Women in Manufacturing - Meet Ewa Pietrzak-Jania

Friday, October 18, 2024

What are some of the unique challenges that women in production and engineering face today? How do these challenges differ from those faced by their male colleagues?

Irrespective of your gender and the industry you work in, today, we all face the challenge of navigating uncertainty in a rapidly changing world. This requires adaptability to new market conditions. At MDLZ, we believe our people are the driving force behind our business success. To support them in balancing work and life, we offer various tools, including:

• Flexible Work: Finding balance between professional and personal needs; taking time for a personal commitment and logging in later to complete your day. It is the opportunity to give employees the choice to work from home, another remote location, or at an MDLZ office. For parents, it gives them the right balance to care for their children without sacrificing their careers.
• Mentoring: Both formal and informal mentoring programs are available. As one team member put it, "A mentor inspires, guides, and pushes you to discover your path. They share knowledge, encourage you to challenge yourself, and demonstrate your personal growth potential."

These initiatives help our employees thrive in a demanding environment.

Can you share a specific example of a significant challenge you faced in your career and how you overcame it? What strategies or resources were most helpful to you?

Throughout my career at MDLZ, I've assumed several new roles, each involving a significant shift in responsibilities and scope. While these transitions initially presented challenges, I've consistently adapted to new duties and teams.

One of my most demanding roles was stepping into the manufacturing world and leading the business development and engineering department for seven pastry factories in Central Europe. This was a new venture for our company, and we're still learning how to optimize its operations.

My responsibilities included building and managing the team, from recruitment to onboarding, motivation, skill development, project management, and capital expenditure (CAPEX) budget maintenance. Starting from scratch in a dynamic and ambiguous environment, I developed my capabilities and confidence by learning from my direct manager and an experienced female plant director, with whom I established a mentoring relationship. I also participated in training programs on project management and finance. To address my knowledge gaps, I established a network of experts for consultation.

By leveraging existing company knowledge and targeted training, I successfully built a high-performing team capable of achieving our ambitious goals.

What kind of support systems or networks are available for women in production and engineering within your organization or industry? How have these resources impacted your career?

At MDLZ, I'm actively involved in the Supply Chain Women network, which offers mentoring programs, skill development training, leadership book recommendations, and inspiring speaker series. Additionally, I'm a member of the Supply Chain Chapter of the LEAD Network, a global organization supporting women in industry.

I highly recommend following the LEAD Network and establishing a similar Supply Chain Women network within your organization. These networks provide invaluable resources and opportunities for women in production and engineering to connect, learn, and grow.