Alexander Zemancik works as the general manager for business controlling, marketing and transport logistics. On 11 September, at a ceremony in Banska Stiavnica, he was awarded the highest departmental award, the badge of the Minister of Economy for Work Loyalty.
On this occasion, we asked Alexander Zemančík for an interview.
Briefly introduce your work, what are you responsible for?
My work is about connecting the big world of the economy with the everyday life of the factory. We keep an eye on what's happening in Europe and around the world – how the industry is evolving, steel demand, raw material prices and the overall market sentiment – and we turn this information into concrete business plans. It can be said that we are looking for connections between what the big economic numbers show and how much steel we can realistically sell to our customers. For example, we look at the development of GDP, industrial production, production in industries that process steel, but also at the prices of steel and raw materials. For us, these are not just tables and graphs – they are signals according to which we try to adapt our decisions in a timely manner. The goal is to set up sales so that we are as flexible as possible, able to take advantage of market opportunities and at the same time sell with the best possible result for the company. In addition, I am also in charge of transport and export customs processes. This means ensuring that the steel we sell reaches customers safely, reliably, and on time.
What is the most difficult and interesting thing about your job?
The steel market is changing very quickly and is affected by a number of things that often happen far beyond the borders of our factory. In this ever-changing environment, our team's job is to recognize what is just a short-term fluctuation and what may be an important trend. Sometimes it's a bit like putting together a big mosaic. One part will come from economic indicators, another from customers, another from production, logistics or the raw materials market. Only when these pieces are put together will a picture be created according to which we can prepare business decisions. So the most difficult thing is to make the right decisions even when we don't have all the answers yet.
And that's what is most interesting about this job. It is not monotonous. Every day brings new questions, new contexts and often new surprises. One has to understand numbers, but also people, the market and the practical functioning of production or transport. Steel may seem like a very traditional industry, but in fact it is closely linked to how the entire economy develops.
It is also interesting that the result of our work is not only in the table. It can be seen in whether we can find the right markets, the right customers, set a reasonable sales plan and ensure that the products get where they need to be. It is a combination of analytics, experience and a quick response to a changing world – and it is this combination that makes my work challenging, but also very lively.
You are a member of several international forums...
It's part of my job. Within Eurofer, I meet people from the European steel industry who deal with the same issues that I deal with – the impact of imports on the European market, the development of industries and all the factors that affect market behavior. I am also a member of the World Steel Economic Committee. We meet twice a year via MS Teams and in person, and what we discuss at the European level, we discuss from a global perspective. World Steel summarizes all the data and predicts what the steel market will look like globally for the next year.
Have you always wanted to do what you do today?
My dream was to become a fighter pilot, but you don't always have to do exactly what you dreamed of when you were young if you find a job that fulfills you. It is important to be able to find what is interesting, to learn, to move forward and to try to do your job to the best of your ability. And that's the approach I've been following all my life.
What kind of people can inspire you, or have they influenced you the most in your life?
Since childhood, I have grown up among people who inspired and supported me. My parents gave me the space to pursue many interests and taught me that curiosity and the desire to learn new things are very important. At the same time, they also instilled in me values that I consider equally important – to value people and respect them. My wife is a great support for me. For years, in addition to his own demanding work, he has been managing everything that life with a person in a managerial position brings with great patience, love and understanding. It is not always possible to switch off exactly when working hours are over and work worries do not always remain behind the factory gate. I appreciate all the more that I have support and understanding at home.
And then, of course, there is the team of people I work with. In such a difficult process, you cannot succeed alone. When the market changes from day to day, when you have to look for solutions under pressure and make decisions even without complete certainty, a good team is the greatest value. I have a team of people I can completely rely on, they are experts in their fields who can come up with an idea, support each other, and together we can bring things to a successful end.
What do your loved ones say about the fact that you have been awarded the highest departmental award?
Have any of them gone in the same direction and have the same profession as you?
If I take it not by the name of the profession, but by the way of thinking, then yes. Both of my sons seem to have inherited something from my nature – they prefer to deal with complex things, find connections and situations where you need to think. The older son works as an analyst at Barclays in London, so he is dedicated to an area where data, logic and decision-making are very important. The younger son is finishing his studies in artificial intelligence, which in turn is a world that is based on the search for patterns, solutions and new possibilities.
How do you usually relax after work?
After work, I relax best when I can "switch" my head to a completely different place for a while. Physical activity helps me the most. Mentally, I relax well during weekend work at the cottage, where you can immediately see the result of your own hands. During the week, running and crossfit help me. However, I like the moments when the whole family gets together, especially at Christmas and during holidays in Croatia. It is moments like these that give me the most energy for the next days.
Photo: Jan Kisucky
