Jana Mervaldová - Successful Women Executives in Technical Companies Are no Exception
60ǀ POSITIV WOMAN
ŽENY
V profesní rovině pak překročení hranice půl miliardy
obratu a rozšíření výroby o divizi speciálních konstruk-
cí, což je zakázková výroba plošin, lávek a můstků pro
různé zajímavé průmyslové obory.
Jaké máte plány do budoucna? Máte nějaký tajný
sen, který byste si chtěla splnit?
Tajný sen? Tajné sny se neříkají nahlas, aby se splnily.
Mám vizi ještě rozšířit výrobu speciálních konstrukcí,
rozšířit výrobní prostory v areálu, nakoupit nějaké nové
technologie, zdigitalizovat firmu a udržet si stávající
úžasný kolektiv spolupracovníků. A hlavně si zachovat
duševní a fyzické zdraví, abych to všechno zvládla.
Jano, děkujeme za rozhovor.
Successful Women
Execuves in Technical Companies
Are no Excepon
"We are more pragmac and taccal, but it always depends on personal courage, creavity,
responsibility, and family support."
What brought you to ALVE and what were your
career beginnings? Did you have ambitions to move
into leadership roles from the beginning? Or did this
goal take shape gradually over the course of your
career?
(laughs) I didn't really aspire for leadership roles,
and honestly, I'm not even sure it's quite possible
to say "I'm going to be a director" after finishing
school. Most of the managers I'm in contact with
worked their way up to management positions by
gaining experience and opportunities, which were
there especially in the 90’s. Today's graduates
have it much harder, especially when it comes to
the opportunities, and if they do get an opportunity,
they usually can't handle it, which is certainly
not their fault. It's more to do with the education
system and the demanding times. I can compare
- my daughter is at university and the demands on
our generation versus the current one are vastly
different.
Being an economist and banker by training, I wanted
to put my education to good use in the banking
sector after college, and for ten years that was
fulfilled to the maximum. Thanks to my economics
education, I was in contact with large and medium-
sized companies, or their management and owners,
when dealing with financing. Companies operating
in different industries have given me tremendous
insight and valuable business experience. One of my
clients was ALVE, so when the offer came to become
the company's economist, we had already known
each other for nine years. I had been considering
a change for a year because the company is
a completely different world from the banking sector,
but after my experience in the bank, I was drawn to
the creativity that the business environment offers.
After a year, I became a director and managing
director of the company, which was sixteen years
ago this July ... and I have not regretted it so far.
What qualities and skills do you consider
- as a director - to be the most important for
successful business management today?
Critical thinking, diligence, communication and
consistency. "Plan B" has worked for me. There is
always an alternative solution to a problem. If there
isn't, you get stressed and make rash decisions.
Diligence is not sitting in an office twelve hours
a day, but working efficiently, knowing how to find
the tools to manage and have good information.
Quality information cannot be obtained without
communication, e.g. if I assign a task, I need
to explain to the other party why I need it.
If organisational changes need to be made, it is
essential to explain to colleagues where these
changes are going and why they are happening.
It is also about having respect for colleagues and
subordinates, without whom it cannot be done.
Consistency is then very important in completing
projects and tasks.
And of course a sense of humour: if you take yourself
too seriously, you don't create a positive and creative
atmosphere around you.
It is not so common to have a woman in a senior
position in a company that specialises in
the manufacture of aluminium ladders, steps,
scaffolding and work platforms. What advice would
you give to aspiring female entrepreneurs who also
“
I didn't really aspire for leadership
roles, and honestly, I'm not even sure it's
quite possible to say "I'm going to be a
director" aer nishing school.
”