International Women’s Day 2019 – Lea Virnekäs

We recently spoke to Lea Virnekäs, an Apprentice Agricultural Machinery Technician with BayWa AG Bamberg (Technik) in Germany, who told us about her experiences during her training year as an agricultural apprentice.

What does your job involve day to day?

“Every day I deal with different, new and exciting tasks. I get to know new systems and learn different repairs to a range of AGCO brand machinery. Whether a customer service or a certain repair I look forward to taking each task hands on. We always start with a careful inspection, take a closer look, and then determine which genuine parts we need before carrying out the work.

“Finally, all functions are checked again. We then discuss with the customer of all the work we have done, because the most important thing at the end is that the customer is satisfied.”

Why did you choose your current career?

“My enthusiasm for tractors started in my childhood. I was interested in how a tractor can drive and how it all works. I wanted to learn an exciting profession with the best opportunities. Being able to enjoy customer contact and implement customer-oriented thinking was also a factor.”

Why do you think more women should pursue a similar career path?

“The profession is rich in knowledge, you can learn so much there. If a woman has no problem with dirty and oily hands to go into the evening, she is just right for it! In these professions you can grow beyond yourself and get to know new sides of yourself. Women have strengths that are less common in men. For example: order, patience, sense, dexterity and an eye on the bigger picture. Only together does the perfect team emerge.”

What is the most important piece of advice you would give to a woman starting a similar career?

“You must not be afraid of not making it. Anything is possible. Ambition and will are compelling. Every success is strengthening your self-confidence, and even if it does not work out at the first attempt, never give up!”

Why do you think diversity is so important in the workplace?

“Diverse willingness to learn leads to diverse knowledge. Diversity means a lot to me.

“First of all, I think of knowledge, because knowledge is unlimited and far-reaching in every direction. In my profession it is the various tractors, attachments but also the small appliances such as lawnmowers and chainsaws. The mix of mechanics and advanced technology is also a big part of it.”

Do you think there are equal opportunities for women in your field of work?

“I do not think so, as this profession is made up of 99% men. Nevertheless, it is already a big step that women are accepted in the profession.”

What barriers have you faced as a woman in the workplace, and how have you overcome them?

“The biggest hurdle for me personally was the courage to take up the challenge.

“The team of the workshop immediately welcomed me well, so that I felt directly comfortable

“The doubt not to make it or to have too little power both physically and emotionally can be difficult to overcome, but it turned out that these were completely misplaced.”