Hanna Yefymenko has built her career at Zaporizhstal and encourages women to confidently pursue opportunities in the metallurgy industry.
Metallurgy is often associated with heavy industry and traditionally male-dominated roles, but the reality is different. Over 30% of Metinvest Group employees are women. Alongside their male colleagues, they excel in skilled trades, engineering, managerial positions, and leadership roles.
Hanna Yefymenko, a quality control officer at Zaporizhstal, is a third-generation employee at the plant. Her grandfather, Kostiantyn Nazarov, began working in the hot rolling mill shop in 1953. Later, her parents, Volodymyr and Tetiana, met while working at the plant – Volodymyr in the open-hearth shop and Tetiana in the roll-formed sections shop.
“My entire life has been closely connected to Zaporizhstal, as my whole family worked here. I first visited the plant as a child when my mother brought me directly onto the shop floor – something that was possible back then. What started as childhood excitement grew into curiosity and, eventually, into a profession and lifelong passion,” Hanna shares.
After earning her degree as a quality control inspector, Hanna followed her mother’s advice and joined the plant in 2005. She started in the technical control department of the cold rolling shop, working as a shipping inspector before becoming a quality control officer responsible for product quality oversight.
“My work is very diverse: inspecting steel bundles and coils to ensure they meet standards and specifications, preparing regulatory documents, and ensuring that customers receive only top-quality products. Every stage involves collaboration with colleagues and overseeing the entire process. It’s a responsible job – sometimes demanding, but always interesting,” says Hanna.
Like her parents, Hanna found her soulmate at Zaporizhstal. Her future husband, Serhiy Yefymenko, a heat treater in the roll-formed sections shop, worked in the same department as Hanna’s mother, who introduced them to each other. Before long, the couple started a family and later welcomed a daughter.
“My husband now works as a mechanic in the hot rolling mill shop, taking on the most challenging equipment repairs. He has extensive experience and truly golden hands. I’m incredibly proud of him and of our entire family,” says Hanna Yefymenko.
The combined work experience of the Nazarov-Yefymenko family spans more than 150 years.
Even after retiring, Hanna’s mother, Tetiana Tarasivna, remains connected to her beloved workplace by serving on the veteran council at the plant, where she helps other retirees. Both then and now, she serves as an inspiration to her daughter.
“I’ve inherited our family traditions and work ethic from my mother. She worked here for 37 years, loved her job, and valued her team deeply. Back then, no one questioned a woman’s role in metallurgy. Women were respected, and we worked side by side as equals. That’s just how it is – here, we’re a team; we’re one family!” Hanna asserts.
Hanna emphasises that working in a supportive team makes the job much easier – something particularly vital during the war and these challenging times that everyone is enduring. She notes that special attention is being given to creating opportunities for professional growth. At the plant, opportunities are equal for men and women, with more than two thousand women currently working at Zaporizhstal.
“The plant provides growth opportunities for everyone, regardless of gender. What truly matters here are professionalism and determination. For anyone still unsure about their career choice, I encourage you not to be afraid to show what you can do. Come, try, and learn. If you feel this is your path, everything will fall into place!” Hanna Yefymenko concludes.
