Sonal Singh's career journey from Engineer to Leader
What does it take to grow from a new engineer into a confident leader in a global environment? For Sonal Singh, the answer lies in curiosity, continuous learning, and the courage to step into new challenges – one opportunity at a time.
Based in Mumbai, Sonal Singh’s career journey is a story of steady growth, continuous learning, and stepping beyond comfort zones. Starting as an engineer in project quotation, she gradually expanded her expertise by moving into specification work and, today, leads an agile team supporting a major international market.
Along the way, working in a global environment exposed Sonal to diverse perspectives and ways of thinking. Collaborating across regions not only strengthened her technical expertise but also helped her build meaningful professional relationships and a broader worldview.
“Valmet’s global working environment offers the opportunity to collaborate with diverse teams across regions, helping broaden perspectives and build strong professional connections.”
Leading with purpose
Today, Sonal balances both operational responsibilities and team leadership. Her days often begin with reviewing priorities and aligning on key deliverables. Working closely with stakeholders, she ensures clarity in requirements and consistency in execution – helping her team deliver with confidence.
A strong believer in learning through experience, Sonal encourages knowledge-sharing within her team. Short, focused bi-weekly sessions create space for team members to exchange insights from real projects, reflect on challenges, and learn from each other’s approaches. These moments of collective learning have become a cornerstone of how the team grows together.
“80% of learning happens on the job. I’ve learned that growth doesn’t come from doing the same things repeatedly – it comes from sharing experiences, learning from each other, and being open to new ways of thinking.”
Growth through experience
For Sonal, development has come not just from formal training but from hands-on experience. Early exposure to global projects pushed her to engage with stakeholders, build confidence, and take ownership of her work.
Over time, these experiences shaped her leadership style. As she took on more responsibility, she learned how to connect with her team, support their growth, and create an environment where performance and collaboration go hand in hand.
“Valmet provides strong growth opportunities for those who are ready to take on a challenging yet equally exciting work environment.”
Her journey highlights an important truth: growth isn’t a single leap – it’s a series of small, consistent steps built on curiosity and willingness to learn. Over the years, it has shaped Sonal’s role, and she is now leading a team for the Europe region.
A culture that empowers
An open and collaborative work environment has played a key role in Sonal’s journey. Easy access to managers, transparent communication, and clearly defined responsibilities create a strong sense of ownership and trust.
“Valmet has a very open culture. Managers are approachable, making it easy to have open discussions on topics which could pose a challenge for growth. Additionally, as part of a global organization, it allows flexibility to work with different teams placed across the globe in different time zones.”
Working across geographies has also taught her adaptability – learning to collaborate across time zones, cultures, and working styles. This flexibility has not only strengthened her professional capabilities but also made her more confident in navigating complex, global projects.
Looking ahead
Reflecting on her journey, Sonal describes her experience in three words: growth-oriented, challenging, and global.
- Growth-oriented: Valmet provides meaningful opportunities to learn, develop, and take on broader responsibilities.
- Challenging: The work environment encourages problem-solving, adaptability, and accountability. The challenges keep the work engaging and help build both technical and professional confidence.
- Global: Working with diverse teams across regions creates a truly international environment, enabling collaboration, cultural exchange, and broader perspectives.
“Together, these aspects make Valmet a place where one can grow, stay challenged, and contribute in a global professional setting.”
At Valmet, roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, which creates a strong sense of ownership and purpose. It is motivating to know that the work I do contributes meaningfully to the company’s overall success, and I am accountable for managing my own projects end to end.
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