Alise Vilka: from language struggles in Germany to leading Grenardi Group

Alise Vilka, board member and chief operating officer at Grenardi Group, says recent years have been challenging for businesses worldwide, but also full of valuable lessons. The pandemic, the war in Ukraine, supply chain disruptions, inflation and rising gold prices have significantly reshaped the business environment, proving that not everything can be foreseen. In her view, a successful company must remain flexible and be able to react quickly to change and make appropriate decisions.

Finding her path

Vilka recalls that as a child she had no clear vision of her future career. In school she was drawn to drawing clothing designs and later considered interior design, but eventually settled on mathematics, finance and later business, as these subjects came naturally to her. She studied at the Banking Institution of Higher Education (Banku augstskola) and took part in an exchange program in Germany during her studies.

Experience in Germany

The biggest challenge in Germany was the language barrier - although she had learned business German in Latvia and could discuss economic growth or GDP, she lacked even basic vocabulary for everyday situations, such as asking for a fork or spoon in the dormitory kitchen. That experience taught her not to be afraid to ask questions and accept help from others. An internship at the local company Claas Fertigungstechnik also proved significant - after the internship ended, management invited her to stay two more months to take over accounting tasks and later train a new employee. Being trusted with such responsibility as a young student gave her far greater confidence in her own abilities.

Career progression

Before her studies in Germany, Vilka had worked for three years at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. After returning from Germany, she joined the Rimi Baltic team as a logistics controller, before later moving into the jewelry industry at Grenardi Group.