We spoke with Desanka Talevska Simeonova, Manager in the Customer Care and Support Department, who shared inspiring insights from her career journey at Pivara Skopje. Starting out in Production and Logistics and progressing through several diverse roles, she has grown into a leader who now heads the team dedicated to supporting and caring for our customers. Desanka reflected on her experience as a woman in traditionally male-dominated operational areas and on how the knowledge and perspective she gained there now shape her role in the Commercial sector.

Desanka, seven years ago you joined the Pivara team in the Beer Production Department, and later in Logistics, where over the years you had the opportunity to grow through several different roles. What is the experience and feeling of being, first and foremost, a woman in such a dynamic environment, and a young woman manager who needs to make important decisions on a daily basis?

Production and Logistics, that is, the entire supply chain, is predominantly categorized as a “male” industry. Having worked in five different positions over the past seven years at Pivara Skopje, four of which were within the Supply Chain, I can say that I had – and as a young woman in a managerial position, I still have – a unique opportunity to actively contribute to building our company’s culture and to help break down those stereotypes.

Ever since my student days, I knew that one day I would work in a company where my efforts would be valued, where every employee’s voice would be heard, and today I know that I work at the right company for me. At Pivara Skopje, every opinion matters, we promote diversity, we support equality for all individuals, we address challenges, we share our emotions and viewpoints, and we support one another in achieving our goals together.

From my experience so far, and having worked in three different companies, the key advice I would highlight for every young professional is always to look for a work environment that has the same energy as you and where you can grow both professionally and personally. Only then will you be able to feel truly fulfilled.

You recently made a major career change, joining as Manager in the Customer Care and Support Department. How did you decide to make this change, and how will your experience from the past years help you in your new role?

The “Talent Review” and “Individual Development Plan” processes provide us the opportunity to discuss development possibilities with our direct managers. Every employee who has ambition and demonstrates strong performance can build a quality career at Pivara Skopje. Over the past seven years, by identifying my strengths and areas for development, I have continuously worked on improving my functional and leadership skills.

With every transition from one position to another, regardless of whether it is a promotion or a lateral move into a different area, I can say that the company provides a high-quality onboarding plan and a clear job description. This means we always have structured support when we are ready to step outside our comfort zone and develop new capabilities. Every role I have held so far has come with its own specifics, as well as its own challenges, which I have successfully managed.

Seeking new dynamics and adrenaline in my work, in April this year my path led me to the Commercial Department. Taking on this new role requires me to make a complete transformation in my approach to work — moving from a behind-the-scenes support role for the business and processes to providing full front-line support to the sales side of the business.

As Manager of Customer Care and Support, my main responsibilities include strategic volume planning, performance analysis, telesales, and customer support. The team I work with has extensive experience, each in their own area, and what I bring as new added value is a broader overview and synergy of processes across the entire company, from sales to planning and production, all the way to delivery.

You mentioned that over the years you successfully handled various challenges thanks to the support from your colleagues and the company. What exactly does that support refer to?

The challenges of being a parent in these dynamic times, especially in a fast-paced work environment, are numerous. However, flexibility, understanding, and support from colleagues and the company itself are key to managing them as smoothly as possible. Here I will be very specific: typical example I can share from my own experience is the support I received from Pivara Skopje, especially over the past three years, a period during which I became a mother of two wonderful girls. In addition to the support I had from my husband and family in handling the challenges of being both a young woman manager and a mother, I also had unconditional support from my colleagues and the company to continue building my professional and personal ambitions.

Proof of all this support is, in fact, my most recent transfer to the Commercial Department as Manager of Customer Care and Support.

This year, Pivara Skopje celebrates 100 years of existence on the market. As part of this anniversary story, if you had to single out one project you worked on that you are particularly proud of, which one would it be?

That’s a very difficult question, because it’s hard to single out just one project. Over the past few years, Pivara Skopje has been going through a complete transformation. There is an increasing focus on people and on the sustainability of our business in all aspects.

The strategic and long-term capacity planning of our supply chain is one of the biggest projects I worked on, as well as leading the project for planning Pivara Skopje’s logistics infrastructure in Macedonia. By following market trends in our country and implementing these projects, I can confidently say that delivering our company vision is inevitable.

I must also mention digitalization as one of our strategic initiatives, through which we have introduced many innovations over the past two years. My personal mark and active contribution are in the development and implementation of an online portal for direct-to-consumer product sales (D2C portal), as well as in the digitalization of warehouse operations through a WMS system and vision picking technology.

What does it mean to you to be a “Pivarec” (a brewery team member)?

For me, being a Pivarec means that you are not alone, you always have a colleague with whom you can share challenges and receive support. You are part of an interesting, dynamic, and healthy work environment where every individual’s contribution is valued. Being a Pivarec means being ready to constantly learn, develop, improve, and grow.

We also have an internal saying that goes: “Once a Pivarec, always a Pivarec!” It reflects that feeling when employees identify with the company’s values, are proud to be part of it, and contribute to its growth with great passion, seeing it as their own personal growth as well.