On December 5, during the general meeting “NIBULON: The Resilience Formula,” 12 employees were awarded the “NIBULON’s Pride” award. These are employees whose achievements have made a lasting impact on the development of our company.
Today, we are going to tell you about an exceptional woman. She is changing not only our company but also the attitude toward the driving profession.
In a world traditionally dominated by men, truck driving has long been considered an exclusively “male” profession. However, times are changing, and today we are proud to share the story of Natalia Voynotynska, the first female driver at NIBULON. She has not only overcome stereotypes but also proved that talent and determination know no gender boundaries. Her path to becoming a truck driver is a story of perseverance, resilience, and the desire to fulfill her dream.
As Natalia recalls, her love for cars began in childhood: “It was my dream, my childhood dream – to drive a truck and to be a driver. My childhood was filled with toy cars and football, as I spent most of my time with my father.”
She has always had the ambition to grow professionally, but due to life circumstances and family responsibilities, this step kept getting delayed.
Regardless of the temporary pause, the idea of pursuing a career as a driver never left her mind. Watching her husband’s work only strengthened her conviction: “My husband’s profession inspired me to do it, to learn. When I would come to pick him up at the elevator, I was thrilled to see all the drivers behind the wheel of such vehicles. I would constantly say, ‘I want to drive a truck too.’”
As time passed and the children grew up, she felt that it was time to return to fulfilling her goal. After discussing her plans with her husband, she decided to take the first step and enroll in a driving school. At the driving school, Natalia obtained her driving licenses one after another and now holds categories B, C, and E. She didn’t stop and decided to continue looking for employment opportunities in the trucking industry. Friends and relatives were surprised, and sometimes they did not quite understand why Natalia chose such a challenging and physically demanding profession. They believed it would be difficult for her to adapt to this field. Her husband, fully aware of all the difficulties of being a truck driver, also tried to dissuade Natalia from this decision. He was concerned about her safety and comfort. Despite all his arguments, Natalia’s ambition and confidence in her abilities prevailed. She was ready to do whatever it took to achieve her goals. Her determination convinced her husband, and he realized that supporting Nataliia in her choice was important for her personal development and happiness.
Natalia actively began searching for a job in the trucking industry and joined NIBULON. Natalia recalls: “At first, my colleagues were surprised to see a female driver in our department. Everyone was curious about how my training would go, as there were no female mentors at NIBULON. However, my colleagues welcomed me, offering valuable advice, support, and guidance. Once, when a tire burst on the road in the middle of the night, our colleagues, seeing two cars by the roadside, stopped and asked if any help was needed. They helped with lifting, changing, and mounting the spare tire. We have a wonderful team. Everyone has been helping and giving advice. I am very grateful to them for accepting me.”
Natalia not only excels at her job but is also ready to share her knowledge and experience with future female drivers, helping them adapt to the profession and achieve their goals. We asked what advice Natalia would give to women who want to pursue a profession beyond the typical “female” professions. Natalia said:
“If you have a dream to pursue, if you want to work in a male-dominated profession, there should be no doubts about your abilities. A woman must be confident: ‘I can, I will, and I will succeed.’ You need to be a woman of a strong character. You need to be focused and purposefully move toward your goal. Don’t let doubts or opinions of other people influence your plans when they say, ‘You can’t do it; this isn’t for you.’ Stand your ground and do everything you can to achieve what you want.”
Natalia is a living example of how important it is to pursue your goal, despite obstacles. Her story is inspiring, showing that there are no gender limitations when it comes to achieving great results. Anyone can fulfill their dreams if they believe in themselves and aren’t afraid of hard work.
