A Journey of Expertise: Celebrating Anna, our Technical Manager
Anna Pokorna-Smith, Technical Manager at Gusto Construction, brings a heap of variety and experience to her role. Her journey began in Slovakia, where she studied agriculture, before moving to the UK at the age of 18 on a scholarship to improve her English.
Anna was fortunate to be able to continue her studies here in the UK, while working full-time and successfully completing a BA Hons in Architecture. While initial attempts to secure employment in the field proved difficult, her interest in Gusto Construction’s Woodlands Edge project remained a driving force for her career. During university, she explored the project as a case study and it always remained at the back of her mind, pushing her to be involved in such a fantastic project later in her career.
Anna took a couple of years away from the field before she broadened her expertise by pursuing an MSc in Architecture and Sustainability. This brought her agricultural knowledge and her architectural skills together. This led to a range of experiences in architectural design, project consultancy, and technical coordination within the housing development sector. During this time, she also attained accreditation in energy and overheating assessments.
With over a decade of experience, Anna has met many inspiring women in architecture, design, and sustainability, but fewer in the technical side of construction. She encourages young women to explore all avenues within the field, emphasising the importance of individual strengths.
“I would encourage young women to explore all options and play to their strengths. If you are passionate, willing to listen to those with more experience and continue to learn, there will always be roles to suit your abilities. Do not be afraid to take the plunge! Every day is a new learning curve, which is simply part of life. Your career is no different.”
For International Women's Day, Anna reflects on the significance of celebrating the advancements in opportunities for women. She also acknowledges the influence of the strong, intelligent women in her family, who inspired her to purse her passions without gender-related limitations.
“For me, International Women’s Day celebrates the women who fought for our cerebral opportunities. It also reminds me of the strong, intelligent women in my family who have always encouraged each other to pursue passions without gender equality ever coming into the conversation. It's about being the best human you can be, regardless of gender, but not forgetting to celebrate our good fortunes in comparison to what was hard to come by less than a century ago and is still difficult to achieve in other parts of the world.”
At Gusto Group, we're proud to welcome individuals like Anna, whose dedication and diverse skill align with our commitment to innovation, excellence and sustainability. On this International Women's Day, we celebrate Anna’s journey and the valuable perspective she brings to the team.
Connect with Anna on LinkedIn: Anna Pokorná-Smith | LinkedIn