At 22, Alexia Fleri Soler will be opening her own pastry shop in summer, but the road for the chef pâtissier in a “man-dominated” business sector was not easy.
“Experience and passion are important in catering, but you also need to be strong as it is a challenging sector,” the culinary school graduate told 14-year-olds at the Verdala Palace yesterday.
More than 100 women turned up at the President’s residence to give advice to the teenagers about a career they might have already set their eyes on, or professions they have not yet considered.
The 300 female students from four Church schools had an assortment of professional women, including air hostesses, a police superintendent, a soprano, a magistrate and diplomats.
Seeing other women who made it gives them a bit more confidence in believing they too can make it
The women, who participated in this event voluntarily, sat behind tables as the students went around asking questions about qualifications needed for particular jobs and what it was like to set up your own business or to be an activist.
Most of the mentors who spoke to this newspaper said none brought up the issue of gender challenges.
Businesswoman Helga Ellul told this newspaper the event was however a “brilliant idea” as the students were being exposed to women with successful careers.
“Seeing other women who made it gives them a bit more confidence in believing they too can make it,” she said.
Ms Ellul noted that it was especially important for those who were still unsure about a future career and had concerns about family and work time management.
Organised by Business and Professional Women (BPW Valletta Malta), and hosted by President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, the event was also supported by the US Embassy, National Council of Women and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which today launches its Women Forum.
A career that seemed quite popular with students at the event was the police force, with Superintendent Alexandra Mamo kept quite busy explaining the satisfaction she got out of her job.
Flanked by WPC Ruth Fenech, she told students that female officers carried out the same duties as their male counterparts – they arrested and escorted people and also managed traffic.
Another popular spot with the students was the diplomats’ corner, manned by US ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, career diplomat Ruth Farrugia and High Commissioner for Australia Jane Lambert.
The three spoke to students about the importance of doing whatever they loved doing best.
“Whatever they do, they need to find their passion. Every single morning I wake up happy, and that is the most important thing... however we have been stressing that there is a place – and a need – for more women in diplomacy around the world,” Ms Abercrombie-Winstanley said.