The Women in Bus and Coach “Spotlight On” initiative shines a light on the incredible contributions of women in all roles across the bus, coach, and community transport sector. From professional drivers and engineers to human resources experts and CEO’s, ‘Spotlight On’ will highlight the diverse talents and achievements of women in this dynamic industry.
Today we focus on and find out about:
Safiyyah Saiyed
Operations Manager
RATP Dev Transit London
How did you get to where you are today?
My journey in the industry started when I saw a female bus driver and thought wow this woman has got guts to be driving a bus and I thought I want to be that brave. I put some courage together and started learning and did the tests and passed first time. Once I joined RATP my journey took me forward to becoming an allocation supervisor. I stayed in this role for 8 years while my children were young and stability was vital to be able to juggle all the balls that life throws at you. During this time I learnt a lot about policies, procedures, costs and all the different areas of the business. Once my children reached an age where they were more independent an opportunity came up to join the management team. At this point I was uncertain if I was ready to make the move but I had some amazing colleagues who really did give me the encouragement that I needed to take the next step. The key things that got me to where I am was always wanting to know more and do more than what my role required of me. Building relationships of trust by being fair but firm in decision making. Supporting my colleagues and going above and beyond the expectations.
Did you experience any challenges getting to where you are today?
The biggest challenge is the voice in my head that says you’re not good enough to do that.
If so, how did you overcome then?
I was given the chance to be mentored by our Chief Operating Officer Nigel Wood and in the first meeting the question he put forward was, where do you see yourself in 5 years? My response nervously being the next level of management (in my head thinking I’m not worthy of that). He very simply said take the advert and tick off everything you already know and let’s work on the missing elements. So I found an advert ticked off 70 percent and this gave me a realistic view of what I needed to do if I really did want to take the next step.
This experience taught me to put that voice in my head to the side and go and look for the solutions rather than wasting my time and energy behind barriers that I had put up myself.
What do you like about the sector?
I like being in the depots talking to drivers hearing their stories, encouraging them supporting them and guiding them. I like working with the teams around the business on how we can improve our processes and developing our systems to support our teams.
What does a typical day look like?
Every day is different and comes with its own challenges but a typical day would start with conversation with the drivers, building and sustaining relationships making people feel they are valued and appreciated. Ensuring that my staff teams are supported and have the tools they need to carry out their roles.
What advice would you give to women thinking about a career in the bus and coach sector?
Joining the bus industry was the best decision that I made. I would encourage others to join the industry. There is so much knowledge to be gained and potential to develop in different areas within the industry. I started as a driver and the path I took has led me to working on the database systems. There are a wide range of opportunities to be explored e.g. IT, Finance, HR, Communication, payroll, Engineering, Garage support etc.
I would advise that you have a plan for what you want to do and what you want to achieve and work towards achieving what is on your plan. You may find that as you go along the plan changes and you adapt other things into your plan. The adaptations could take you in a direction that was not the original plan but is actually bigger and better.
What has been your bus or coach sector career highlight?
Achieving the award for Manager of the Year is by far my biggest highlight and I couldn’t have reached this without the support of my fantastic colleagues and support from my family. This award was not just about me but it was about the people who have been part of my journey throughout.
What three things could the Bus and Coach sector do to improve the industry for Women?
- Support flexible working for woman to be able to manage their work and home life
- Ensuring that woman have a clean facilities at Bus stands
- Woman often suffer from Imposter syndrome and this holds woman back from recognising that they can take the next step. This needs addressing and we need to encourage woman to look at their achievements and recognise this.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
I would like to have achieved success in leading operations and processes. I want to have achieved being a pillar of support to my teams and I want to have achieved giving vision for success to the people around me.
Thank you for sharing your story, Safiyyah you are truly an inspiration!
To find out more about who Safiyyah works for, and career opportunities visit: https://www.ratpdevtransitlondon.com/
