As Women’s History Month comes to a close, we are excited to shine the spotlight on a member of Itron’s Corporate Marketing organization in France. This Itron leader plays a pivotal role in collaborating with teams across the company to implement localized programs that foster increased awareness of Itron, advance opportunities for the regional sales teams and further Itron’s mission to create a more resourceful world. This week, we had the pleasure of catching up with the leader of global field marketing, Nathalie Viallix!  

Make sure to check out our previous conversations with exceptional women at Itron including Caroline Flory, Tracy Troyer and Jeanie Aday.  

Q: What does an average workday look like for you? 

A: My role is based on four main pillars. The first pillar is events, which are an important part of my role and take up a large portion of my workload at certain times throughout the year. Events I support include Itron’s annual Sales Kick Off and major trade shows such as ENLIT, WETEX, SMCL, Smart City Expo World Congress, ACCADUEO and many others in different countries. The second pillar is the Channel Partner Program. We work closely with the Channel team and increasingly with direct partners to implement strategic programs that are localized to their area’s needs. The third pillar is demand generation campaigns, lead management and follow up, and process optimization. The fourth pillar of my role is everything related to internal and external communications. Some days will be completely taken up by managing major communications and press relations, as my role is also to keep an eye on the brand and anything being said about Itron.   

Q: What do you enjoy most about your role? 

A:  I particularly enjoy the diversity of my job; not being confined to a single repetitive task and the ability to get involved in all aspects of marketing and communications. I also appreciate the fact that even though my position remains the same, none of the years spent at Itron have been identical. I continue to learn in areas that I had not considered when I arrived in 2019. For me, this is the key to maintaining motivation and enthusiasm in a job.    

Q: How have you grown and evolved since beginning your position at Itron? 

A: I find it hard to believe that it's already been five years since I joined Itron. But I must say, these years have been filled with exceptional events. As I mentioned earlier, the key for me is to keep learning. During these years, I've learned resilience and adaptability - knowing how to accept what can’t be changed, bounce back and find new ways of working. I've also had the opportunity to gain experience in a completely new field for me and am always striving to improve my performance. 

Q: Can you share about a role model who has inspired you and influenced your career? 

A: One role model who has significantly inspired me is my first director when I started my career. One aspect of her approach that particularly influenced me was her emphasis on continuous learning and personal growth. She never settled for mediocrity but instead pushed herself to constantly expand her knowledge and skills. This mindset taught me the importance of staying curious and proactive in seeking new opportunities for development. 

She was also a remarkable leader who fostered a supportive and collaborative work environment. She believed in empowering her team members, providing guidance and encouragement to help them thrive. Witnessing her leadership style inspired me to cultivate similar qualities in my own approach to managing teams and projects. 

Q: What is one piece of advice you would give other women and girls who are looking to excel in their career? 

A: The one piece of advice I have for other women aiming to excel in their careers is to embrace their uniqueness and leverage it as a strength. I don’t believe women should feel the need to conform to traditional expectations or try to fit in an existing mold. I believe in quite the opposite - that women can bring new ways of thinking and different and unique problem-solving skills – which is a strength to be embraced.