We continue to tell about girls and women who successfully build a career in an engineering university. The focus of the new material is a representative of the BNTU, who successfully combines the role of the Head of the Department of Business Administration at the Faculty of Management and Economics, a teacher, and the Secretary of the BNTU Council, but considers her family and daughter to be her main achievements. Elena Bertosh shared her story about how her love for literature and the example of her father, an engineer, led her to economics and then to a technical university.
As a child, Elena Bertosh's favorite subject in school was Russian literature. But my future choice of profession was directly influenced by my parents' example: my father was an engineer who could turn any part on a machine, and my mother worked as a chief accountant all her life.
— This symbiosis shaped my preferences. I loved mathematics and physics as much as I loved the humanities. However, my mother's influence on my choice of profession was more significant: her personal example showed the importance of economic activities. As a result, I graduated with honors from the Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno with a degree in Economics and Enterprise Management. After that, she worked as an accountant for three years, and then began her teaching career, from an intern teacher to a department head at Baranovichi State University.
Elena Vasilyevna was invited to the Belarusian National Technical University by her academic advisor, Alexey Danilchenko, the dean of the Faculty of Marketing, Management, and Entrepreneurship.
After completing her postgraduate studies at BSU, defending her PhD thesis in global economics, and taking maternity leave, I was offered the position of department head by Alexey Vasilyevich. And you know, the difference between the economic specialties at BNTU and the classical universities is enormous. The diplomas written by the students of my department are highly practical. Even the chairmen of the state examination committee have noted this: our future specialists receive not just knowledge, but a real tool for working in production.
Elena Vasilyevna herself admits that she prefers focused scientific work.
"I'm probably the kind of botanist who memorizes everything and gets an excellent grade. The excellent student complex is still present, so I devote myself more to academic and scientific activities: I was a recipient of grants from the Ministry of Education, led projects. And she realized the main female task by going on maternity leave. My daughter, Lenochka, was born — now this is the main guideline and the meaning of my life.
— Professional difficulties and burnout, of course, happen. How do I go through them and move on?
— First of all, the family. My daughter, my husband, my mom, my dad — they are my support. I also love my small homeland very much. No matter how pompous it sounds, I always say, "You should come for a weekend, get grounded, and see how the flower you planted in your grandmother's village is growing." Homeland and roots truly nourish and provide new energy.
When it comes to making difficult decisions, Elena Vasilyevna remains calm-headed:
"No matter how emotional I am, I always stop myself and use logical thinking to make an objective decision.
The secret of the head of the department's time management is in the distribution. Elena Vasilyevna's first half of the day is planned for work at the department, and her second half is for the functions of the secretary of the BNTU Council.
— I also have a hobby that my daughter suggested to me. She loves to sing, and I've become interested in singing, albeit not professionally. I also love plants and flowers. Planting and caring for them is my passion.
When asked about a famous manager she would like to meet and talk to, Elena Vasilyevna chose Sergey Glazyev:
— I would ask him how to objectively assess the impact of sanctions on the development of the economies of Russia and Belarus, and what positive prospects he sees for the Union State in this situation.
For girls who are afraid to pursue engineering due to stereotypes, Elena Vasilyevna said, "Don't be afraid to set ambitious goals. You will definitely achieve your earthly goals."
— Also, listen to yourself and look at your parents' example. It's also very important to meet the right people. For me, these are Alexey Danilchenko and Alexander Ivashutin, who passed on the baton to me, which is kept in a special place in my office, and is a symbol of the quality of training specialists.
Elena Bertosh's example shows that an engineering university is a place of equal opportunities. It's a place where strict calculations, warmth of the heart, and confident management decisions coexist. We thank Elena Vasilyevna for the interview and wish her success in her scientific and educational activities!
