Leveraging 18 years of manufacturing experience, Emily Pajek has played a pivotal role in the launch of the new 180,000 sq ft Viega Ohio plant. We learned more about Emily, her impressive career and her strong leadership in the spotlight below.

Tell us a little bit about your background.

I have nearly two decades of experience in manufacturing. Over the years, my roles have included environmental health and safety, maintenance, and a recent position as a general manager in Cleveland, OH.

What inspired you to pursue a career at Viega?

I was excited to build a brand-new team and take on a project essentially from the ground up. Now that I am here, I am continuously impressed by the innovative and agile nature of the Ohio team, which is small enough to try new things and adapt quickly. We fully expect the Ohio plant to be a testing ground for new ideas and approaches, making it an exciting place for our team to work and experiment with different methods and processes.

What was the interview and onboarding process like at Viega?

Though I’ll be working out of the new Ohio plant, this process took place in Kansas, at the McPherson location. During my time there, I interviewed with eight different people and had the opportunity to tour the plant. I was impressed by the Kansas manufacturing plant's cleanliness and high-tech equipment, some of which I had not encountered before. Additionally, the company's culture and consistency in values across the board is what attracted me to Viega and ultimately led to my decision.

What has the process been like with building the Ohio team?

This new stage of my career is exciting as I haven't had the chance to build something new before. When Viega hired me, there were only about 30 Ohio team members so far. This number has since increased to 41, and it grows daily. I can confidently say that the Ohio team is very excited about the opportunity to shape the new plant's culture and operations, with everyone bringing their own diverse experience to create a positive and innovative environment. As far as the hiring process, our interviews have largely focused on the Viega values – we are looking to create an intentional culture to drive the plant’s success, and we want individuals who are on board with this.

What is some advice you would give to women interested in your industry and/or pursuing leadership role?

Being a female leader in a male-dominated industry can definitely come with its own set of challenges. For me, within my career, I’ve learned the importance of being authentic, collaborative, and curious. This approach allows me to see work situations in a positive light, viewing my different style as a strength and not something to shy away from. Additionally, I always strive to work closely with my team, asking questions and respecting their areas of expertise that I can learn from. Ultimately, I always aim to just be myself and focus on collaboration instead of trying to “prove myself.