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Stand a little taller The railway helped Rajinder find her voice – now she’s using it to inspire others
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Moment of inspiration In 2015, a workshop by Women in Rail’s mentoring programme gave Rajinder the courage and confidence she needed to move forward with her life. On International Women’s Day 2017, she spoke publicly for the first time about her difficult journey. “I told my story to a crowd at this Women in Rail event because I wanted to show how support from those around you can change your life,” she said. “I still feel indebted to the many people who have mentored me at Network Rail and across the industry. “The trauma never really goes away, but the intense experiences have shaped me – I’ve tried to turn things into positives. “An important part of this is how I’ve managed my mental health and built up my resilience levels. It hasn’t been easy and it’s something I work at constantly. The focus on mental health in the rail industry helped me to open up, but there is still so much to do. 8 | October 2020
Photo: Phil Adams beetroot for Network Rail
t took Rajinder Pryor over 30 years to find the courage to tell her story. A true survivor, she has overcome honour-based abuse and domestic abuse at the hands of those she loved. Rajinder, who works for Network Rail as a customer relationship executive, was first abused by her own family and later at the hands of her partner. The trauma left her lacking confidence and feeling low. But, driven on by her late aunt’s wish for her to study hard, get a good job and shine, Rajinder has come out on top. She tells RailDirector about the experiences that shaped the woman she is today, her 15-year career in rail and why she wants more women and BAME colleagues to pursue a career in the industry. “I grew up with a father who didn’t want me because I was a girl, in an environment where I could only speak when spoken to,” she said. “This, and later an abusive relationship with my now ex-partner, had a profound impact on me. “Just six years ago, I was quiet and lacking confidence. At work, I was reluctant to share my ideas. I felt trapped and couldn’t progress.”
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