INDUSER INTERVIEWS
December 18th, 2023

What makes a company solidify? Can one grow without order, without some rigour? Is it possible to evolve if what we do on a daily basis doesn't align?

The answer, we'll let you imagine as you read the following interview, in this conversation I had with the four professionals who contribute their knowledge, experiences, and personal stories to keep INDUSER's financial health stable.

Led by Carlos Villegas; Mamen Sánchez, Ana Marín, Sheila Berenguel, and María Berenguel ensure that our packaging lines comply with the necessary documentation to travel to remote destinations, that materials do not pose a loss to the business, that profitability brings benefits, and that each person giving their best to the company receives their remuneration promptly.

Before closing a year in which it's good to take stock, we open the doors to this, the only department in the company where women have a full presence, to better understand the importance of their work and its evolution.

Stay tuned… here we go.

Tere: Let's get to the heart of it and start from the beginning. Mamen, since you were the first, could you tell me a bit about the history of the department?

Mamen: I joined INDUSER back in October 2009. At that time, the only person handling Administration was Carlos Villegas. I came to assist and distribute the workload. With two people, the team started, and the Financial Department solidified. I was the only woman in the entire company, and I never felt uncomfortable; I was just another member of a small and committed team. The reception was very positive. Since then - fourteen years ago - I've seen a positive evolution of the company and the department.

Tere: Several years and people later, Ana Marín joined the team. Ana, when did you arrive? Tell us.

Ana: February 17, 2014, my first day in this company! I entered to take care of the reception on a part-time basis. I came to support Mamen but also Juan Antonio Martínez (responsible for the Purchasing Department). I had a great time in that job; I liked the flow of people, the coming and going, the everyday interaction made my work very enjoyable initially. Now, I'm no longer at the reception; along with the company, I have also grown, and my responsibilities are more related to administrative tasks.

Tere: And years later - and a few other people who were also part of the department's history - a new recruit was made: Sheila joined the team.

Sheila: It was in October 2020, and I was 25 years old.

(Ana interrupts)

Ana: I'll never forget the day Sheila arrived. Since I was at the reception, I welcomed her. She came in black pants, a white shirt, and a bold attitude. She lacked reception. She said, "I came for an interview with Carlos."

(laughter)

Sheila: And that's how it was. Carlos spoke with me, had a quick interview, and I joined INDUSER. Initially, I was worried that there wouldn't be much work for me, but there was plenty! My story was different from Mamen and Ana because they had already started the journey; in a way, I had it easier because they had already structured what I found. I remember watching them work and thinking, "My colleagues know a lot, and I know nothing!"

Mamen: Well, in reality, none of us came knowing everything. I agree with what Ana said before. We have all grown along with the company.

Ana: And while we form a team, each of us has different roles.

Mamen: There are common aspects, but there's a lot to do, and on the go, we have structured the department to distribute the tasks.

Tere: And, finally, just a couple of months ago (October 2023), María joined the team. Tell us, María, what have you found?

María: Well, I actually started at INDUSER a couple of years ago doing my internship. When I finished, Carlos told me, "We'll call you when we need someone," but time passed, and I thought they would never call me again... but they did. After my internship, I worked in a smaller place where there were seven of us, including the bosses. The whole company shared the same workspace, but this... it's so vast, there are so many people, so many details passing through all departments, that I've realized the importance of a company striving for good communication and camaraderie. Honestly, I've found good colleagues above all.

Mamen: With what María says, I want to point out two things: highlighting that INDUSER opens opportunities for those who come for internships, and the merit behind the managers, a merit that is evident from the awards we have received.

Ana: The change has encompassed all areas. Look at the facilities. Before, we were all in a single warehouse; now, there are four industrial warehouses. The merit for that growth has also been in the people who work here, the recruits that have been made, and the effort of each one.

Tere: I'd like us to talk a bit about what each of you does and what you like most about your work.

Sheila: What I like most about my job is logistics! I handle all the documentation a machine needs to move around the world. Understanding the documentation sparks my curiosity. I'm also responsible for the trips of my colleagues. I like that a bit less because it always brings the element of surprise, the unexpected that is at the same time unpredictable.

Ana: In other things, I'm responsible for recording and finalizing the Production Orders (PO). What I like about my job is that there's a certain routine, allowing me to better organize my monthly tasks. It's a job that requires a lot of attention and concentration. I like what I do; it usually provides structure to my daily activities.

Tere: And you, Mamen? What do you like most about what you do?

Mamen: I'm an accountant, what can I say? I like numbers, accounting. I grew up in that world... When I was a child, my father had a cooperative, and I grew up playing with his accounting books and invoices. I've lived it since I was little, I've been nourished by it, I'm passionate about it!

Tere: And you, María?

María: I like that I'm doing what I studied. I started developing it since I studied economics in high school. Since then, I knew that accounting was my path.

Tere: What do you think the perception of the other departments in the company is regarding your work?

Sheila: Well, I think sometimes we are "very persistent" because our responsibility involves delving into the details.

Ana: Perhaps they think this is a "very serious" team because of the rigour involved in the documents, reports, and acknowledgments we have to keep up to date. What may seem insignificant to some colleagues is not for us.

Mamen: I think this happens in most accounting and administration departments of companies worldwide. Perhaps there is no perception of the impact of our work and its effect on the business. We have to stay on top, seeking collaboration, reminding that deadlines and dates must be respected. Maybe that makes us seem "very persistent."

Ana: In administrative (and everything else), small details matter, and there are mistakes that could be avoided with a greater sense of care.

Tere: Do you agree, María?

María: I've only been here for a couple of months, so I don't have an opinion like them yet, but what I see from the inside is that the administration department is a team where the unforeseen is the norm, and yet, my colleagues are very professional.

Sheila: It's true; we are organised.

(laughter)

Ana: Meticulous.

(laughter)

Mamen: We are a great team.

Tere: Yes, you are.

Sheila: I think all teams are necessary, and this department is another pillar of the company. Sometimes, haste makes us forget about documentation, but sooner or later, what happens in the other departments passes through our hands.

Tere: What is needed in a company to build more as a team?

María: Communication.

Sheila: And by communication, we mean clarity in the information we need from other teams.

Tere: In all the years you've been working together, what have you learned from each other?

Ana: For example, from Mamen, I've learned to be meticulous when reviewing things.

Mamen: I'm very detail-oriented.

(laughter)

María: I have too; from Mamen, I've learned to do practically everything I do - the accounting entries, bill payments, various types of accounting operations.

Mamen: On a professional level, I learned a lot from Carlos at the beginning. And with my colleagues, although we have different roles at work, it's true that there's a lot to learn from living together. From them, I've learned to be more patient, to work on being less demanding because sometimes one gets stubborn... and it's not about that; it's about coming to work, not being displeased, it's about caring for and maintaining a good working atmosphere.

Tere: What do you expect for 2024?

Ana: To continue here.

Sheila: Yes, to continue here.

Mamen: Recognition for the work done.

María: In my case, being new, to evolve well in the job.

Tere: In summary, perhaps we can say that for a company to do well, everything has to align in general... numbers, goals, well-being, and appreciation for what is done and for whom you work. Do you agree?

Mamen: Look, I came to INDUSER to make things better, reduce the time certain processes take, digitise documentation. I think every employee expects somewhat the same in proportion to what they give. In that sense, appreciation is essential, for what is done and for the people with whom it's done. We come to make things right. And even if we don't like it, when things don't go well, we understand that setbacks are a result of stress, of the pressure we sometimes face.

Ana: And well, we can't forget that the tough times are seasonal. Setbacks at work also have a relation to how we are personally, but these things happen in this and all jobs.

Mamen: We are not bubbles; relationships need to be taken care of. We spend more hours here than with our families. We talk, yes, but we have to make space to create a stronger connection.

Sheila: We agree. At least we, who delve into the details, believe that the balance has to add up.

Tere: And with this conversation with the administration team, we close a year in which we started this series of talks with the different teams that make up a company that was born with the purpose of enhancing ingenuity in people. There are still departments to talk to. There are still details to discover about each of the teams that make INDUSER a small company that takes big risks and, thanks to its team, achieves a positive balance.

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