Agricultural machinery company „Ivabaltė“ welcomes autumn revitalised. Monika Tarvydytė, who returned from abroad and joined the family business, together with her father Irmantas Tarvydis, has embarked on changes, further strengthening the company, which has many years of experience and a firm position in the market.
From curious and active girls to managing directors
Monika Tarvydytė, the Executive Director of „Ivabaltė”, was actively involved in social life even during her school days: she organised various youth initiatives and completed internships at private and public sector companies. After graduating from KTU Gymnasium in Kaunas, she studied International Economics and Finance at Bocconi University in Italy – one of the best finance universities in the world. Having successfully completed her studies, she began her career in investment banking in London, and later worked at a venture capital fund where she invested in promising start-ups.
„I've had the opportunity to work with a variety of people – professionals in their fields, innovators, C-level executives, who have undoubtedly contributed to the development of my personality. However, I always knew that in the future I would fulfil myself in my homeland,“ says M. Tarvydytė.
Returning to Lithuania a year ago and taking up the position of Executive Director at „Ivabaltė“, M. Tarvydytė had the opportunity to apply her knowledge and experience, while also contributing to positive changes within the company. When asked if she wasn't afraid to dive straight into business and take on such responsible duties, Monika did not hesitate at all: she has never feared responsibility; on the contrary, it encourages her to improve even further.
„Decision-making, initiative, team management, and communication with partners and clients are what give me purpose. The family business seemed like one of the most promising options for me, so while still studying at university, I wrote my final thesis on the topic of family business succession, specifically when a company is passed down from the first generation to the second, between a father and daughter,“ says M. Tarvydytė.
Monika's decision to return undoubtedly delighted her father, Irmantas Tarvydis, the CEO and founder of „Ivabaltė“.
„I have three daughters, and I would like to see them all in the family business. Monika is the eldest, she has finished her studies and worked in various organisations, so her joining Ivabaltė was a great joy for me. Generational change is inevitable, so in any business, there comes a time when someone has to take over. Of course, it's nicer when it's your children doing it,„ says I. Tarvydis.
The interlocutor noticed that the head of „Ivabaltė“ never doubted his daughter's abilities, but was never willing to make concessions simply because she was his daughter.
„I made it clear to Monika that „holding a high position is one thing, and working is quite another“. A leader is responsible for everything: the well-being of employees, the processes taking place in the company, deals, successes and failures, profits and losses. Although my daughter's Western approach to business differs quite a bit from the one prevalent in Lithuania, Monika is handling her tasks flawlessly. One of her goals is to change our society's attitude towards business, to show that it is not something evil, but on the contrary, an entity that creates jobs, pays taxes and brings economic benefit to the country,“ says the CEO of „Ivalbaltė“.
Quickly disproved the prevailing stereotype
One of the challenges M. Tarvydytė faced when joining the family business was the prevailing stereotype that women and management positions in agricultural companies are incompatible.
„It is no secret that there are fewer female leaders globally than male leaders, and Lithuania is no exception – here, women in leadership positions make up only one-third. However, this position is not new to me, as I had the opportunity to lead several different organisations while living abroad: I was the president of the Bocconi University Student Consulting Club, later a board member of the Bocconi Alumni Association in London, and also a board member of the London Lithuanian Professionals Club LCLC. Therefore, I have not only led teams but also worked with people who have extensive leadership experience in various sectors,“ says M. Tarvydytė.
Irmantas Tarvydis does not hide the fact that he has received quite varied reactions from both farmers and company employees, but the leadership and management skills of the „Ivabaltė“ executive director were quickly trusted not only by the company's team but also by partners and business clients.
„In any job, a person of any gender must earn their place in the sun through their work. Monika arrived with many ideas, a wealth of knowledge, and a desire to grow with the company. She has shown this from the very beginning through her work. Nowadays, there are no male or female specialities. If you are good at your field, it doesn't matter at all what your gender is,“ says I. Tarvydis.
„I believe that women are naturally more empathetic than men, so they can more easily notice emotions and foresee potential conflicts, which, for example, brings many advantages in negotiations. I very much hope that by my example, I can inspire other women not to be afraid to pursue their dreams, to be brave, and to believe that they can achieve great things in any field,“ says M. Tarvydytė, who does not attach importance to stereotypes but sees more advantages.
Long-awaited changes
Although M. Tarvydytė has only been working as the executive director of the company for a relatively short time, positive changes at „Ivabaltė“ can already be observed.
„My main area of work is strategy development – we have defined clear goals, projects for 1 and 3 years, indicators by which we will measure success, clarified the mission and vision, and we are making processes more efficient by applying innovative working methods and tools. I also devote no less attention to the formation of the entire team, because only by empowering people, specialists in their field, can we implement changes and achieve results. By expanding employees“ competencies, we have invited experienced specialists and managers from different fields to join the team," says M. Tarvydytė.
According to the interviewee, the company has also focused on creating a motivating work environment: an internal communication action plan, refined with employees during remote sessions, is already helping to foster smooth information sharing and is bringing about positive cultural changes.
„We have focused heavily on how an employee feels in their workplace, what emotions they experience, and how they generally manage them. When an employee themselves feels a sense of purpose and is motivated, then the customer is happier, buys services and products, and the company generates revenue. I am already noticing that we communicate more openly with each other, with respect, and we are not afraid to hear and give feedback. We strive to motivate our employees through active joint activities, we organise events aimed at strengthening team cohesion,“ says M. Tarvydytė.
The biggest transformation at Ivabaltė has occurred in the service and sales department. Following the implementation of a centralised fault register, which allows for visibility into how and where the company's mechanics are working, what problems they are solving, and which clients they are visiting, service efficiency has significantly increased, meaning the company's clients will undoubtedly benefit from this added advantage.
Tai, ką per ganėtinai trumpą laiką pavyko pasiekti Monikai, I. Tarvydis vadina dideliu laimėjimu. Kai susijungia jaunatviškas maksimalizmas ir patirtis – galima sulaukti puikių rezultatų.
„Monika's implemented ideas have not only streamlined processes within the company but have also changed the mindset of our employees. If previously many still followed the principle that simply coming to work was enough to receive a salary, now most are interested in working, as their remuneration depends on it,“ says the general director of „Ivabaltė“.
According to I. Tarvydis, Monikos' age and youthful outlook play an important role during transactions and collaboration with clients.
„In Lithuania, we are experiencing a generational change. Young people are coming into agricultural businesses, and the younger generation is replacing older individuals on farms. It's natural for Monika to find it easier to communicate with young people who share a similar outlook during negotiations, while my experience comes in handy when interacting with the older generation. Having Monika by my side is a big advantage for us,“ states the head of „Ivabaltė“.
For her part, Monika insists she couldn't imagine a better or more reliable business partner than her father: „I know that if I need to, I will always receive his advice and insights on various topics. Although it sometimes turns into heated discussions, having different experiences and perspectives means we are able to find the best solution.“.
A modern farm is unimaginable without digitalisation
The seamless transition to digital technologies in agriculture is one of M. Tarvydytė and her father's main goals. In these times of innovation, the sphere of agricultural work, like many other areas, is constantly improving, so for farmers wanting to compete in the market, acquiring new equipment becomes a priority.
„The price of grain has practically not changed for 30 years, while the oil market grows every year. As a result, manufacturers are forced to rack their brains on what to do to make agricultural machinery use less fuel, not waste valuable resources, and perform work faster and more efficiently. For farmers, acquiring such modern equipment is becoming a priority. This is exactly what we offer at Ivalbaltė – premium class agricultural machinery, which is characterised by innovation and work efficiency,„ says I. Tarvydis.
However, technological advancement and precision agriculture are only two of the four stages of agricultural evolution – smart farming and robotisation are also developing.
„In the third stage, farm management moves to the virtual space: data analysis, remote process monitoring. Robotic agricultural machinery is still unusual in Lithuania, but in the fields of the US or Japan, you can already see tractors that are robots, and in Europe – drones scattering fertiliser,“ explains M. Tarvydytė.
When asked what the „Ivalbaltė“ team and clients can expect in the future, the executive director assures: she constantly has thoughts and ideas swirling in her head, she's even running out of space on the glass walls of her office to write them down, but the vision the company is heading towards remains clear – smart solutions for modern farming.
„This means that we aim to sell not only technology, but also smart solutions, for example, those that help manage a farm with a tablet, remotely monitor work progress, increase productivity, and reduce resource consumption. Looking ahead, we will continue to focus on improving our customers“ experience and will work to maximise the optimisation of the company's internal processes. we are actively searching for tools that facilitate teamwork and automate manual labour. We are also considering the establishment of an advisory board of experts, in order to more professionally direct the company's future activities in the most suitable direction," says M. Tarvydytė.
