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Carmen Galante on achieving the incredible through Mercury’s Graduate Programme
Carmen Galante’s decision to join Mercury’s Graduate Programme was a natural step for her. Hailing from Scilla, a small village in Calabria, Carmen left her hometown at 18 to spend a gap year in Ireland, immersing herself in the English language before pursuing higher education. With a strong foundation in science from her Italian high school education, where an emphasis is put on scientific subjects, Carmen had an aptitude for mathematics and problem-solving, leading her to pursue a five-year Master’s Degree Programme in Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering at Trinity College Dublin.
After completing her master’s degree, Carmen sought her next opportunity and found herself drawn to Mercury’s graduate Programme. Intrigued by Mercury’s pan-European data centre construction projects and recognising the dynamic nature of the industry, Carmen saw it as an ideal environment for learning and growth. Having lived and studied abroad, she embraced the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse team, confident in her ability to adapt and make a meaningful contribution.
Nurturing the leaders of tomorrow
Mercury’s graduate Programme aims to nurture future leaders, and Carmen eagerly embraced this opportunity. Pursuing her interest in leadership, Carmen dedicated her personal time to completing additional courses in leadership and communications, honing her skills as an effective communicator and team player.
During her time at Mercury, Carmen found herself continuously developing both her technical and professional expertise. She notes the significance of the professional modules included in Mercury’s graduate weeks which focus on communication, leadership, and teamwork, recognising the importance of these skills in her professional growth – “While technical proficiency is crucial in engineering, soft skills are equally vital, helping professionals navigate relationships and optimising project team performance.”
Opportunities and mentorship while delivering complex engineering solutions
“If I have a question for my manager John, he takes out his notebook and takes the time to discuss with me.”
For Carmen, a major highlight of her experience at Mercury lies in the opportunity to work on innovative projects. Embracing a solutions-oriented approach, she has enjoyed the diversity of projects and clients, and making tangible contributions, such as overseeing the installation of complex mechanical engineering components.
Feeling valued as a team member, Carmen appreciates the mentorship and support she receives from her manager and colleagues at Mercury. “If I have a question for my manager John, he takes out his notebook and takes the time to discuss with me.” Encouraged to take on additional responsibilities, lead meetings and explore various aspects of the work, she feels empowered to lead and grow within the organisation.
One aspect of her role that Carmen particularly enjoys is the opportunity to travel to different sites across Europe, meeting new people and experiencing new cities. Reflecting on these experiences, Carmen fondly recalls her first visit to a site in Paris, and seeing the distant silhouette of the Eiffel Tower against a backdrop of the roof gantry with the dry cooler platform on the rooftop of a project there. These experiences have not only allowed her to broaden her professional horizons but also helped her to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds, enriching her perspective and contributing to the success of Mercury’s projects.
Looking to a future of achieving the incredible with Mercury
“I’ve been given the opportunity to take on more responsibility in my role at Mercury, to lead meetings, to explore all aspects of the work and focus on areas I’m most interested in.”
Mercury’s commitment to supporting its employees in realising their potential is evident from day one. Carmen emphasises the inclusive culture at Mercury, where individuals of all levels are valued and encouraged. “As a graduate, being exposed to the various stages of a project at Mercury from tender review, design, commissioning, through to handover and client takeover has helped me gain confidence in my abilities. I’ve been given the opportunity to take on more responsibility in my role at Mercury, to lead meetings, to explore all aspects of the work and focus on areas I’m most interested in.”
“My advice to anyone considering Mercury’s Graduate Programme is to go for it. It’s a great way to transition from college life to professional life.”
Carmen is looking forward to beginning her new Mechanical Engineering role, to keep learning and developing her skills, managing sub-contractors on sites and to building lasting working relationships at Mercury.
“My advice to anyone considering Mercury’s Graduate Programme is to go for it. It’s a great way to transition from college life to professional life. On day one you meet close to 40 other people starting their career. Because of this, you feel a unique sense of camaraderie, connection and support. You also meet the CEO on your first day which shows the importance placed on this Programme and how Mercury empowers all of its people.”
Mercury provides a nurturing environment where individuals like Carmen can thrive, fostering their development as both technical experts and future leaders. Through meaningful experiences, mentorship, and a culture of inclusivity, Mercury backs all of its employees to realise their vision of themselves.
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