Renata Sergejew started Onyx Hose & Tube Inc. with her partners at age 50, "when most people are thinking about how to retire." She jumped in with both feet — and all of her savings — and "swam hard" with "no option to sink."
At conferences or in webinars, she often found herself as the only woman — or one of few women — in a room full of men. "Things are changing though," added Sergejew, president of the Guelph, Ontario-based manufacturer of thermoplastic hose, tubing and profiles. "There seems to be more of us taking seats at the front table as things progress."
Since her first job at 18 years old, Sergejew has always been interested in information technology. In 2015, it was clear to her that Onyx was growing at a pace that could not be managed with the tools in place.
She researched 20 different enterprise resource planning systems and "all of them fell apart at the schedule or at some other feature." She found the DelmiaWorks booth at a trade show, analyzed the program and was impressed.
"On Dec. 1, 2015, the first day of our fiscal 2016 year, we were running on DelmiaWorks. And even today, we have so much room to grow in this system," Sergejew said of a notable career achievement. "[It was] purchased, learned and implemented in eight months. That was something I am very proud of, and it continues to impress me as we add on more features in the program."
Today Sergejew runs the manufacturing company as well as the corporation. She said she looks forward to future plans and growth and how the business will get there.
"I create a solid foundation of human resources to allow the company to grow. I try to lead with a co-operative style: I am involved in everything, at the same time, of staying out of the way of employee development and progress," she said.
The best advice she has received came from her daughter, who would ask Sergejew for things and be told no. One day, Sergejew was aggravated that she was always being asked for something, and she asked her daughter why.
"Her answer was, 'The worst you can say is no, and I'm OK with that, because that doesn't change my current state.' Since then, I have never not asked someone for something or asked anything at all. This was monumental," Sergejew said. "If I don't get what I ask for, my situation has not become worse. If I happen to get what I ask for, my situation has improved."