Her Story
About Alina
I came to the United States 20 years ago and built my career in agriculture, specifically in the swine industry. I started with Smithfield working on farms from the very beginning, running operations and managing sow farms, eventually managing big operations as a production manager. My fundamental job has always been to make sure we can feed the world by producing pigs. Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of working with people from many different backgrounds, and as part of the leadership team, I've not only managed farms and made critical decisions, but I've also helped build and influence very young people who are trying to start their careers in the swine industry, which I'm very proud of. After moving to Omaha, I'm still in the swine business but now on a different side, working in a slaughterhouse where my job involves visiting producers. I make sure they are in compliance and raising pigs according to both international and U.S. laws. This is very important because we share our audits with our customers and are able to open new markets in countries like Japan, Korea, Colombia, and Mexico. These customers always ask detailed questions about what producers are doing, how they raise the animals, what kind of feed they give, and how antibiotics are used, and my job is to answer all of those questions.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Alina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I start with my family. In the beginning, it was my parents. I wanted to make them proud, especially since they thought I was gonna stay home, but I got out of the house and pursued my career. After that, when I had my family, my kids became my drive. Right now, my kids are the reason why I accept interviews like this, because I realize how important it is for my kids to feel proud of their mom and how much it helps them. Now they feel like my mom is important, I have to be important, I have to do something. That's why my son says he has to represent the family. As a female, I think I represent women, but I also represent my family, and my kids are my drive. My son came one day and made me realize how important it is because he was asked by one of his friends, who's your mom? And he said, oh, let me show you who's my mom, and he Googled my name and showed him, this is my mom.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think the main one is, be patient. As a female, as a woman, especially in my industry, it's an industry that is led by men. When a woman is assertive, we are seen as aggressive for them. I believe that happens in every industry, but I think in my industry it's like, oh, she's very aggressive, she wants to grow in the industry or the company. But be patient, be honest, and just work hard, work smart. Because we don't have nothing to prove. We just need to prove ourselves that we're capable, and just put a lot of passion into what you do. People realize that when you do something that you like, it's not just your job, it's your normal life to live, and it's when everything comes smoothly and you don't have to force anything. So I think every young woman that enters my industry has to be very patient, be credible, and be ready to not prove anyone, but just be capable to do whatever it takes. If you have to get in a barn and get dirty, you get dirty.
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