Karine REVEL: "Human commitment makes the difference"

As part of the widening of the A57 in Toulon, behind the technical bustle lay a meticulous organization and a strong human commitment. Karine Revel shares with us the essence of her administrative role and the human dimension of her journey. As an administrative assistant, what roles did you play at the heart of the project?

Karine REVEL. My daily work consisted of managing incoming and outgoing mail, drafting and following up on contracts and orders, and monitoring the budget, in collaboration with my colleague Isabelle. We were the hub for all administrative "paperwork": from handling communications – printing flyers, distributing information – to the systematic centralization of all documents.

Without this coordination, the construction site would never have progressed smoothly.

Mon quotidien consistait à gérer le courrier entrant et sortant, à rédiger et suivre les contrats et commandes, et à assurer le contrôle du budget, en collaboration avec ma collègue Isabelle. Nous étions le point de convergence de toute la “paperasse” administrative : de l’acquittement de la communication – impression de flyers, diffusion d’informations – à la centralisation systématique de tous les documents. Sans cette coordination, le chantier n’aurait jamais avancé de manière fluide.

What methods did you use to manage this volume of documents? KR. Rigorous organization was essential.

Each document was filed on our server by folder, allowing for quick searches in case of urgent requests. This structured hierarchy facilitated exchanges with all operational teams and ensured perfect coordination between the different departments.

Beyond the technical aspect, how did you experience the human side of this construction site? KR. What stood out to me was the human closeness that developed over these 5 years.

Working behind the scenes does not mean being isolated; on the contrary, I discovered strong bonds with my colleagues. We supported each other in an atmosphere that encouraged exchange. Every time a document was requested, the feeling of being useful and recognized was palpable.

I grew more open to others, far beyond administrative tasks.

Were the stress and workload heavy, and how did you manage them? KR. There were busy periods with a colossal amount of files to process, but I do not consider myself a naturally stressed person.

To maintain a balance, I practice yoga and breathing exercises. Taking a step back before acting and calmly analyzing each situation helped me turn stress into positive energy. These methods allowed me to be efficient while maintaining a calm and human attitude, both inside and outside the office.

What lessons do you draw from this experience? KR. Professionally, this project taught me that rigorous organization and smooth communication are essential to manage a project of this scale.

But humanly, I was pleasantly surprised by the solidarity within our teams. This project allowed me to acquire a more collaborative vision of work, with sincere bonds that go beyond the strictly professional framework. Today, I feel more fulfilled and convinced that, in the complexity of a major project, the human element remains the pillar of all success.