"I INHERITED THE TENACITY FROM MY PARENTS"

Interview with Rodica Zavloschi, head of the capital repairs and investments service, Bucharest Regional Railway Company

 

Railway Journal: How did you arrive at the railways, a field dominated by men?

Rodica Zavloschi: When I graduated high school, I was about to enter the Mathematics Faculty, but I was attracted by the technical field. My high school and university teachers had a great contribution to my forming as an engineer. I wanted to leave the country when I graduated, but my parents said they would be less concerned if I had a job in Bucharest. I did that and started working at the Bucharest Regional Railway Company. I learned the trade from Aurel Mihai, head of the welding section.
R.J.: How difficult were the first years on the job and what positions did you occupy?
R.Z.: I was hired as an engineer at the Welding Section. Although I was only beginning, I had to travel through the country and oversee numerous railway maintenance works. I was particularly difficult, but thanks to my ambitious character (inherited from my grandmother), I obtained good results, together with my colleagues.
    From welding, I moved to another sector, maintenance, which operated between Bucharest and Ploiesti, then to the Heavy Machinery maintenance section; then followed the promotion into the Division, where I worked as a 3^rd degree engineer, after which I became head of the Capital Repairs Department, and now head of the Capital Repairs and Investments Department. It has been difficult, but with tenacity and correctness and without admitting any compromise, I proved that a woman can have success and good results on the railway.
R.J.: How difficult was it for your husband to see you leave so often?
R.Z.: I have enjoyed a great deal of understanding on his part, and I thank him very much. He is a car and tractor engineer, so we worked in different sectors, but we have always completed and supported each other. My will and desire was to accomplish my professional tasks properly. And I think I did that. I was not easy, but, with understand from my parents, and later from my husband, I managed to stand out through my good results.
R.J.: Did you have any difficult problems lately?
R.Z.: Yes, there was a difficult mission at the Giurgiu Bridge. We needed to obtain the constriction authorisation, which meant a lot of places to go, as new formalities always sprung up. But through the perseverance displayed by me and my collective, we managed to get it done. I cannot omit the support of director general Ion Cutieru, a man who has managed to establish a real team here.
R.J.: With what memories will you be leaving the railways?
R.Z.: There have been moment of embarrassment, but many occasions filled with joy; I am glad I did not give up. I feel a great satisfaction for the fact that I have managed to teach other colleagues the secrets of the trade. I will leave with the memory of the difficult but beautiful times I spent together with my colleagues, with the satisfaction of not having let down my parents, my husband, my colleagues and those who have directed my first steps on the job.

Oana Bran