Banu Bilgin, Prometeon Tyre Group | Women Breaking the Mold 2023

It isn't often that you get to grow up with your company. But in a lot of ways, Banu Bilgin feels as if she is.

Relatively speaking, Bilgin said, Prometeon Tire Group S.R.L. is fairly young.

Once under the Pirelli & C. S.p.A. umbrella, Prometeon became its own entity in 2017, when the Italian tire maker spun off its industrial tire business, officially dubbing the new business Prometeon the following year.

And it was during that transition that Bilgin made a choice.

"(Several) years ago, during the split, I had the opportunity to decide between Pirelli and Prometeon," Bilgin said. "I proceeded with Prometeon because it is a young, dynamic and challenging company."

And it has been the perfect fit for Bilgin, who serves as the company's logistics manager.

"I feel like we are growing up together," she said of her work and her company, "which makes me feel (like) we are family. This is why I stay in Prometeon."

Throughout her 18-year career with Pirelli/Prometeon, she has developed her skills and refined her greatest strengths. Among them, she said, are her abilities to work in a team, remain solution-focused and adapt easily when circumstance requires.

They are all skills that help her thrive as she navigates her daily responsibilities such as managing import and export operations; identifying suppliers for international transport services; and leading activities in finished product warehouse, including ensuring product availability, order processing and stock management.

It's a job she loves. And because of the support she has received from company leadership, it's one in which she can thrive.

Moreover, she has watched others do the same.

Because Prometeon, Bilgin said, continues to transform and adapt. Over the last decade—as part of Pirelli and later as its own enterprise—Prometeon has taken significant steps to diversify its work force, particularly as it adds more women to its leadership ranks.

"The company's vision and the supportive attitude of the top management make its difference every day," Bilgin said. "While there was one female manager 10 years ago, there are dozens of female managers today."

Bilgin is proud to say that she is one of the women leading the way and helping to move Prometeon forward.

Years with company: 18
Years in rubber industry:18

We work with commercial and industrial teams, so we have to be well-focused for both, which as very different challenges. On the other side, we have to follow customs regulations, market prices at transportation, special customer requests, country regulations.

In my organization there are 70 (blue collar workers) and 15 (white collar workers). Leading /managing blue and white collar staff together is another challenge for me.

I encourage open discussions and brainstorming sessions by promoting a culture of curiosity and learning. I challenge both myself and my colleagues for self-motivation and continuous growth.

I aim to inspire my co-workers to step out of their comfort zones, collaborate and push their performance to drive our company's success to new steps.

Leadership is about inspiring and guiding others toward a common goal.

Leadership, for me, means motivating and guiding my team members, and helping them achieve common goals by collaborating. As a leader, I set an example with my behavior and encourage open communication. I trust and empower my team members and find out their potential. At the same time, I support cooperation by bringing together different skills within the team.

The tire industry is a sector where we can use our dynamism, flexibility and creativity.

Remember, everyone faces moments of doubt. But by believing in yourself, presenting your ideas confidently and consistently delivering quality results, you can overcome challenges to your credibility and gain the respect you deserve.

I advocate for myself and my ideas with strong communication, self-assuredness, strategic preparation and an ability to adapt to different situations.

From my childhood, I was dreaming of helping orphans, by spending time together and being like their family while they are trying to shape their future. Unfortunately, being busy in my work and family life, I could not do as much as I was planning. This is one of my significant failures.