Halime Rexhepi, Production Manager at “Veze Shari”: Companies value employees who invest in their skills!

Upgrading the professional skills of each employee opens up many more and greater opportunities for career development, securing a better future and better job prospects in the labor market. On the other hand, a qualified employee who constantly works on themselves and improves their skills significantly contributes to the competitive advantage of the company.

Halime Rexhepi is a technologist and production manager at the company “Veze Shari”. She participated in the trainings held as part of the partnership for human resource development between the M6 Educational Center and the Government of Switzerland. In an interview with Innovation, she shares her experience of investing in her own development and advancing up the company’s ladder. Rexhepi says it is a win-win situation in which she personally advances in her career while at the same time contributing to the success and competitiveness of the company.

Interviewed by – Sanja Naumovska

Ms. Rexhepi, you are the production manager at the company Veze Shari. What are your job responsibilities as a technologist and as a manager? Explain to us in more detail in which segment of the work you are involved.

In my work as a food technologist, I am responsible for implementing all food safety and quality measures. In practice, this means that I carefully follow all standards and procedures (such as HACCP and ISO), control the quality of raw materials, optimize production processes, and ensure the quality of finished products. I also organize and conduct employee training and coaching to ensure that our team is well prepared and informed about the latest regulations and standards.

As a production manager, my role extends to organizing and coordinating daily work activities in the company. I work directly with the team, create schedules, delegate tasks, and cooperate with other departments such as purchasing, quality control, sales, distribution, and logistics. The goal is to ensure efficient operations and achieve set goals while maintaining high standards of quality and food safety. In other words, I am actively involved in every aspect, from planning to final inspection, and it is important to me to anticipate and prevent problems before they arise, ensuring maximum productivity and safety in production.

What is key for a woman to reach one of the management positions in a company?

Reaching a management position is often a combination of skills, mindset, and strategic actions. In my experience, one key factor is having strong self-confidence and clear goals. It is also important to actively seek out mentoring and networking opportunities. Additionally, continuously developing leadership, communication, and strategic thinking skills helps demonstrate readiness for higher responsibilities.

How much is it valued in the labor market when workers upgrade their professional skills?

Upgrading professional skills is highly valued in today’s labor market. When employees invest in continuous learning, they signal to employers that they are proactive, adaptable, and ready to take on new challenges. This not only improves individual performance but also drives overall organizational success. Some key benefits include increased value, career advancement, job security, and competitive advantage.

Essentially, being willing to upgrade your professional skills not only enhances your individual career opportunities but also significantly contributes to your company’s competitive advantage.

Why do you think professional development is important?

Essentially, professional development is a win-win situation; I gain personal career advancement while contributing to the company’s success and competitiveness.

Professional development is important to me because it’s about growth – both for my career and for me as a person. When you take the time to learn new skills or refine existing ones, you’re not only keeping up with changes in your industry, but you’re also actively preparing for the future. It boosts your confidence and makes your job more fulfilling, as each new skill feels like a step forward.

It’s also a great way to open doors to new opportunities. Whether it’s a promotion, a more challenging project, or recognition as a valuable team member, continuous learning makes a significant difference. Moreover, when everyone on the team is committed to growth, it creates a more innovative and dynamic work environment that benefits everyone.

Tell us about the trainings you’ve attended in the past at the M6 Education Center. Which ones were the most interesting and challenging for you?

In the recent period, I participated in three significant trainings at M6:

• Developing new products as a growth strategy
• Resilience and positive adaptation