Loyal AsstrA Employees Remember How It All Began

According to sociological surveys, people spend more than 10 years of their life at work and communicate with colleagues more often than with relatives and friends. One’s working atmosphere and the attitude of one’s team directly affect day-to-day performance and motivation. We continue to share the stories of our 10+ year employees for whom AsstrA has become a second home.

Like all young people who want to orient themselves after emerging from the happy bubble of linguistic university studies, business development manager Alexandr Bogdanovich began looking for work.

Alexander Bogdanovich

«At AsstrA, someone like me was called "a linguist with a difficult fate." I passed 3 interviews and ended up in the German Department. On my first day at work, I was sitting and trying to understand where I was and what had brought me there. From 9 in the morning, landline telephones began to ring, and from everywhere you could hear "loading / unloading / how much." As my job continued, I realized that the best assets are the ability and desire to learn. Seeing the big picture, not dwelling on small misfortunes, and staying cool in stressful situations are key success factors,» Alexander Bogdanovich adds.

Key Account Manager Dmitrij Pshenichnyj had already gained experience in international road transport before joining AsstrA.

Dmitrij Pshenichnyj

«24 January 2001 is impossible to forget. A rapidly growing team of young professionals led by similarly young and ambitious people. I ran through a marathon of 5 interviews and joined the team. One of the company’s distinctive features is a unique combination of an international structure, strong corporate traditions, and a constant hunger for development. A passion for business and friendly atmosphere mean that for 20 years now my life has been filled with bright events and well-coordinated teamwork,» Dmitrij Pshenichnyj comments.

At the beginning of his career, Oleg Grebenko, Deputy Operations Director for Specialized Transport, served as both a commercial transactions and financial management specialist as well as the first systems administrator.

Oleg Grebenko

«During my first day on the job, I diligently studied the "Convention on the Contract for International Carriage by Road and TIR". Logistics solves the problem of finding the optimal solution. This is an interdisciplinary science and you need to start with theory. Additionally, I recommend paying attention to mathematics, geography, foreign languages, economic theory, and management. Understanding and sharing company values is the result of long-term cooperation. AsstrA has become a place of self-realization, an important part of business and personal life,» says Oleg Grebenko.

Natalya Shemyakina, Deputy Operations Director for Road Freight Transportation for North/South Europe and the CIS, came to the company on the recommendation of an AsstrA employee who noted the prestige of being a freight forwarder. She passed 3 interviews, the first of which was held on Natalie's birthday. After a couple of weeks, she began her career and immersion in the profession with experienced mentors.

Natalya Shemyakina

«I remember my first inexperienced calls to Italian and Spanish clients, master classes from colleagues, the Italian business “Yellow Pages,” and the first unloadings I organized myself. For 20 years, I have been taking an exciting path that has brought me from an assistant forwarder to a manage and has given me many professional competencies, extensive experience in logistics and management, and some wonderful relationships with my colleagues.

AsstrA is a company that has developed well by learning to think and achieve results. The company’s history is a reliable foundation for a bright future. People here are passionate about their business, and you want them on your team. There are daily sprints involving complex challenges, and it is a marathon to handle ever changing market conditions. It is always necessary to look for and find solutiions. And finally, working here is not only about making a living. It is also a source of energy and inspiration,» Natalya Shemyakina concludes.