Meet EU Corporate Affairs Manager for John Deere, Vanessa Buttignon, who is also an active expert within the European Garden Machinery industry Federation (EGMF).
Here, Vanessa speaks with the EGMF about her work and motivation in shaping the industry.
A pleasant and dynamic workflow
Vanessa works on trying to ensure that the policy and legislative environment is favorable to the industry. Her day-to-day work involves lots of readings and knowledge sharing with her colleagues and with other stakeholders in Brussels. This is how she started to work with EGMF and became the Chair of the Environment & SustainabilityTask Force. This combination creates a pleasant and dynamic workflow for Vanessa and there is always something new to do!
"As a lobbyist, it's easier if you can relate to the sector and have a good understanding of the business. My grandmother was quite the gardener. From a very young age I loved working beside her in her lush garden. Still today, in an unstable and often infuriating world, I find it extremely therapeutic to see my hydrangea reliably spring to life every year. Connecting this early-age experience with my experience with John Deere landscape products naturally led me to EGMF and this industry," explains Vanessa.
Keeping an open mind.
"Women should definitely not be intimidated because this is supposedly a “man’s world”. Women choosing to work in the machinery and gardening sector are not looking for the most obvious career path, but the industry has changed a lot in the last 10 to 20 years and I would encourage young women to keep an open mind," suggests Vanessa. "Working in a high-tech company is really fun and challenging, and all jobs are now open to women, including the most technical ones."
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Disclosure: Where Women Work researches and publishes insightful evidence about how its paid member organizations support women's equality.