Women@EEAS - Meet Susana Martins, Project manager at the EU Delegation to Ghana

04.06.2021

"Sometimes people think that because you are a woman you did not get a job or have been invited for a certain position because of your competences. This can frustrate you and start to have doubts in what you capable of doing. Don’t let that happen to you. As women, we are capable of doing everything that we want to do. Just believe in yourself and fight for your dreams."

Susana Martins - Project manager at the European Union Delegation to Ghana

 

Describe your role and what you like about it.

Hi! My name is Susana Martins and I am Portuguese. I work at the European Union Delegation to Ghana as project manager on environment and climate change. I am also the communication coordinator. I love the work that I am doing. It allows me to be in contact with different kind of organisations, different people every day and check the impact of our support in society.

To know that the work that we are doing in the developing countries can change lives is very gratifying and a motivation to work every day.

 

"To know that the work that we are doing in the developing countries can change lives is very gratifying and a motivation to work every day."

 

What has been your greatest achievement?

I cannot identity my greatest achievement. I had good and rewarding achievements in my professional career working at the EU or working for the EU. (I have always worked with European Support and Funds). I have supported entrepreneurs to create their own business and I have seen their development, I have designed projects to improve and change people’s lives, I have seen the gratefulness in the faces of the rural communities.

I am making efforts and promoting initiatives to contribute for behavioural change related to environment and particularly plastic pollution. The recognition and gratitude of people is something that will be with me forever. And that is priceless.

 

"The recognition and gratitude of people is something that will be with me forever. And that is priceless."

 

 

What is your greatest strength?

I am a very determined woman. In addition, I always fight for what I believe. I am a focused person that tries to find solutions to the problems and challenges. Usually I manage to solve my issues and when I do not get what I think it is the best, sometimes I get upset. But I am always open to new opinions, ideas and projects.

 

What have been the biggest challenges that you have faced in your career? Were there any special challenges you encountered because you are a woman?

Sometimes people think that because you are a woman you did not get a job or have been invited for a certain position because of your competences. This can frustrate you and start to have doubts in what you capable of doing. Don’t let that happen to you. As women, we are capable of doing everything that we want to do. Just believe in yourself and fight for your dreams. I have never faced special challenges for being a woman. I was very lucky with people around me and with the colleagues that I have worked with.

 

"I have never faced special challenges for being a woman. I was very lucky with people around me and with the colleagues that I have worked with."

 

 

What advice would you give to other/young women who want to pursue a career in diplomacy?

Believe in you and in your strength. Never stop doing it.

 

"Believe in you and in your strength. Never stop doing it."

 

What needs to change in the next 5 to 10 years?

Working in Africa for the last 8 years showed me that there is still a lot to do on human rights and gender equality. Culture and behaviour take time to change. There is still a lot to be done to empower women all over the world. We will need to promote more the equality, not only on gender but also with other groups on our society. We are all the same and together we can make a change.

 

"There is still a lot to be done to empower women all over the world. We will need to promote more the equality, not only on gender but also with other groups on our society. We are all the same and together we can make a change."

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