Cara Tissandier

As an Executive Sustainability Consultant, Cara isn’t phased by her male dominated environment.

Job title

Cara Tissandier CEng MEI, Executive Sustainability Consultant.

What does your job involve ?

My job is centered around buildings and how to make them more energy efficient and sustainable. For new buildings and developments this includes developing energy and sustainability strategies that accompany planning submissions. The strategies set the targets for the buildings and detail how they will be achieved. For existing buildings I look at ways to improve the environmental performance. This could be reducing energy and water use, reducing waste and increasing waste recycling rates.

Did you ever imagine you’d be doing this job early on in your school years?

No never! As a child, I never had a fixed idea of what I was going to be. I was always good at science and maths, but I was also creative and good at speaking to people so I am lucky to have found a job that allows me to use all of my skills.

Did you always want to be in the profession you are in?

At University I did two work placements with Hoare Lea and that led me to discover the built environment. Before then I never really knew that engineering jobs in consultancy roles existed. Buildings made sense to me – more so than engines and such like. I could apply my knowledge of mechanical engineering to buildings fairly easily – it just seemed logical. Now I specialize in sustainability and it feels good to be doing a job that has some wider benefits to the planet and world we live in.

What subjects did you study at school?

At school I kept all my options open. I studied Spanish, French, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English and English Lit, Maths, R.E and Geography at GCSE. For A-Level I studied Maths, Physics, Chemistry and General Studies. At University I studied Mechanical Engineering (Masters) that included some French and management modules.

Do you have any specific role models/ mentors that influenced you into what you are doing now?

There wasn’t a role model in this career choice whilst at school or university but on my first placement at Hoare Lea I worked for a female team leader who inspired me to pursue the career I have now. I guess before that my Dad was my mentor. He gave me very sound advice which I was wise enough to listen to! He knew engineering would be a good choice because the country is always short of engineers – even when the economic situation is not good. So I trusted his advice and it turned out to be a good decision!

What difficulties have you encountered along the way that you had to overcome?

The main difficulty is figuring out what to do in the first place! After uni, I looked at jobs in the car manufacturing industry and some other more manufacturing led industries but they were not people facing enough for me. I have been lucky because I ended up finding consultancy by chance and have ended up at a good company that has allowed me to shape my career to suit me.

Do you find it difficult being mainly in a ‘male dominated’ job environment?

I am quite unusual because from the age of 11 I have been in a male dominated environment. My school used to be an all boys' school so, all through my school life, there were more boys than girls. At university I think there were about 7 girls in a group of 125 so I am kind of used to being in the minority. I actually find it quite strange if I go to a meeting and most consultants are women. It has happened once or twice but it is a very male dominated industry. You tend to find women engineers are not typically ‘girly girls’ and I am like that, more happy talking about football than the latest fashion trend!

Who do you admire?

Good question. I admire my female friends in the industry. At times we (women) have to deal with our male colleagues trying to get ahead of us. We tend to be less competitive and more team orientated whilst some guys just want to get to the top no matter what. I see my female friends suffer this from time to time but we stay strong for one another and together we pull through.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of following your footsteps in your career choice?

My advice would be to use your summers (when at college or uni) wisely. Ask around some companies for work placements and get a feel for the job from the inside. You don’t really understand ‘work’ until you are doing it. Whatever you think a job might be like I can promise you it won’t be like that! So try a few places and speak to the people doing the job you want to do. You will find one will feel right – company cultures vary and that I think is where you need to feel at home – more so than the job. Find the right culture/company and the job can change within that but if you don’t feel at home with the people around you, even if the job is right, you won’t be happy.