When I think about the journey I have taken together with Ensto, I think about shared values. And that is something the importance of which I really cannot emphasize too much. In 2024 I will celebrate my 20th anniversary at Ensto. It's a long time, but it hasn't felt long: I've never been bored at work! There is a lot happening here all the time and it is precisely all those big changes that have contributed to the fact that I like working here. Although the company is the same, the work keeps feeling new.
I joined Ensto in 2003 as a temporary employee. I had previously worked in the construction industry and after having been on maternity leave with my younger daughter, I found Ensto. Initially, my task was project-based implementation and certification of a quality and environmental management system. However, the company's management quite early understood the importance of this issue, and I got a permanent position as the Quality Manager the Keila factory in Estonia. The first project was very interesting, and I found it important that the company wanted to take responsibility for the environment. It goes without saying that the people I work with are very nice.
When I started as the Quality Manager, the Keila factory was completely different from what it is today. The company began to grow rapidly, and new production areas, factories, technologies, people, products, and processes came along at a fast pace. All this made it possible to learn new things, and that I enjoy! At Ensto, you have the opportunity to do almost anything, and I think that one shouldn't say no when something new is offered. We are allowed to try new things and make mistakes, as long as we learn from them.
Today, I work as a Supplier Quality Manager in the Procurement & Sourcing team, the building of which was started from zero in 2016. The purpose of our team is to operate Group-wide and serve all Ensto countries. My duties include supplier management, audits, and various quality, environmental and legislation related matters. I meet suppliers from different countries and have learned a lot about various companies and their processes. There are often big differences in the ways we do things, and the same end result can be achieved in many ways. A well-functioning network is very valuable, because when you have good connections, you always know who to talk to. Cooperation is super important, particularly in crisis situations, as we have seen over the past few years.
Although we are a Group-wide function, we do not want to dictate how to do things. Instead, we listen to the people who deal with certain things every day. So did Ensio Miettinen, the founder of Ensto, whom I remember well. I learned a lot from him. He was a good listener and genuinely interested in the opinions of others, and the conversation with him was precisely a conversation, not a monologue to listen. I want to do the same in my work. Ensio's legacy is also how we as employees are trusted. We all have the power to make decisions as well as development suggestions and change things together. A good team is always there to support you – and the team members have a wide range of knowhow to learn from.
I am a member of Ensto’s Sustainability Steering Team, which plays a key role in the company culture. This makes it easier to collaborate with suppliers, because when a company lives and breathes responsibility, it is easier to take the themes in the direction of suppliers as well. For me, it is very important that Ensto's values have remained the same throughout the years, and especially that Ensto is still a family business. I am happy because I can work within themes that are close to my heart. This year, the United Nations has launched a Business & Human Rights training program, in which Ensto is participating. This provides an opportunity to build a network and learn from other companies; human rights can only be influenced through cooperation. We just attended our first session and now it's time for the homework. It feels fun to get back on the school bench!
My daughters are 21 and 28 years old, and I am the proud grandma of a granddaughter. She is my first grandchild and very precious to me. I think it is easier to be a grandmother than a mother, because now I can simply enjoy: be present without expectations. There has to be a balance between work and free time, and today I already know how to achieve it. I take time for different exercises from yoga to body balance, and outdoor activities with my dog. I don't have 8–16 working hours because we have suppliers in India and China, which are in different time zones. Here, too, I appreciate my employer as there is flexibility in both directions, and if I work in the evenings, I can go for a walk with my dog in the daytime when the sun is shining.
Kristy Valgma
The writer of the blog works as the Group-level Supplier Quality Manager at Ensto.