“We so often doubt ourselves, thinking if it’s not 100% us, then it’s not right. What I’ve learnt is that you don’t always have to tick all the boxes, sometimes, all you need is just a little bit more self-belief."
Discover Maria's journey at Transurban: overcoming hesitation, the new skills she uses each day, and the advice for those not sure if they meet all the criteria of a job ad.
Take us through your career journey at Transurban – where did you start, where did you move to, and where are you now?
- Started in 2020 in Customer Resolutions
- After two years, my manager encouraged me to apply for an internal People & Culture (P&C) Ops role. I almost didn't apply because I got stuck on the skills I didn't have! But I took the leap, got the job, and spent three great years there.
- Recently, I took on a secondment in Organisational Development, where I now run our graduate and mentoring programmes. It's been a big learning curve, but it's given me a fantastic creative outlet and challenged me to grow.
What made you consider an internal move, and how did you overcome any hesitations you had about stepping out of your comfort zone?
I was initially hesitant because I didn’t think I had the right certifications or the experience needed in P&C. I spoke to a close friend who said, “What’s the worst that can happen? Either you don’t get it and you learn what skills you need, or you do get it and you open up your world.” It was just the push I needed.
What skills from your previous position/s helped you hit the ground running, and what is a completely new skill you use every day now?
My relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills helped me hit the ground running. And a completely new skill I gained is public speaking and group facilitation, presenting to leadership cohorts and mentoring groups. It used to be something I wasn’t so comfortable with, but with practice, it has become a strength.
We also have such great examples of women in leadership here that I can learn from, it’s inspiring and a good reflection point for me to take notes and observe. Everything I’m seeing and doing is helping me build new skills every day.
What advice would you give to someone eyeing a Transurban job ad, but feels unsure if they meet every single requirement?
Take stock of your daily tasks and identify your unique, transferable strengths. If you spot a gap, don't let it stop you. Treat gaps as opportunities to learn, not barriers to apply.
