Joining MANVESTA logistics in the middle of the war in Ukraine. Meet Valentyna, our most recent quality manager.

Meet Valentyna, the most recent quality manager at MANVESTA. She joined us in March, after she fled the war in Ukraine.

In the present article, we will dive in to her experience in moving to Lithuania and joining MANVESTA. We will discuss how she finds her first months here and the various tasks she performs. ??

Can you tell us how did you start working at MANVESTA?

Once the war started, I spent over two weeks in the basement hiding from the Russian shelling. As you know, MANVESTA from the first day of the war committed to bring and accommodate all the relatives of their Ukrainian colleagues to Lithuania if they managed to escape from Ukraine. As soon as I got the opportunity, I decided to leave Ukraine and move to Lithuania. At the time, I found myself physically and mentally exhausted from the events.

I learnt about MANVESTA from my husband, he has been working here for more than a year. He noticed that MANVESTA was searching for a quality manager with strong analytical and organizational skills, and encouraged me to apply. I remember feeling anxious at the interview, I still felt uneasy by my experiences in Ukraine. However, upon hearing my story, the interviewer was understanding and took the interview process slow. I remember feeling incredibly excited when I heard the news that they hired me. Till today, I find it as a defining moment in my career. I did not expect that I would find myself quickly immersed in MANVESTA’s activities and the people.

What about the nature of work of the quality department?

Having just recently come to Lithuania, I had little friends and connections. I believe that joining MANVESTA was positive for me, because I made new connections with my colleagues, the drivers and our customers.

My daily tasks revolve around the oversight of the loading and offloading processes, and that the drivers comply with all the necessary requirements. In some cases, to ensure the highest possible standards, I have to repeat the same message several times, yet enjoy seeing the individual progress of our drivers and knowing that I have been a part of it. ?

Can you tell us what do you enjoy most about the work? What interesting projects and moments have you been involved in?

I like working at MANVESTA, because I like helping people, the communication process and being a part of a big proactive team. It is a stark contrast to my previous employment in Ukraine, where I worked in my own small company, but I believe it set me up for success to work here. I have not yet had a chance to participate in any of the major projects since I only recently started working here. However, Karolis Macenis, the Head of Quality department at MANVESTA already invited me to analyze the effectiveness of current communication practices between our administration colleagues and drivers. “I see a lot of potential in her. She has the discipline, hard-working attitude and pays strong attention to detail – those are the qualities we are looking for in every individual working here. In addition, she’s a pleasure to work with!”, – says Karolis Macenis.

What challenges have you faced Lithuania?

Some might believe that being a non-native Lithuanian speaker in Lithuania could present a challenge. However, in my experience, Lithuanians nourishes inclusivity and diversity as some of their core values, thus I quickly found myself at home here. Furthermore, in MANVESTA many employees already have a strong proficiency in English and Russian languages, which helps to overcome the language barrier. As of myself, I am actively learning Lithuanian and English in online training. In some cases, I have to use the translator or double check with my colleagues, but I have learnt some Lithuanian and English and already, which helps a lot.

Can you tell us what would be your advice to someone who wants to start working in Lithuania?

In my personal view, you have to be willing to work hard and be open to new experiences, then you can succeed in every country and every field. I guess that most Lithuanian companies offer a vibrant and dynamic workspace, in which different challenges are presented daily. I found a similar situation in the logistics sector as well.?My personal advice for all those who are seeking work in Lithuania - don’t be afraid to communicate, I believe that any discussion can lead you to an interesting project! Just be open minded and don’t be afraid to try!

Thank you for sharing your experience, Valentyna. We are all excited to see you as a part of our growing team!