Taz Akhtar | Aerospace & Automotive Business Manager

5 things someone would describe you? 

Passionate, driven, personable, focused, and a motivated leader. 

How do you find being a woman in a male dominant industry?

Working in a male-dominated industry can be seen as intimidating, but this motivates me, even more, to be driven and to succeed in this sector. 

When walking into a room, full of senior men where I am the only woman, I remember that this environment doesn’t intimidate me, to be strong-minded and allow this moment to drive me. 

If you were to restart your career, what would you do differently?

I would be a food critic. I love eating. A role where I would go to multiple restaurants, and experience exotic places and the food. I would love it. 

What has recruitment done for you?

Coming into Orion Electrotech, I have broadened my knowledge and awareness that EVERYTHING is engineered and manufactured. I have passion for my role and my sector. I have gained enhanced people skills, a skill that has allowed me to go into any environment with confidence to network. But whilst working for the agency I have created financial stability for myself. 

What are your interests outside of work?

I love my food. Spending time with my family and friends, going on holiday and experiencing new countries. 

If someone was starting their career in recruitment today, what tips would you give?

1. Be resilient. 
2. Don’t take things personally. 
3. Be Driven and Never lose sight of your end goal! 

What would you say to your graduate self?

I majored in psychology. If I rewound the clock, I would have done a degree in engineering and manufacturing, a subject that would create a path for myself in that sector. When you visit a client manufacturing site and experience how everything is created and how the products are engineered it's really fascinating. 

What has been your biggest learning curve, in life?

Never give up. Be resilient. Things are always going to get better. It’s never the end. 

Going through a challenging time in my career during Covid when aerospace and automotive market went through some major downturns, what carried me through was the mental resilience of not giving up. 

What has been your peak and pit?

Covid. Covid created a catastrophic market crash for the Aerospace and automotive industry. This was the most challenging moment of my career, no one was able to fly, and no one was buying cars, but I knew it wouldn’t last forever. I stuck with the role I love and rebuilt from within. 

The peak of my career has been rebuilding the division stronger and partnering with various diverse clients, I have the passion to keep looking into new markets and the technology that is continuously being created within the aerospace and automotive market.