Katherine Tinoco Reyes graduated from our International Human Resource Management MSc in 2018. She is now Human Resources Director at Saab UK, and the Founder and Director of ArtPerUK, a Peruvian folk dancing school.
What or who inspired you to pursue a career in business?
My mother. She has a degree in Business Management and when I was younger, she taught me to be independent, to multitask and to be well organised. She owned her own library and worked while taking care of me and my grandparents, while my father was working hard. I was raised with this example of hard work and resilience, which has inspired me to work hard, be independent and start my own business. My mother always expressed how important it was for women to feel as strong and equal as men, and how difficult it was to have support and fair salaries, especially in Latin America. She emphasised the importance of learning and studying, to be able to earn our own money and be independent. This is something that I will teach to my daughter, Caitlyn.
What has working in business been like for you? What have you enjoyed or found rewarding?
I currently work as a full-time Human Resources Director for Saab Technologies UK. Being in HR is a great way to help people and support business growth at the same time. My role oversees recruiting the best talent, developing and training staff, implementing the best policies, making sure we have the right compensation packages and managing employment relations. Creating a harmonious workplace has been my main goal in each role that I've had.
At the same time, I run my own business, ArtPerUK. This has been a very gratifying experience. Having the opportunity to change the lives of women by using dance to boost fitness, and raising awareness of Peruvian culture in the UK, makes me feel happy and proud. The most rewarding thing for me is when I hear that the women in ArtPerUK consider the dance group as a family, and enjoy the sense of being in a community. Being a migrant is not easy, and mental health is key to keeping us in good shape. Dancing and promoting your culture helps, and enriches life in many ways.
Can you share a professional achievement that you are particularly proud of, or a career milestone that was special to you?
Yes! I won Course Rep of the Year at Queen Mary. This was a surprise for me, because being a migrant in a different country was challenging. It was a position that I carried out with lots of love and devotion, without thinking about any recognition, just with the aim of helping everyone to get the best out of university.
Using my existing professional experience in HR, I was able to organise different events and activities in addition to the curriculum of the university. I will never forget walking to collect my prize with many people in the venue. I was thinking about my family, who were watching from distance, and feeling proud of what I achieved as a Peruvian living in the UK.
Share your story
If you are a non-binary person who sees themselves as partially or sometimes identifying as a woman, we would love for you to share your story with us.