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Aug 12 2024

Meet Maria Ramirez, Change Advisor at NCIA


On 12 August 2024, the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) celebrated International Youth Day, a day to celebrate the potential and achievements of young people while addressing the challenges they face in today's global society.

This year's theme is 'From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,' highlighting the power of youth and digital innovation.

As NATO's technology experts, this year's theme is particularly pertinent to NCIA. Communications technology and innovative solutions constitute NCIA's daily work in securing and strengthening NATO's defence posture and preserving peace for the Alliance. Young people are leading the change in digital adoption and innovation. By employing and empowering young minds in our mission, they can help address current and future global security challenges by harnessing and leveraging technology.

To commemorate International Youth Day, we spoke to Maria Ramirez, Change Advisor for the Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing Team within the Chief People Office (CPO).

Maria Ramirez joined NCIA in February 2024. Her daily work includes coordinating NCIA's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and wellbeing communities, communications and several cross-CPO and cross-NCIA projects and events. Ramirez serves as the link to NATO Headquarters and can engage with NATO-wide initiatives to leverage best practices and explore potential collaborations.

Meet Maria Ramirez, Change Advisor at NCIA

We sat down with Ramirez to ask about how her work promotes greater youth diversity and inclusion at NCIA.

What motivated you to pursue a career in diversity and inclusion at NATO?

I have to admit that I have always been passionate about the topic of gender equality. My personal experiences as a young woman, together with my passion for travelling and different cultures, developed my interest in working in an international environment.

On that note, I was grateful to get an internship at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in 2021, where I spent two years surrounded by people from different nationalities and backgrounds. This experience made me more aware of the different intersections within equality and made me curious about the wider topic of DEI.

My next experience at NATO International Staff was when I started my real DEI journey, which allowed me to understand the DEI dynamics within the Organization, share knowledge and contribute to different strategic change initiatives. Today, after 3 years at NATO, I am grateful that my Change Advisor role with NCIA allows me to learn and work on my real passion, creating a safe and inclusive workplace environment where everyone feels heard, valued and respected.

What is the significance of International Youth Day and why should we recognize it in the workplace?

International Youth day promotes the empowerment and engagement of the next generations. It puts great emphasis on ensuring the next generation's voices have a seat at the table, their potential is recognized and their skills are developed. This day highlights the importance of investing in youth development and creating opportunities for growth and wellbeing, which are crucial for building and fostering an inclusive future.

The topic for 2024 International Youth Day is 'From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,' which underlines how digital technology can help young people make a positive impact while addressing global challenges, such as climate change or inequality. This year's theme is intrinsically linked to what we do at NCIA, as NATO's technology and cyber hub. The next generation represents a new pool of talent capable of developing and implementing sustainable tech solutions to accelerate progress towards addressing global challenges.

In what ways does NCIA leverage the perspectives and skills of younger employees to drive innovation and change?

There are many ways this is done, but I would highlight three of them. First, NCIA encourages younger employees to bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas by creating an inclusive environment, where they feel their opinion matters and feel confident to share it.

Second, teams often work in a cross-functional way at NCIA, which gives younger employees a good understanding of the work of several functional areas. In particular, it allows them to explore other fields where they might want to develop skills in the future.

Third, learning and upskilling also plays an important role in supporting younger employees' progress in their careers. NCIA is very accountable for the development of its staff, and as a result, there is a wide offer of available tailored trainings according to the staff's preferences.

How have the efforts implemented by your team benefited NCIA and its young employees?

The Diversity & Inclusion and Wellbeing Team, together with the wider CPO, continues to elevate DEI across NCIA through a people-focused approach. In practice, this means that all the work we do towards making NCIA a better workplace puts the wellbeing, growth and satisfaction of all staff, including young employees, in the foreground.

On this note, we are working on several bottom-up initiatives that actively involve staff in decision-making processes. By encouraging their contributions and perspectives, their input helps and supports broader strategic implementations, such as the DEI Annual Strategic Report. This approach ensures that our initiatives are grounded in the real experiences and developing needs of our workforce.

One practical example is our NCIA Internship Programme through which we attract a wide pool of diverse talent, bringing a variety of perspectives and innovative solutions. This programme also improves employee satisfaction and retention, which translates into better performance and leads to overall greater success at NCIA.

What advice would you give to other young professionals considering a career at NATO?

It is undeniable that having work experience at NATO can be a game changer. Although it might feel a bit overwhelming to apply for a position in an organization with such a resonating name, I strongly recommend to just give it a try - it is totally worth it. I am grateful to have found myself surrounded by people with diverse experience levels and different generations from my very first day. NATO values the fresh perspective, energy and innovative ideas that young people bring.

A career at NATO is a great chance to expand your horizons, meet people from all over the world, build new skills and work on projects that make a tangible impact globally. Having said that, it is not just about career growth, but about personal growth and making diverse connections that might last a lifetime!