WHEN VALUES ARE PASSED DOWN, AND NEW PATHS ARE FORGED
Sometimes career stories do not begin from scratch, but build upon values, experiences, and family conversations shaped over the years. Yet their true significance emerges when each new generation chooses to carve out its own path. For Svetlana Angelkovska and Marija Jankoska, Alkaloid is more than a workplace; it is an environment where a sense of belonging grows over time and professional identities are shaped through personal commitment, responsibility, and continuous development.
Svetlana Angelkovska
Svetlana Angelkovska:
„Just like a person you can rely on, the company consistently demonstrates stability, vision, and a commitment to long-term development, creating a sense of security and belonging.“
How does your sense of belonging to a company change when it becomes part of your personal and family identity?
Over the years, a sense of belonging to a company naturally evolves from a professional connection into a deep personal bond. When a workplace becomes part of family conversations, values, and everyday life, it creates a special emotional connection and a profound sense of pride. In such a context, the company is no longer simply a workplace, but a community where you grow both professionally and personally. It also brings an added sense of responsibility: every success feels personal, while every challenge becomes a shared effort to overcome.
Which small, everyday things over the years have most strongly reinforced your feeling that you are in the “right place”?
Often, it is the small moments: the support of colleagues, the trust within the team, and the knowledge that your work has a tangible impact. Over time, it is precisely this combination of stability, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to quality that creates the sense of belonging to a place where your contribution is genuinely valued.
If you had to describe Alkaloid through one human characteristic, what would it be and why?
If I had to describe it through a single human characteristic, it would be reliability. Over the years, Alkaloid has built relationships based on trust, consistency, and responsibility, both towards its employees and the wider community. Just like a person you can rely on, the company consistently demonstrates stability, vision, and a commitment to long-term development, creating a sense of security and belonging.
What does it mean to you to see a new generation, your daughter, continue the journey in the same environment, but at a different time?
It is a special combination of pride and strong emotion. On the one hand, it is deeply rewarding to see values and tradition carried forward; on the other, it is inspiring to see a new generation bring fresh ideas, new perspectives, and a different way of thinking. Times change, but the fundamental principles remain the same – dedication, professionalism, and a commitment to progress.
Marija Jankoska
Marija Jankoska:
,,I realized that the company's success is based not only on tradition, but above all on its people, their expertise, and their commitment to quality and continuous improvement.''
To what extent did your family story influence your decision to join Alkaloid, and how much have you been able to create your own professional identity?
My family story certainly influenced me, as from an early age I learned about the values, dedication, and responsibility that come with working at Alkaloid. This instilled in me a deep respect for the company and an understanding of its role in society. However, my decision to join the team was also a personal professional choice, driven by a desire to grow, learn, and contribute in an environment that upholds high standards. Over time, through my own experiences, challenges, and day-to-day work, I have forged my own professional identity, grounded in personal values, responsibility, and continuous development.
What surprised you most when you first experienced the company “from the inside”, beyond the family stories you had heard?
What surprised me most was the level of professionalism and the systematic approach to everyday operations. Although I had heard many positive stories before joining, a true understanding of the company comes only when you become part of the processes and teams. The team culture was particularly impressive – the willingness to collaborate, share knowledge, and support one another. I realized that the company's success is based not only on tradition, but above all on its people, their expertise, and their commitment to quality and continuous improvement.
FAMILY TRADITION AND ENDURING VALUES, THREE GENERATIONS AT ALKALOID
At a time when professional loyalty is rarely passed down from one generation to the next, the story of Snezhana Petrovska is a testament to continuity, dedication, and values that stand the test of time. Her journey at Alkaloid is not merely a personal career, but part of a family legacy that began with her mother, Dana Kechovska, continued with her, and is now being carried forward by her daughter, Anastasija. For more than six decades, three generations of this family have been part of Alkaloid, upholding a tradition of professional integrity, knowledge, and a sense of belonging. In the conversation that follows, Snezhana reflects on her beginnings, the defining moments of her career, and the values that have remained unchanged.
