INSPET TALKS | Elena Năstase
INSPET TALKS | 2023
Welcome to conversations “with” and „about” people who have impact on the energy infrastructure area, the construction sector, and the private Romanian business environment. We want to highlight the reality of those who work every day, whether as entrepreneurs or employees, to generate meaningful ideas and stories that are both personal and organizationally inspiring.
Mrs. Elena Năstase – Engineer, chief of the civil construction site at the INSPET – is today’s guest in the context of this series of dialogues. Elena Năstase brings with her a positive attitude, aesthetic sensibility, and femininity, as well as over ten years of experience working on large residential projects and the organizational abilities required in the construction business. She is actively involved in all elements of INSPET’s new real estate developments for the Prahova community, which operate under the INSPET CASA brand.
We are talking about what it means to work at INSPET, about the newly initiated real estate projects, and how to maintain your feminine side when overseeing large-scale projects at construction sites. How did you start? How did you choose the path to become a construction engineer?
I can say that I chose it somewhat by chance. I initially wanted a military career. I have a great appreciation for the military spirit and the perspective it provides, as well as the organization it instills. Following my parents’ advice, I slightly changed my mind and reoriented myself. I wanted something in the field of science, with exact sciences, and I simply ended up at the Faculty of Civil Engineering. I didn’t really know exactly what it was, and we didn’t have a family tradition in this field of work. I thought I should try this profession and see how it goes. And I discovered that I really enjoy what I do, and I do it with passion.
Similar to the defense sector, the one in which you initially wanted to work, the construction industry is often considered predominantly male, so in a way, you chose a similar style…
I drew a parallel between these two fields and effectively transferred the goals I had initially chosen in the military field into the field of engineering. I believe I’ve succeeded in the construction industry!
Have you faced any challenges? How do you see the evolution and changes, including gender balance in the industry? You are a woman working in a predominantly male field.
Challenges arise every day, and you must face them as a team leader. You must handle them with skill, and the team must successfully complete the tasks set for that day.
The construction industry is constantly evolving. You have 10 years of working experience. How do you see the future?
Currently, there is a decline in the construction market, but the future looks promising because we aim to build high-quality structures that provide people with a sense of balance. We want to create homes that people truly call “home.”
Here, we are referring to the new real estate projects initiated by INSPET under the name INSPET CASA.
We certainly have many projects for the future, projects we’ve been planning for several years. We want to establish our unique concept for INSPET, one that sets us apart in the real estate market. There are currently many builders, but few who construct with the real beneficiary of each residential unit in mind.
We want to emphasize the comfort of the homeowner. We aim to create the space that every individual needs when they come home. We pay attention to every detail, and we work on it from the design phase to the execution phase, ensuring that the attention to detail makes the difference, making each project much better than the initial plan.
Is it like building for ourselves?
Practically, that’s what I do. Each house, each building is as if I were going to live there.
For those who are watching and listening to us, we should tell them that they can find more information about these real estate projects on the website www.inspet.casa.
Let’s talk about a project that is close to my heart, at least for me, and it’s called OXYGEN GARDENS. It’s a well-thought-out and well-established complex from the very beginning. It’s a neighborhood consisting of 53 premium villas. It’s a neighborhood for the residents of Ploiești who seek a different level of comfort compared to what is currently available in the market.
For the OXYGEN GARDENS project, you begin to build and form the team and orchestrate it. How do you manage to orchestrate a team where people have different skills and personalities?
First and foremost, for any project, not necessarily for OXYGEN GARDENS, the team becomes like a friend; we don’t have the traditional “manager” and “subordinate” hierarchy. We are practically a team. We help each other; we are like a family of friends in which each of us knows what we have to do, what we can do, and what we are good at. Knowing these things makes it easy for me to organize them. I know how much each person can handle and where their strengths lie. I assign them to key roles, and everyone does their job well. What matters greatly is that you enjoy what you do. When you enjoy it, you do it with passion, and you do it well.
You do it well, especially when you are building a house; you build it with positive energy.
Positive energy that will be passed on to future homeowners.
So, when it comes to building teams, effective communication plays a vital role…
Communication is a key point in any field. Through communication, we can resolve any issue, and things go much smoother.
Did you always have this ability to communicate effectively with the team, or did you develop it over time?
I can say that I developed it over time because initially, I had difficulties in coordinating, especially when I was just starting out. Everything was learned along the way, and I’ve learned a lot from my mistakes. I’ve taken everything that was good and I try to improve myself every day.
We’re talking about minor mistakes.
Mistakes in team coordination, but constructive mistakes.
Upon which you can then build – let’s ask ourselves what we can do better next time in terms of communication.
Exactly. Mistakes from which we’ve learned, and I’ve simply become much better at coordinating my team.
Much better. I know you’re an “Achiever,” someone who wants to solve problems and achieve certain objectives every day. I know that at the end of the day, you want everything to be resolved and all goals achieved, as it should be. What does a day in your professional life look like?
In the construction sector, particularly during the execution phase, each day presents a unique set of challenges. One thing is well-established: every morning, we gather the team. We discuss what needs to be done and practically advise each other on the best way to achieve our goals. Each day, we are entrusted with specific targets to meet. Every project comes with a detailed execution schedule and a clearly defined deadline. To ensure we complete the project within the allocated timeframe, we diligently adhere to this schedule through our daily tasks. As I previously mentioned, the day commences with a briefing where we outline our objectives. Subsequently, we spend our day overseeing the ongoing work, a role that falls within the engineer’s purview. In the construction industry, it’s common for unexpected issues to surface during the execution phase. When faced with such situations, we rely on our decision-making authority to make resolute judgments and maintain a well-structured approach to achieving our goals. Throughout this process, we meticulously monitor the execution stages in compliance with the established standards and regulations.
Often, decisions are made in real-time, on the spot. You have decision-making authority, that’s clear!
Indeed, decisions are typically made on the spot. Waiting for alternative options is a rare occurrence, as our decisions are primarily informed by experience. This experience has instilled in us the confidence and capability to determine the best course of action in the moment and find ways to simplify it. As a result, we aim for everyone to leave work content and fulfilled at the end of the day.
I’m curious about your approach to building your work teams.
At least at INSPET, we have a significant advantage in this regard. We have people who have been working with us for almost 30 years. We have employees who started their first job here and are retiring from here. We also experience some staff turnover, but the good teams are already composed of stable individuals and company veterans who have successfully completed numerous projects.
They excel in their professions, having followed the traditional schooling methods of the past. They received professional training early on and emerged as highly accomplished, highly skilled workers. We know what each employee is strong at and what areas they have perfected inside the organization since they have been with us for so long. This knowledge is extremely beneficial to us since we know exactly what type of people we require for each job. We understand where each individual can be most productive.
And you can rely on a stable workforce.
Yes, exactly, it’s an asset for us. We have a stable and highly skilled workforce.
Regarding procurement, what criteria do you use to select suppliers?
Over time, working on construction sites with numerous suppliers, we have managed to identify a few of them that meet our requirements. Once we issue a firm order for specific materials, we want them to be delivered to the site within the specified timeframe. Timely delivery is of great importance to us to ensure we have a continuous flow of execution. As a supplier and a partner of INSPET, it is essential to be very serious and reliable.
Serious, punctual, and responsible when it comes to meeting deadlines, you know that you must adhere to them.
But we also aim for mutually beneficial results.
Towards the end of our discussion, I have a few personal questions. How do you manage to find that balance between your personal and professional life, given the dedication you give to your career?
It’s relatively easy for me to maintain a balance between my personal and professional life. I really enjoy what I do. I do it with passion, and that simply makes me feel good. When I go home, I can focus on my own things, like my children and my family.
So, you’ve found your path? This balance is often challenging to achieve.
Yes, it’s challenging, but I believe that if you pursue what you love in life, it comes naturally, and everything falls into place.
It’s in your nature to juggle both aspects.
Exactly.
Do you think you have had a significant impact on people’s lives over time?
I do believe so. I have always supported the people around me to advance, not only in their careers but also in their daily lives. In terms of their careers, yes, I have supported those I’ve seen have more potential than they are currently utilizing, whether it’s by sending them to retraining courses or simply offering them better positions. And we’ve had positive outcomes in this regard, with people being satisfied.
A true manager is also a mentor, if we think about it.
I believe so, always.
Indeed. The pace of your life is quite demanding …
Yes, it is quite demanding, and I can’t see myself in a monotonous life or having an office job.
That’s what I wanted to ask – do you divide your time between the central office and construction sites?
I prefer the construction site, even though it might be considered a tough job for a woman. But I enjoy being there, being part of every task being executed, and I like being with my team. While the central office offers comfort, I don’t derive the same satisfaction as I do from being on the construction site.
But I assume you have an office on the construction site…
Certainly, we have well-equipped offices on the construction site where we have all the necessary comfort. There’s no issue with that, but the construction site gives you that spirit. You are physically present there.
What quality do you appreciate the most in the people around you?
I value seriousness the most in the people around me, knowing that I can rely on them. I believe that any mistake can be rectified as long as you take ownership of your work. Everything has a solution.
I wanted to ask what you mean by “being serious”…
Practically, it means taking ownership of your work. I don’t like when someone doesn’t take their work seriously or treats it carelessly. We don’t like to work in a haphazard manner; we work as if we were building for ourselves.
And your field of work naturally demands such an approach, whether in civil construction or fluid infrastructure projects, where there’s no room for error.
Exactly, we must work responsibly and take ownership in every activity we undertake. This is why we have been able to take on so many projects with high complexity, especially in pipeline construction. The real estate projects we’re planning will certainly meet the same level of difficulty according to their designs, particularly in the realm of fluid construction.
Fluid infrastructure projects are already a tradition of the company and, in fact, the company’s main line of business. Real estate projects, on the other hand, are a more recent addition.
Although real estate projects are relatively new, we are certainly on our way to achieving the same level of development / complexity as we have in fluid infrastructure. We have some impressive and sizable projects ahead.
And we have stable and high-quality teams.
Indeed, we have teams that are both stable and of excellent quality, exactly.
This Podcast has been brought to you by INSPET, Romanian company, a direct descendant of a seven-decade history of performance in the Oil & Gas Industry. If you liked this conversation and you believe that we can be inspirational for your friends, please forward and share it and show that we can do it in Romania, too, it is important that we really want it and are willing to put in the required work!
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Until our next meeting, be inspired in everything you do!
