More than just a pet-friendly company
High-quality pet food is provided not only by technology, but also by people who shape the standards of responsible business every day. With the dream of harmonious coexistence of people and animals, Kormotech was founded in 2003, which produces high-quality food for cats and dogs under the brands Optimeal, Delickcious, Club 4 Paws, Gav! and Meow!. The company is the leader in the Ukrainian market, its products are represented in over 50 countries around the world.
The Kormotech team believes that love for animals makes the world a better place, so since 2013 it has been implementing projects that teach people about humane treatment of animals, support shelters, and promote the professional level of veterinary medicine. In an exclusive interview, the co-owners and top managers of Kormotech spoke about the development of a pet-friendly culture and the role of women at different stages of corporate leadership.
Juliana Volk
Member of the Board of Directors of Kormotech
Being a strategic advisor is more than a professional role. It is a daily responsibility where it is important to trust, maintain balance, and be aware of boundaries.
My management style is 60–70% intuitive. I have a good sense of people and see who has potential. I see which project can develop the company and which will not bring anything useful.
Yes, I led one of Rostislav's bold ideas – the development of Kormotech in the US market. It was a challenge, because entering the American market required not only new approaches, but also an internal restructuring of the team. Here my experience, speed and flexibility came in handy. I am happy to see that the company is developing.
Rostyslav Vovk
CEO and co-owner of Kormotech
There are decisions I make quickly. And there are those that I think about for a long time, gathering the opinions of top managers and the board of directors. Only when everyone is on the same side do I give the green light.
Among the members of the board of directors is my wife Juliana. Her thinking style is significantly different from the usual corporate logic. She often makes decisions based on intuition. And this has often allowed us to take strong, timely steps, such as building a new factory in Lithuania or creating a logistics hub Kormotech Global in Poland.
For Juliana and me, being a spouse and business owners at the same time is not a challenge, but rather roles that complement and enhance each other. We know each other's strengths and weaknesses, we know how to support each other, and, most importantly, we trust each other. This trust is the foundation for both family relationships and business.
Maria Stefanyshyn
Company director
How did your story in the company begin?
I was working as a chief accountant at a state-owned enterprise when my friends convinced me to pay attention to an offer at a certain company. I decided to trust my intuition and try myself there. A conversation with Orest Vovk, at that time co-owner of Kormotech and Enzym Group, became decisive. I met not just a manager, but a person who lived for his business. And I agreed.
Later, from accounting, I moved to the financial service and became its head (the structure included accounting, financial service, and HR). Since 2019, I have been the director of Kormotech. My job is about responsibility for my reputation and the reputation of the company. It is about trust and the ability to make decisions that affect the development vector of the entire business.
Being a woman in this position is about the power of being heard, the depth of influence, and the importance of female leadership in a world that is changing right now.
What advice would you give to women starting a career in business?
I have one rule. When I say “I want,” it equals “What have I done to achieve this?” That is, all my dreams turn into work.
I also advise not to be afraid of mistakes, because we learn from them. Most of those in leadership positions today have gone through a lot of fears and failures, but they were able to rise, focus, and achieve their goal.
Kormotech has a clear mission of caring for and loving animals. How does this philosophy manifest itself in your operations?
Through this attitude towards animals, we change the world for the better. This is our mission, which runs through everything we do. Both in professional and everyday life, I repeat that an animal is not a thing or a toy. It is a full-fledged member of the family, which needs constant warmth, attention and care.
I have a Maltipoo dog, Louis, who comes to work with me every day and always ensures a positive atmosphere in our community. Kormotech was one of the first in Ukraine to join the international campaign “Take a Dog to Work” and actively supports pet-friendly culture in offices and beyond.
What formats of support do you provide to shelters and animal protection organizations?
We have many projects, including the free veterinary care service Optimeal Expert at 9100, where pet parents can consult with veterinarians. We also launched the adoption platform Look 4 Paws, which helps shelter animals find loving families.
In 2014, we launched the “Don’t Leave Us in the ATO” project, aimed at helping animals in the occupied territories. And in March 2022, we founded an initiative to rescue animals suffering from military operations, Save Pets of Ukraine.
In addition, we have been supporting the Lviv municipal enterprise “Lev” and the Rescued Animals Home for many years. Both organizations help homeless animals.
What has your pet taught you?
Louis taught me to listen. An animal won't tell me it's in pain, so I read its eyes to see what mood it's in, whether it's comfortable. It's a kind of communication. Thanks to Louis, I've been looking at the world with a smile for four years now.
Ulyana Fitsa
Supply Chain Management Director and Head of Brand Sales in Western Europe
How did your story in the company begin?
It happened in 2003: I was a fourth-year student, I came to the position of translator. In fact, I always dreamed of joining the diplomatic service of Ukraine, but when I got to Kormotech, I realized that I could apply my knowledge and ambitions here. Later, I became the director of supply chain management.
I was offered the position of Head of Brand Sales in Western Europe in January of this year. All my life I have been on the other side of the screen in purchasing, supply chain management, and now I am also trying my hand at sales.
What is your key motivation at work?
I believe so much in our product, in our company, and in myself that I am convinced that we can bring happiness and well-being to animals all over the world, especially in the part of the world where I am responsible for sales.
I am pleased to be in the avant-garde team and, dare I say, to lead it. We spread information about Ukraine, about our product and quality standards.
How does Kormotech support women in their career growth?
Throughout my career, since 2003, I have never faced any difficulties just because I am a woman. There has always been support. Kormotech helps women to quickly return to work after maternity leave. For example, we have additional social programs for mothers.
Tell us about your everyday life in a pet-friendly office?
It has become a habit for me. There are four or five dogs constantly walking on the floor, and everyone treats them as their own. The dogs have bowls, access to water, and treats. If it's rainy or snowy, we have a shower at the entrance where you can wash your paws. We have a sense of security, a sense of home. And I think it shows in the animals.
How has your personal view on animal care changed over the years you have worked at Kormotech?
In my speeches and interviews, I emphasize that an animal stays with you for its entire life. We must take care of it from its very childhood, in adulthood, and especially in its old age. Kormotech is about responsibility towards four-legged friends.
Olena Dmyterko
Human Resources Director
How did your story in the company begin?
It happened very unexpectedly. At first, there was no talk of my joining Kormotech, but later I had a meeting with the top managers and the co-owner of Kormotech. Then I realized that I would like to be part of this team.
How do you see the development of a modern female leader in a team?
First of all, such aspects of development should be laid much earlier than they appear in the corporation. They should be sewn into education, upbringing in the family. This is obviously also about the values of the nation, the state. We must develop all people, regardless of gender, form a strong partnership, see the strengths of everyone.
We are looking for leaders with competencies that help strengthen business and the country. They are focused on responsibility, synergy, collaboration, and the desire to do something great.
Where does building a strong team begin?
From recruiting, when there is a sincere, frank conversation with a person about their expectations and motivation. This cannot be imposed, because motivation comes from within, it is not built from the outside. If a future employee does not have desires and healthy ambitions, it is difficult to talk about team play. And then team building is carried out in the fulfillment of those obligations that were taken by both parties at the beginning of the partnership. This is honest feedback, openness, mutual support. When a person works in psychologically comfortable conditions, he manifests such talents and ideas arise that are worth much more than they seem.
How does Kormotech instill a love for animals into its corporate culture?
Everything comes from values. They are reflected in daily work, in the way we communicate, in decision-making, in big and small projects. It's about love. I wouldn't divide it into love for animals and love for people. It's about love in general.
How does Kormotech's mission influence your HR approaches?
The company's mission, in fact, builds these approaches. We simply cannot act otherwise. I am still at the stage of formalizing this, but I can already see that our HR approaches directly reflect the company's mission. This definitely has a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
Alina Smyshlyak-Boroda
Director of Reputation Management and CSR
How did your story with Kormotech begin?
I have been in communications since 2013: I have worked in various fields, but Kormotech is my first top position, where I report to the CEO and manage a large team of people.
When you are in a leadership position, and in a powerful company, you form different circles of influence. But there is another element that is indispensable: if you are a woman, you have to support other women. And for me it is important to inspire them and help them career-wise, morally, not only in the company, but also outside it.
What gives you the strength to remain a leader during a time of war?
I was born in 1990, so I can't remember if there were easy times in our history: economic crises, revolutions, war, and in between a few epidemics. It seems to me that we are a generation of stress. In a crisis, we gather, concentrate, and act much more effectively. After all, a crisis is not only a challenge, but also a time to rethink values, priorities, and guidelines. And for me, a crisis is a very productive period.
What are the strengths of Kormotech? How do you communicate the company's values?
I always say that Kormotech is the best company in my history. This statement is based on the values of the owners: honesty, sincerity and the desire to do something more than generating profit. I also cite Kormotech as an example of a very cool corporate culture that is not artificially created, but comes from the heart of the owner and the people he has gathered.
You are a pet parent of six cats. Does this affect your professional decisions?
I joke that this was one of the key arguments why I completely got involved with Kormotech. When I go to Lviv, where the head office is located, I always explain to my four-legged friends that I am going to participate in creating the food they eat. And, of course, this is a big responsibility.
In your opinion, why is it important for businesses to become pet-friendly?
There are very clear markers that determine the maturity of a society: attitude towards children, people with disabilities, any stigmatized groups and, ultimately, towards animals. We can talk as much as we want about the technical and scientific progress we have achieved, but if we kick a cat, we are slipping into the Middle Ages. Pet-friendliness must be cultivated, nurtured, so we develop this worldview.
Solomiya Avramenko
Head of Legal Department
How did your story in the company begin?
My professional journey began in 2004 with Enzym Group, where I worked as a legal advisor. In 2020, a new opportunity opened up for me: I was offered the position of Head of Legal at Kormotech. I hardly hesitated, although it was a challenge. I spend a lot of time at work, but I consciously try to maintain a balance between my career and personal life. It is important to be able to correctly prioritize.
What support do you consider most important for women pursuing a career in law?
First of all, it is internal support, confidence in one's expertise. For our profession, it is important not just to have a position, but to be able to clearly argue it. Women often have to overcome prejudice, but that is why we must not be afraid to act, to take risks. To be loud when the situation requires it. And to know that strength is sometimes in silence, but with undeniable facts.
How was Kormotech's legal department involved in the creation of the Save Pets of Ukraine social initiative?
On the first day of a full-scale war, Kormotech's strategic group turned into a crisis headquarters, where issues of worker safety, shipment options, and restructuring of operational processes were addressed.
Later, to solve the problems more effectively, three groups and areas of work were formed. The first focused on sales and production in Ukraine, the second on exports, and the third on the launch of Save Pets of Ukraine, an initiative to save animals suffering from war. My team was involved in each of these groups and solved the problems that the company faced.
What has changed in your worldview since having a dog?
I have a four-legged friend in my life – a white Labrador named Lace. He is incredibly friendly and needs a lot of attention. With his arrival, I feel the concept of care and responsibility differently. I understood what it is like to be the whole world to someone.
What is the atmosphere like in the Kormotech space?
In general, we have five or six dogs in our office every day, and they are all friendly with each other. They participate in meetings, look into the offices. This makes the atmosphere warmer, livelier and less formal. We at Kormotech are already used to this and take dogs in the office for granted.
Yulia Opalenyk
Finance Director
How did your story in the company begin?
I joined Kormotech in 2017. At that time, there was no one in the position of head of financial services – accordingly, there was no one to hand over their affairs to me, so I had to master everything on my own.
In your opinion, what is the biggest barrier for women in reaching leadership positions?
Many people associate such a position with a strong character and severity. But society still believes that women are too gentle and weak, and this is a barrier.
The difficulty often lies in finding a balance between family and work life. However, this can be overcome. If we talk about my personal experience, I often spend time with children at work, take them on business trips. That is why I am very comfortable working at Kormotech. When COVID-19 first began, and then a full-scale war, there were always children in our office space.
How are Kormotech's values reflected in the company's decisions?
It develops employees' initiative, allows them to make mistakes in order to learn from their mistakes. The company invests heavily in research, training, and, of course, participates in social initiatives. Among such projects is assistance in the reconstruction of a house in Lviv that was damaged as a result of an attack.
Why should businesses invest in a pet-friendly culture?
Let's take our office for example: dogs are the smallest members of the family, which is difficult to leave at home. They miss and want to be near. Accordingly, there is a need for such favorable places. In addition, communication with animals at work helps to create a warm atmosphere, reduce anxiety, and switch off.
What advice would you give to a girl who dreams of becoming a CFO?
Considering how I managed to become a CFO, I concluded that I was never limited to just counting numbers. For me, numbers are letters that, in the language of finance, write the history of a company or tell its future. At the same time, you need to be able to structure data and learn new tools. For example, the latest trend is the application of artificial intelligence to finance.
Group photo: Vyacheslav Kravtsov
Photo of the heroines: Grigoriy Vepryk
