How did you come to join Ford?

My dream, ever since I was 15-years old, was to design a car. But with few higher education options or car manufacturers at that time in St. Petersburg, Russia, I chose to study gas and steam turbines and aircraft engines instead.

I began as an apprentice in aircraft-engine production when I was only 16-years old. Four years later, I got the opportunity to become an hourly employee at Ford’s vehicle operations in St. Petersburg. I made the move to Ford South Africa 12 years later. Currently, I’m the first ever woman to hold my current role as powertrain operations plant programs and engineering manager at Struandale Engine Plant.

Before you moved to South Africa, you were one of only two female managers on the team in Russia. How did that experience shape you?

Being ‘unique’ puts you on the spot. You have to be sure that what you do is not only done in line with your values and that it serves the best interests of the business. I believe in Donald Schön’s concept of a reflective practitioner and apply it daily. Once you’re free from your biases and unconscious filters, you become capable of seeing a situation without distortion or emotion.

You’ve been heavily involved in promoting gender diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, particularly the factory floor. Can you tell us about this?

In Russia, I worked on creating programmes to promote women into leadership positions, focusing on skill development and mentorship. In the vehicle operations plant, I supported my female successor to take over the role of a department manager.

As a powertrain operations employee, my team developed a talent-pipeline solution ensuring equal opportunities for all genders and giving each individual a clear roadmap of skills to prepare for the next level of their career. That the programme was recognised by Ford as the winning project (Gender in Manufacturing Business Application Leadership Projects) still fills me with a sense of pride to this day. It also helps inform my current academic research into leadership strategies to reduce the gender representation inequality as well as the pay gap associated with gender.

You said you always wanted to work on cars, can you describe what they represent to you?

I was seven-years old when the Iron Curtain fell, and the world completely changed. I saw, for the first time ever, women wearing jeans and I recall one movie where the lead character drove a red Ford pickup. To that little girld, this was an inspiring picture of freedom and luxury. Seven-year-old me would be jumping for joy knowing that just this month, I was finally able to get my very own red Ford bakkie.

What was it like growing up in post-Soviet Russia?

It instilled in me a strong work ethic and a deep sense of resourcefulness. I learned to be creative and adaptable in the face of economic instability and scarcity. Most of all, it gave me the desire to create a better future for myself.

You’ve achieved so much professionally. What do you do for fun?

Books help me disconnect from the world, travel to new places and situations, and share the experiences of the characters in my imagination. They also provide the opportunity to experience the cuisine, sights, and culture of other countries. Cooking is my other hobby; I enjoy refining different techniques and inventing new recipes and I consider giving cooked food to others the ultimate act of caring and love.

How has learning about a different culture impacted your perspective?

Immersing myself in Xhosa culture – one of the four nations in South Africa known for its colourful garments, jewellery, and stick fighting – has been transformative. It opened my eyes to the power of community and the uplifting nature of collective support. This experience has reinforced my belief that learning from other cultures can broaden our understanding and even resolve conflicts. It also introduced me to the beauty of African clothing.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in STEM?

My reflection on the conversations with many amazing women I work with is that we often internalise societal limitations, limit ourselves through not trying, and believing we can’t get something. My own example proves otherwise; I came from a background where female leadership in manufacturing was a rarity. Seeing so few women in management positions fuelled my determination to break barriers and create opportunities for greater representation. By removing psychological hurdles and embracing our unique strengths, we can inspire new leaders and drive meaningful change at Ford and beyond. Together, there are no limits to what we can achieve.

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