VIKTOR JANOUŠKOVEC
Role: Director Area: Distribution, Chemical Industry Employer: Brenntag; former: Lach-Ner s.r.o., Tesla Hloubětín, Synthesia, a.s. What can I help my mentee with?
|
Viktor started as a salesman in an analytical laboratory, where his day consisted of calling customers according to a list and soliciting orders. Gradually he worked his way up to director in the company. After eight years, he decided it was time for a change and went to Tesla Hloubětín, where he managed an independent water treatment plant for a year. He then moved out of the industry - for three years he worked for a company producing containers - but eventually returned to chemistry. He realised that he wanted to stay with it: "One has such a tendency to denigrate what you learn at school. Often you don't remember a lot of things anymore, but it's there somewhere in the back of your mind, the context. You know the environment, you keep meeting the people you know from uni and somehow it all fits together." He worked his way up through a position as a distributor of laboratory chemicals to Synthesia, where he was plant manager, and finally to Brenntag, where he is still managing director today.
He doesn't see anything wrong with changing jobs. One should not be afraid of change; if something does not suit one's current position or company, one should explore other possibilities and with them one's potential. On the other hand, he points out that it is good to be able to describe the reason for these changes and turn them to your advantage.
He feels content in his current position because every day brings new challenges and knowledge. He describes himself as "not a big scientist" and doesn't want to know every detail of a single area. On the contrary, he is comfortable with having an overview of multiple things horizontally and being able to connect them. For him, chemistry, technology and business meet at Brenntag. In addition, he handles personal and administrative matters in the company.
He sees potential in mentoring to further promote chemistry, even among people who are already studying it. "Students should know that chemistry is not just lab work and scientific activity. It is also business or manufacturing, in short, it can be applied in all areas of human activity." Viktor is a member of the board of the Chemical Industry Association and vice-president of the Chemical Traders' Association and sees the promotion of chemistry as a commitment as well. He is happy to support people with a genuine interest and in return learn about the current generation of students and young employees - what their priorities and expectations are, which he sees as important incentives for further development of the industry and jobs.