resilience.

Recognising mentors

Our Yondr-ites say key individuals have helped them in their careers.

Through Athina’s mentor, Garry Cornell, she learned to see the bigger picture, focus on what truly needed attention, and actively contribute to shaping the sustainability agenda.

Sandhya says she’s worked with leaders who saw potential in her and trusted her with responsibility early. That experience has shaped how she leads today.

She says, “Reinforced leadership is not only about results – it’s about recognising potential in others, creating environments where that potential can thrive, and consciously lifting others as they step into their own leadership journey.”

Chantel’s mentor, Donna Lynch, believed in her from the very beginning and that belief made her feel capable of achieving more than she thought possible. Chantel explains, “She has an incredible ability to bring people together and ask thoughtful questions that help others succeed.”

Yasmina gives credit to a retired General Counsel of a large multinational who mentored her at the early stage of her career, “She really believed in me and gave me the confidence to switch jobs and even became a Board member of a women’s professional network.”

And in turn, such mentorship inspires our women to help the next generation.

Passing on top tips

Sandhya says she’d advise a woman just starting in her career to:

/ Be Curious: That will take you further than any predefined career plan.

/ Be Bold: Put yourself forward for opportunities that stretch you, even if you don’t feel fully ready.

/ Be Humble: Stay open to feedback, keep learning.

/ Be Giving: As you rise, help others rise.

 

Romy encourages women to “Know your worth! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Strike up a conversation with someone who inspires you.”

Sammi quotes Eleanor Roosevelt, “No one can make you inferior without your consent”, and underlines how important it is to stand your ground. When she started her career in construction, Sammi was a minority, and it took a lot of hard work to prove her worth.

There’s a common theme about not being afraid to speak up. Tiffany explains, “It can feel intimidating to pose questions that we ‘think’ we should know, but ultimately, if you don’t ask the one hard question, you’ll be cleaning up the five messes that follow.”

And Ailish says, “Never be afraid to ask questions and to keep asking questions. Keep in mind that most people are also still learning as they go.”

Giving back

For IWD this year, we’ve launched Yondr RISE, a programme designed to support the advancement of women leaders at Yondr. This forms part of our wider Talent Development Programme, and we’re looking forward to sharing more information in the coming months.

The Yondr Foundation has also price-matched charity donations to one of three chosen charities.