Today I was privileged to interview Alona Lebedieva, an entrepreneurial trailblazer from Ukraine whose journey through the business world is both inspiring and remarkable.
From navigating internships abroad to spearheading ambitious projects and making strategic investments, Ms. Lebedieva has carved out a distinguished niche in the metal and engineering industries. Her story is compelling and inspiring..
Alona Lebedieva
EU Today: Thank you for joining us today, Alona. Can you start by telling us about your early years in education and how they shaped your career?
Alona Lebedieva: Absolutely. During my university years, I was really proactive about developing my skills. In my first year, I took a summer internship in Austria at a consulting firm. The work wasn’t particularly challenging, but I needed that experience to move forward. Initially, I did internships during holidays, but from the third year onwards, I managed to balance part-time work with my studies.
One memory that stands out is during my internship in Austria. I had to present a market analysis to senior consultants. As a young student, standing in front of seasoned professionals was nerve-wracking. The night before, I barely slept, rehearsing my lines over and over. When the moment came, my hands were shaking, but I pushed through. The feedback was really positive, and that experience gave me the confidence to tackle future challenges.
EU Today: How did these early experiences influence your career path?
Alona Lebedieva: During my internships, I met a lot of interesting people and made connections in Ukraine and Russia. These connections inspired me to start a retail business, which was the beginning of my journey in the metal and engineering sectors. I worked closely with railway car manufacturers in Ukraine and Russia.
One of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences was negotiating my first contract with a major supplier. I had to travel to a remote factory in Russia, and I was the only woman in the room. The negotiation was intense and required a deep understanding of both the technical details and the cultural nuances.
I remember a senior executive tried to undermine me, but I stood my ground and presented a well-prepared case. Eventually, we reached a favourable agreement, which was a big milestone for me. This experience taught me the importance of resilience, preparation, and the ability to adapt to different environments.
EU Today: Your early career seems quite dynamic. How did you transition from internships to leading significant projects?
Alona Lebedieva: I believe I established myself as a professional with a strong sense of responsibility, which led to an invitation in 2005 to head a very ambitious project to create a major logistics company in Moscow. This project aimed to build a company with a substantial fleet of railway cars amid a significant shortage of new cars, casting for production, and high demand for transportation services.
EU Today: What challenges did you face in setting up this company, and how did you overcome them?
Alona Lebedieva: Starting the company from scratch, we had to secure a large number of railway cars, ensure they were fully utilised, and eventually sell the operating company. We financed part of the project through bank loans and leasing agreements. Over two years, my team and I attracted investors, secured bank financing and leasing programmes from major banks, and signed financial and operational leasing agreements with various companies.
EU Today: That sounds like a massive undertaking. How did it culminate?
Alona Lebedieva: We built a fleet of 2,000 cars, exceeding our initial goal of 1,000. For achieving this, I was granted a 30% stake in the company. By the third quarter of 2007, we completed our objectives and sold the company in December 2007 for $80 million, earning a net profit of $22 million. This experience and opportunity are unforgettable for me.
EU Today: After successfully selling the company, what were your next steps? How did you decide to invest the proceeds?
Alona Lebedieva: I have always believed that money should work for you, so I decided to reinvest the proceeds into Ukraine. This led to the acquisition of several key assets across various sectors, focusing on diversification to manage risks and ensure steady growth.
EU Today: Can you tell us more about these investments?
Alona Lebedieva: Certainly. In 2008, I acquired stakes in several companies operating in industrial manufacturing, spare parts production, and engineering services. These included a stake in a pump manufacturing plant, a company producing spare parts for rolling stock. Some of these investments proved highly successful, while others required constant subsidies and ended up resembling hobbies more than investment projects.
Svesky Pump Plant
EU Today: Those are quite diverse investments. How did you proceed in the following years?
Alona Lebedieva: Over the next few years, I continued to diversify my portfolio.
In 2009 and 2010, I acquired stakes in companies engaged in the sale and design of railway cars, industrial pump manufacturing, cargo transportation, and asset management. This diversification strategy was aimed at spreading risk and leveraging opportunities across different sectors.
EU Today: How did your investments evolve in 2010 and 2011?
Alona Lebedieva: My strategy remained focused on expanding my stakes in various companies. I increased my holdings in manufacturing plants, agricultural companies, and engineering firms. This approach allowed me to build a robust and balanced portfolio, capable of weathering market fluctuations. Again, while some ventures thrived, others needed continuous financial support and were more passion-driven than profit-oriented.