What made you choose Arbtech?
I became a freelance subcontractor for a few companies in 2023. The people working for Arbtech were the most welcoming and helpful people, and when the internship came around, I decided to jump at the chance!
What do you love most about the company?
The flexibility, freedom and trust to work in a way that works for me and my lifestyle.
What do you do when you are not in Arbtech?
I spend a lot of my time taking care of animals, both my own and others’. Because I work from home, I have become the group pet sitter, so I get snuggles from new friends every week!
I like to travel and experience new things, so if I can fit in a weekend trip away, away I will be! I have friends and family scattered across the world, and I myself grew up in Spain.
Music is a big part of my life. I play (badly but with confidence) a few instruments, and I will happily try to play ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ on anything you give me. But mostly, I just love the atmosphere at a festival and/or concert. I love screaming, singing and dancing with 100s of other people to music filled with passion and emotion. Emo, screamo, metal and rock, punk, folk, country and pop, jazz, dance, nu-metal and scene, indie, grunge and everything in between (points to you if you read that as a poem).
My crafting obsessions change regularly – I have a lot of unfinished projects and a lot of sparkly, colourful stuff on my walls! Crochet, cross stitch, glitter, beading, sewing, drawing, jewellery, miniature mini resin creations, stickers, building Pokémon Lego models or miniature doll houses, etc… And those are just the things I can see from the sofa in my living room!
What is the biggest tip to achieve the most in life?
‘No’ is a full sentence. I know that sounds negative, but honestly, it isn’t.
Understanding your limits and being strong enough to say no when you need to is the best advice I can offer anyone.
You have to take care of yourself and your mental health.
Don’t overfill your cup – anything that spills over the top is harder to drink and becomes messy.
What is the best social you’ve been on at Arbtech?
I have only been out on one social so far, and as fun as that was, I am hearing amazing things about the Christmas party!
Where do you want to travel to next?
Anywhere and everywhere – I always have a trip planned!
I have a current need to go to a beautiful, quiet island somewhere and sit under a palm tree, but I am also planning a big road trip to New Zealand.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
I used to panic about not knowing where I would be in the future, flailing and worrying that I wasn’t going anywhere.
For the first time in my life, I am happy with exactly where I am and what I am doing.
I think at the moment, I don’t want to think too far into the future and just enjoy right now!
What is a goal you have for the future, in or out of work?
I would possibly like to go for a master’s degree or PhD.
I grew up by the sea, and I am convinced that in a past life, I was a mermaid. I would really like to eventually be able to sell my house and move closer to the coast somewhere, get a house with some land, and get some alpacas for me and a racetrack for my husband – that is a big dream for us.
Michelle joined Arbtech in October 2024.
