bloom: Núria Carreras Parera
What happens when you lead with values
company: Telenet group
Job title: Service Delivery Manager
What happens when you lead with values: Núria Carreras Parera leads the way from chemistry labs in Spain to leading telecom projects at Telenet with purpose.
When you ask Núria Carreras Parera how she got to where she is today — Service Delivery Manager at Telenet group — she won’t give you a conventional answer. Her journey spans multiple countries, academic achievements, personal challenges, and a deep-rooted belief in honesty, respect and growth. It’s a path marked by quiet strength, fierce determination and a deep love for people.
From a big family to big dreams
Growing up in Catalonia, Spain, as the youngest of seven children, Núria quickly learned the importance of resilience. "My parents couldn’t pay for everything”, she explains. "I knew that if I didn’t pass my exams, I’d have to stop studying." She secured a scholarship, but with strict conditions. “If I failed one year, I wouldn’t get it again. And my parents were already paying for my sister's education. So I pushed myself to succeed."
Her love of science was sparked early by a chemistry teacher who brought the subject to life. "She was the first one to inspire me. We didn’t just learn formulas, we experimented in the lab and saw reactions happen. That fascinated me."
"I loved studying. Learning new things made me feel alive. If I won the lottery, I might go back to university and study”
Encouraged by that same teacher to keep her options open, Núria chose chemical engineering, a field that married her love of chemistry with mathematics and problem-solving. She earned a Bachelor's, a Master's in Thermal Energy, and eventually a PhD in Industrial Engineering in the textile department. "I loved studying. Learning new things made me feel alive. If I won the lottery, I might go back to university and study”, she laughs.
As a child, many in her family thought she’d become a teacher. She loved looking after her nieces and nephews, and naturally stepped into caregiving roles. But she wanted something different. “I like children”, she says, “but I loved numbers more.”
Learning by doing… and sometimes unlearning
Núria’s academic career wasn’t just about mastering complex topics. It was also her introduction to the nuances of mentorship, leadership and recognition… not always in a positive sense. "I had a professor who believed in me and pushed me to do a PhD. But along the way, I saw how the system worked: students did a lot of the work, but didn’t always get the credit. That didn’t sit right with me."
Even though she mentored many students and contributed to numerous research papers, she often saw her efforts go unacknowledged. "I always made sure to include students' names on the articles I published, but my thesis advisor didn’t always do the same. That felt dishonest. Honesty and respect are essential to me."
During her PhD, she discovered how much she loved guiding people. "I mentored students doing their final theses. We often stayed late in the lab, and I’d order pizza. I loved creating that team spirit, even in a research environment."
Through it all, her mother remained her greatest source of support and inspiration. "She had no formal education, but she always told me I could achieve anything. Even now, as she lives with dementia and no longer recognizes me, she remains the strongest woman I know."
Núria pauses. “She gave up everything for us. We didn’t have much, but my parents made sure I could study, and I did - hard. I never wanted to make them worry, so I kept a lot inside. But I always carried her belief in me.”
From Spain to Belgium: a leap into the unknown
In the final year of her PhD, facing a grim job outlook and systemic challenges in Spanish academia, Núria decided to go abroad for an internship. "It was a requirement for international recognition of my doctorate. I applied in Germany and Belgium. Ghent answered first, so I took that opportunity. I didn’t want to make the decision myself."
The move proved transformative. "I spend a lot of time with Erasmus students. I wasn’t the only PhD there, but I was the only one at every party. I believe in balance: work hard, but also enjoy life."
“That was the moment I finally felt seen. That all those years of work had paid off. But I also realized: I had done most of it alone. It’s hard for me to tell myself I did a good job, for me it’s never enough. I needed the recognition of others.”
During that internship, she met the man who would become her husband. "He had to chase me for three weeks before I agreed to go on a date! I was 28, he was four years younger. I checked his Facebook and thought ‘hmm, too young’. Before I left Catalonia, I also broke things off with my ex of nine years. But the moment my husband-to-be and I met, we both felt it."
Still, she returned to Spain to defend her thesis, which earned two major awards, including one across all Catalonia. “That was the moment I finally felt seen. That all those years of work had paid off. But I also realized: I had done most of it alone. It’s hard for me to tell myself I did a good job, for me it’s never enough. I needed the recognition of others.”
Overqualified, underemployed, but never giving up
An unexpected chat on a ski slope landed her a job at Ericsson: her start in telecom. She moved up quickly, but discovered she was being paid less than male colleagues. “That hurt. I wasn’t good at self-promotion, I just worked hard.”
Motherhood brought more challenges. After maternity leave, her role had been reassigned. “They said: ‘Now you’re a mom, your priorities have changed.’ That was hard.”
She stayed though, for her daughters, for stability. “But deep down, I knew I had to move on.”
A fresh start at Telenet group
After a short period at Mwingz, Núria got a message from a familiar name: a contact from joint telecom projects. “He asked if I wanted to take his role at Telenet group. I wasn’t looking, but the interview just felt right.”
At Telenet group, she manages indoor infrastructure projects, coordinating with external partners and building structure where there was none. “Now we have processes, alignment, consistency. That’s something I’m really proud of.”
While she currently works solo, she still finds ways to foster community. “We’re spread out across projects, but I insist on team lunches, get-togethers… People laugh, but I say: ‘We spend more time at work than at home, let’s enjoy it.’”
She also feels appreciated. “My manager gives me space. He trusts me. It’s the first time in years I’ve felt that kind of support.”
Values that match the mission
Núria’s values — honesty, respect, trust — aren’t just words. They’re lived principles. Principles she recognizes in Telenet group. The pay policy is transparent for example. Where she used to stay silent, she now speaks up. “I told my manager during my evaluation: ‘If you’re not happy with me, you know what to do.’ And he said, ‘I am happy with you!’ But I wasn’t afraid to say it. That’s new.”
As a mother, she’s also reflecting on how to raise her daughters with both strength and softness. “I grew up with very little. Now I see myself spoiling them sometimes; and I stop myself. I want to raise them with the same grit and gratitude I was raised with.”
What she'd tell other women in tech
“Don’t let your diploma define your job options. You’re not hired to do equations, you’re hired to think, solve, adapt. The way you use your brain is your biggest asset.”
And: don’t wait too long. “I stayed too long in toxic environments. I thought being safe was more important. But it cost me. Now I know: be brave. Leave when your values are compromised.”
Living the journey, not just chasing the goal
Núria doesn’t plan too far ahead. “I go day by day, like I’ve always done. My daughters are young. Every decision I make is with them in mind. But one day, yes, I’d love to lead a team again. That’s where I thrive.” With her blend of deep technical knowledge, emotional intelligence, and value-driven leadership, that future feels inevitable.
From Catalonia, from party-loving PhD to principled project leader, Núria’s story is full of contrast, strength, and growth. And above all: it’s deeply, unapologetically human.