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„Mercury gives you the opportunity to grow as an individual and on a professional level”. Monique Mentoor on Life at Mercury in the Nordics
Monique Mentoor has packed up her life twice in the past three years to take on major projects with Mercury. Originally from Cape Town, she moved to Warsaw in 2022 to join a large data centre build as a Senior CSA Engineer. Within a year she had been promoted to project manager and was deeply involved in the planning and procurement of a major hyperscale project in the Nordics. Not long after, she was on board another flight to Helsinki to work on one of the region’s largest hyperscale projects.
Monique’s career began in Cape Town when, at 16, she joined ‘Go for Gold’, a South African education-to-employment programme that prepares students for careers in construction and engineering. The scheme combined extra maths and science classes with industry exposure, including a year-long placement with one of the country’s largest contractors.
“I got an internship with one of the biggest companies in South Africa,” she says. “That was my first real experience of what the industry was like.”
That year of experience earned her a bursary to study Civil Engineering at the University of Cape Town. She later added a Postgraduate Degree in Construction Management and a Master’s in Structural Engineering, building her qualifications, all while working on live projects.
Life as a Senior Contracts Manager in Helsinki
Monique is now based in Helsinki, working as a Senior Contracts Manager on one of Mercury’s largest hyperscale projects. Her role, she says, is hard to define.
“I do a lot of coordination with the teams on site” she explains. “I manage the crew that’s physically putting the build together. I’m involved in the construction activities, the commercial side, and I also work closely with the client. It’s a bit of everything.”
Relocating from Cape Town to Warsaw, and then again to Helsinki, Monique has experienced first-hand the cultural shifts that come with moving between continents.
The Nordics is a very different place to work compared to mainland Europe. There’s more emphasis on work-life balance and a different approach to how they build and operate. You also learn a lot about local regulations and supply chains.
Her role in Helsinki involves coordinating people from a mix of local companies and international backgrounds. “It’s about making sure everyone understands Mercury’s ethos, culture and values. It’s rewarding to see the team come together.”
Beyond work, Monique has found the region’s lifestyle to be just as distinctive. “Bring a jacket,” she laughs. “The weather can be challenging, but it’s a great region to work in. You’re in touch with nature, it’s very safe, and there’s a big emphasis on family, which isn’t always the case elsewhere. It’s a very rewarding experience overall.”
At Mercury, “Everyone is Welcome Around the Table”
What Monique values most about Mercury is the culture she has experienced on every project. Inclusivity, openness, and trust from leadership have shaped her journey just as much as the technical challenges.
“You feel like everyone is welcome around the table,” she says.
Senior management listen, they give you responsibility, and they trust you to deliver. That makes a big difference, because it gives you space to grow and it shows you’re backed by good leaders
For Monique, that combination of trust and belonging is what makes her proud to work with Mercury.
ABOUT MERCURY
Mercury is the European leader in construction solutions. We build and manage complex engineering & construction projects for the world’s leading corporations. Our solutions help deliver technologies and life changing advancements that connect people, communities, and businesses, giving them the power to achieve incredible things. Our people have the courage to be innovative. Their determination and sharp focus enable us to deliver with certainty, time and time again.
