Katiana Iavarone

Tell us about one of the best things about working at Bekaert?

I feel lucky! I tell this to my kids, my family, and my friends. My supervisor trusts me and challenges me to always strive for more. I also have super-talented team members. They are all very knowledgeable in their fields of expertise and are leading the change proudly. Additionally, we can count on many other functions such as HR, Legal, Finance, Sustainability and many more. We are there to support each other and to dream together to make the impossible become possible. In short, what I like most about Bekaert is its people.

What does your typical day look like?

I start each day by asking myself how I can help my team to succeed. I ensure my stakeholders know that we are working on initiatives that will help us reach our business vision. I ask myself if we are working on the right priorities.

What do you find most challenging about your role at Bekaert?

Bekaert is a great place to be. But as with any other big company, the organizational setup is sometimes a challenge. Connecting and mobilizing resources takes time and requires a lot of care and nurturing.

What do you love most about working at Bekaert?

I enjoy the passion, the drive, the spark people have in their eyes. I love my job and it is something I am teaching my kids - to find a passion that means they want to wake up 30 minutes earlier in the morning.

There is a drive we all have to make Bekaert a better place. Better to work, better for society, for our customers… for all our stakeholders. Bekaert gives its people the possibility to shine and everybody behind helps along the way. This is the expected behavior of every leader at Bekaert and it is something you can really feel when you work here.

Somehow the type of person I am also makes me feel unstoppable. Bekaert’s purpose is like a mirror of my own personality: achieving the impossible, raising the bar, even if dealing with challenges is part of the process. This is what I enjoy at Bekaert: the possibility to transform and shape a function with empowerment. I love it!

What do you enjoy most about working with your team?

With their skills, knowledge, and willingness to keep learning and improving, we have totally transformed and continue to transform the procurement function. The road was not easy but working with them gives me a great feeling of strength and belonging. We are a family and, together, we are very resilient. I can proudly say I have the best team!

How did you evolve within the company?

I find, the best development is through direct and fast feedback, which is exactly what my supervisor gives me. I learned that authentic feedback is better than any development program. When I joined, I realized I needed to improve my way of addressing the Executive Management. Tough crowd to stand in front of! I learned to be concise and go in with the right level of detail. I have developed the very important skill of storytelling.

How has your role evolved since you started working here?

At first, I was only taking care of procurement. But we quickly concluded I could also play an important role in other parts of the supply chain, like operational logistics or inventory management. What I love about Bekaert is that it is a company where you do not need to ask to lead something: there are thousands of opportunities ready to be explored. With the right vision, knowledge, and leadership skills, you can mobilize the organization to drive things forward.