Svetlana Alekseenko: the path from a car repair shop employee to a team leader with Grafit Holding
We have a huge and very talented team that we are going to tell you about gradually. We want to introduce you to each of them in our #peopleofgrafit section. Today, we are sharing an interview with Svetlana Alekseenko, the team leader of the Pricing department of the Eminia project. We found out where she's got her love for auto parts from, how she worked at the auto repair shop, why she chose Grafit, and where Svetlana gets her strength and time for writing books.
Tell us a little bit about yourself before Grafit Holding.
I graduated from USM's economic faculty. On the fourth course, I chose a difficult topic for my graduation thesis – "Passenger car traffic in Moldova: history, development, perspectives." To create the thesis, I had to go through undergraduate training in a company associated with passenger cars. This is how I got to Chevrolet's showroom and started working as a Technician inspector of the order department at the repair shop, while being a 4th-course student. A bit later I was promoted to the auto parts engineer and, in the end, I was taking care of import as a brand manager. After a while, I needed changes, so I started working at another company as the brand manager in the automotive sphere. This was where I got the priceless experience of working with foreign suppliers. But, 8 years later I understood that it's time to make another change. So, I started working with Grafit Holding, continuing to work in the world of hardware and auto parts in the Eminia project.

I came to Grafit on my friends' recommendation on the position of the Polish market representative. Mariana Godoroja, the CEO of our Eminia project, has an unbelievable talent for noticing something greater in people. During the first interview, Mariana asked me if I would be capable of arranging a pricing department, whose launch was only being planned, and I responded, "Of course!"
Where did you get the love for automobiles from?
My father instilled the love for cars in me when I was a little kid. Today, he is one of the best experts in the area of automobile production. But, when I approached him and said that I'm going to work in the repairs service, he wasn't quite happy, because I'm a girl. However, I was moved by one more motive, there are two daughters in our family and my father has always been dreaming to pass his rich knowledge to a boy, and I was always trying to prove that he can also talk about cars with me, his daughter. And now, years later, we communicate with him on equal terms.
During the first interview, Mariana asked me if I would be capable of arranging a pricing department, whose launch was only being planned, and I responded, "Of course!"
How did you build your own team?
I was working alone during the first six months – assigning tasks, analyzing data, - but soon I realized that I need help. This is how Olga, my first assistant, appeared in the team – we've had a very fruitful year together. But, the number of tasks was growing, so we invited Alexander, one of the best representatives in the sales area on the Ukrainian market into the department. Today, we are a complete department made of 3 effective workers.
Why do you like working in Grafit Holding?
I came to Grafit with 10 years of experience in the area of automotive parts. I love my work a lot and I like to be a part of something bigger. The holding gave me the confidence in the future and in my capabilities. I've never seen such work conditions that we have at Grafit. This is a huge team with unbelievable senior staff and support members. I'm talking about the CEO, VP managers, and general directors, who have an immense desire to move forward. I've never seen such an approach in other companies – mutual help, support, and turning ideas into reality are always in the first place.
You are working remotely, from another country for over half a year now. How do you manage to deal with the work and support the team spirit?
Despite moving to the UK for personal reasons, it's not hard to work remotely thanks to modern technologies. I didn't encounter any issues I couldn't resolve during this period. The entire team helps to support the team spirit because no fire can burn just because of having matches, team spirit is a mutual achievement. As for me, I always try to start my workday earlier than my colleagues, and finish it later than them, so that each of them understands that I can provide support whenever they need and provide any assistance that I'm capable of.
How do you manage to combine your passion for work with your hobbies? And how did they appear?
My friends know that I'm frantic about auto parts, but I'm also a creative person. I love drawing abstractions with watercolors, I paint walls, and I love doing embroidery in different techniques. Also, I wrote two children's books that have several fortunate editions. Also, I've been writing a novel for about 5 years that I hope to finish soon. Generally, I keep art present in my life in any of its forms. Any a "why not?" challenge becomes a "yes" for me. Thanks to planning, I can combine my work and creative activities. On a daily basis, I have time for any hobby if I want to practise it.

Besides, I love sports very much, and thanks to Grafit I have already participated in two running marathons. It was a serious challenge for me, as well, but I managed it.
The entire team helps to support the team spirit because no fire can burn just because of having matches, team spirit is a mutual achievement.
What is your life motto?
I have two mottos. The first one is to love everything you do and put your soul into it. The second motto derives from the first one: "The greatest things are built on little things." You must love auto parts in order to love a car. You have to get pleasure from whatever you do every day because this is your life.
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