María Pérez holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering. She has built her career in international laboratories, participating in R&D&i projects particularly focused on additive manufacturing and the recovery of waste from production processes. She joined Cupa Group in 2015 as a Project Manager and, for the past year, has been heading Cupa Innovation, leading the different research and development lines in service of the group’s companies.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
For me, 8 March is a day when we celebrate progress and recognise and highlight the contributions of women in the social, scientific, economic and cultural spheres throughout history. From my perspective, it is a day that shines a light on women, yet it belongs to society as a whole. It gives us the opportunity to pause and reflect on the journey so far, the goals achieved and the objectives that still remain in order to attain gender equality.
How has the situation of women evolved in your industry and during your professional career?
The reality I have encountered, both during my education and throughout my professional career, is that although science and engineering have traditionally been male-dominated fields, there is an increasing presence of women in STEM areas. In my view, this is a logical and progressive trend, driven both by generational change and by the fact that more and more girls are training in these disciplines and entering the labour market in roles that were previously held predominantly by men.
For me, this has felt natural. In other words, I have never questioned whether I could or could not do something because I am a woman. I believe this is possible when we normalise the idea that all opportunities are open to everyone, regardless of gender. Visibility is key: when girls have female role models in these fields, they are able to see themselves there, imagine their future in those roles and understand that this path also belongs to them.
Have you had any difficulties in your professional life because you are a woman?
I could not say that the difficulties I have encountered throughout my working life have been related to my gender. Consciously, I have not felt that my technical opinions carry less weight because I am a woman, and I have always received the same respect that I have given. It is true that there have occasionally been isolated comments, as in any other setting, but this forms part of the work we still need to do as a society: raising awareness and neither normalising nor allowing behaviours that fall short of respect for others.
It is important to acknowledge that my generation benefits from significant social progress aimed at ensuring equal treatment for everyone, regardless of gender. This advantage also brings great responsibility, because it depends on us not only to preserve these advances, but also to continue expanding them for future generations.
What do you think your biggest contribution to Cupa Group has been?
Throughout the history of Cupa Innovación, each and every one of our achievements has been the result of teamwork and cooperation, not only among members of the department but also with the other companies within the group. My contribution to Cupa Innovación can be measured in every action that, together with the rest of the team, has generated knowledge, developed a new product, improved an existing one or achieved certification, making our colleagues’ work a little easier.
Innovation is an exciting field of constant challenges, but at times it can also be very frustrating. It is often necessary to make many mistakes before reaching the solution. I believe my greatest contribution to Cupa Innovación has been helping to build a cohesive, interdisciplinary team that works towards a common objective and supports and aligns itself to achieve results.
Why would you recommend being part of the Cupa Group team to other women?
Because, from my perspective, gender has never defined the scope of talent or the ability to contribute value, and in my experience at Cupa Group it has never been a determining factor when assessing capabilities. For me, professional fulfilment is achieved when we are part of a project that inspires us, fosters our continuous growth and allows us to develop fully, not only as professionals but also as individuals, regardless of our gender.
