Alla Vovchenko
Who I Am and Where I Come From
Before I came to the Czech Republic, my life was full of stability, clear plans, and professional achievements. In Ukraine, I built a career that took me from regional business analyst to national trade marketing manager at an international beer-brewing company. I had a good position, security for the future, and clear goals. In my free time, I enjoyed my hobbies: horseback riding, downhill skiing, and traveling.
But one day, everything changed—war came to my country, and my hometown of Bucha in the Kyiv region was occupied.
A New Beginning in the Czech Republic
My younger son and I left for the Czech Republic. We arrived at the home of people we didn’t know at all, but they opened the doors of their home and their hearts to us and became true guardian angels to us. We are sincerely grateful to them for everything.
The first few months were incredibly difficult. You find yourself caught between two worlds—physically, you’re safe, but your heart remains at home, and every day you expect to return at any moment. Over time, however, you realized that time is passing, and you can’t just wait around. You have to start living.
My First Steps at the FINIDR
I started from scratch, without knowing the language, working at manual finishing department. After a month, I got the opportunity to step in for a sick coworker on the binding line—and I stayed there for three years.
Now I realize that this challenging period helped me a great deal. It was a profound personal experience that allowed me to get to know myself and my capabilities better. I came to understand what’s truly important in life and what’s secondary, even though we often attach undue importance to the latter.
A Step Forward and a New Role
Over time, I realized it was time to move on. I sent in my resume and went through the selection process for the position of shift supervisor. Today, my role requires flexibility and the ability to find common ground with different teams and shifts, as well as to come up with practical solutions—every shift brings new challenges and situations. The biggest challenge has been—and still is—the Czech language—I clearly remember times when I was even afraid to pick up the phone, worried that I wouldn’t understand or that the other person wouldn’t understand me. Today, I no longer have that fear. The second area where I’m still learning is technology. The world of brewing and trade marketing, where I spent nearly two decades, is fundamentally different from the amazing world of book printing that has opened up to me. I identify with FINIDR’s strategy—a tradition spanning more than 30 years, high quality, an “all under one roof” approach, and genuine respect for people. The company doesn’t stand still; it develops and implements new technological solutions, modernizes its equipment, cares about the environment, and conserves and restores natural resources.
In Conclusion
As a foreman, I strive to be a leader—to guide people with respect, to seek solutions rather than blame, and to instil positive energy in the team. I am incredibly fortunate to meet amazing people along the way who make my journey easier. And FINIDR—above all, it’s the people who have been turning dreams into real books for more than 30 years. I am very happy to be part of this team and to be working with you to move our production forward.
