There is no place for gender bias and prejudice, where Metinvest women work. The steel flowers of Kamet Steel are always in their place - they perform complex production tasks, operate high-tech equipment and giant machines, and hold responsible technical positions with equal professionalism. Nataliia Prokopenko is the first woman at the enterprise to take up the position of assistant head for engineering at the CHPP.
Nataliia Prokopenko is one of the most experienced specialists in her department. For more than 20 years, she has been successfully working in the repair department of the plant's heat and power plant, which currently includes six shops with high-tech thermal equipment, on the uninterrupted operation of which production processes, especially blast furnace production, depend.
Over the years, Nataliia has confidently pursued her professional and career development in energy engineering, and during the difficult wartime for the shop, the enterprise and the whole country, she found the strength and courage to lead this area in her unit.
"Natalia, what was the basis of your determination and what helped you make this choice?"
"Let me say this: no one is born a ‘great manager, you always need to develop these abilities. And I had a great example before me - my father, who once worked his way up from a worker to the head of the same heat and power plant. After so many years of working in this team, I know our specialists well, I know who is capable to do the work, what knowledge and experience they have. So, building workplace communication chain will most likely not be difficult for us. Plus, the support from my supervisors, who carefully observe my work and help me believe in my capabilities. "Don't be afraid, you can do it." I heard their convincing words, and even more so, I believed in the comparative characteristics they gave. I don't really like lofty words, however, if my team needs support in such a difficult time, if my experience and knowledge can really be a contribution to a bigger and more responsible work, then I'll be doing it, rather than dwelling on my doubts.
"Over the years, you have probably learned something special about the Heat&Power Plants, how this complex thermal equipment is operated. What helps you maintain your self-confidence?"
"I understand the technical characteristics and the process flow for the operation of boiler units, turbo air blowers, and turbogenerators, and I still continue to acquire this knowledge. In any case, a maintenance engineer at any stage of their professional growth has to thoroughly study the main and auxiliary equipment together with the maintenance and repair methods, and this is how the system is built.
It is very good that the company, the management of the plant and the business unit implement a system of preventive maintenance of the main and auxiliary equipment. After all, most of the H&PP equipment is not new. Regular checks and inspections and timely routine and need-based repairs allow to extend the life of this equipment, and avoid emergency situations, downtime, and additional repair costs.
Working in such a multi-divisional business unit certainly requires a team approach and joint efforts, for this is the only way the effective results can be achieved."
"Most of your colleagues at the manufacturing site are men. Is a female engineering manager always successful in building healthy relationships?"
"The first thing to note here is that we build workplace relationships together. Shop managers and line managers are colleagues, most of whom I have worked with for many years. They adequately and professionally assess my business qualities, are ready to support and point out certain subtleties and nuances that they know better working directly on site. All of them are highly and up-to-date educated experts, and no misunderstanding such as "a woman cannot be a manager" can even arise. After all, we are one team solving joint tasks, and gender issues cannot be a hindrance for us."
"Nataliya, do you have a feeling that you are depriving yourself of something personal because of your new position?"
"Honestly, I don't. My new position does require extra efforts and time. If, however, experience is combined with the properly organised work process, life can be balanced. Under new conditions, work requires maximum flexibility based on changes brought by time. Knowledge of mandatory programs, SAP proficiency and continuous expansion of these knowledge areas really allow me to maintain a balance between work and personal time and space."
