Gozde Orlak, Danfoss | Women Breaking the Mold 2024

A chemical engineer with management, financial, operational and product experience is rather unique in the rubber industry, but Gozde Orlak has accomplished it all. The native from Turkey has spent more than a decade working in the rubber industry for Danfoss where she now serves as a product manager in the industrial hose and accessories market.

Orlak's most recent promotion brought her from Turkey to Ohio, where she is thousands of miles away from some members of her family. But the experience has been invaluable to her professional, as is the know-how she brings to Danfoss. Much of Orlak's time has been spent working at the Cerkezkoy plant in Turkey. During her nine years there, she cultivated a comprehensive understanding of the operational complexities and financial challenges unique to the industrial sector. This hands-on experience has been instrumental in her transition and subsequent success in product management.

When she decided to tackle the product management role in the U.S., it didn't take Orlak long to thrive in the market. Her ability to integrate her deep operational knowledge with strategic product management has greatly enhanced the offerings in Danfoss industrial hose sector. According to her colleagues, Orlak has strengthened her role as a leader, which has provided the opportunities for her to drive notable advancements in product innovation and market responsiveness.

There's a clear difference in her role in the U.S.—one of urgency that she embraces daily.

"In Turkey much of my job was focused on continual improvement," Orlak said. "But now there's an urgency to work with many different teams to help solve (customer) issues. No matter where you go though customer satisfaction remains one of the most important things you can provide. That and ensuring that we make a (high-quality) product."

Orlak appreciates the ability to solve customer issues, but she also thrives on providing big picture insight that can help bring new ideas and establish new processes and products for Danfoss. Orlak values the flexibility she is afforded and believes by thinking big, new ideas and innovation will be formed.

Thriving in the rubber industry requires extreme commitment and credibility, Orlak said. Having the educational and technical background no doubt helps but isn't enough to support increased responsibilities. This can be especially true for women, Orlak believes, so displaying that commitment and knowledge every day and being wiling to think outside of the box can help.

"You want to do what you can to build trust with (your co-workers)," she said. "You want to follow the processes you have built and turn that into an advantage at work."

It is this commitment to building a positive, unassailable reputation that helps make Orlak a role model for young women in engineering and product management. But no matter that demographic makeup of a professional in the industry, they should display the right mix of expertise, dedication and vision to achieve a notable impact in the highly competitive industrial sector.

"Part of this job is to make things better now than they have been in the past," Orlak said. "That affects everyone in a (positive) way."

Years with company: 10

Years in rubber industry: 10

This industry is where I began my career and where I continue to work today. I believe I've found a place to express myself professionally, and this industry has reciprocated that energy. I think it's crucial, especially in today's dynamic environment, for workplaces and industries to be flexible and support their employees in that flexibility.

The rubber industry is fully supporting this expectation. This industry is changing and growing every day and still we have a lot of unknowns to be captured in the future. This empowers employees to reach their full potential and allows their expertise to be utilized in diverse areas. What has made my career so rewarding is the way my own adaptability and agility have been supported by the flexibility of my company.

Since starting my career as a junior employee, I've had the opportunity to participate in various training programs and collaborate with many inspiring leaders. The most valuable lessons I've learned is the importance of both seizing opportunities and being passionate about my work. I try to live by these values, and my success motivates me to work harder to achieve even more. I believe this mindset is what has brought me to where I am today.

I am convinced that embracing challenges, both personally and professionally, yields positive outcomes. However, it is essential to ensure these challenges are implemented constructively, fostering growth, supporting continuous improvement and resonating with employees.

My biggest challenge, for both the company and our co-workers, is fostering a culture of inquiry—encouraging questions to understand our current position. Whatever we do, our goal should always be to strive for progress, to be better tomorrow than we are today. This ensures both individuals and the company find satisfaction, as maintaining passion for our goals is a key ingredient for success.

The first thing that comes to mind is flexibility. A flexible leader has the ability to perceive all resources as opportunities. Different perspectives, experiences and cultural backgrounds enrich our journey. Being flexible and open to different ideas helps create a welcoming workplace where everyone feels included. This leads to better teamwork and better results in an inclusive environment where we maximize output and achieve our goals.

Furthermore, the approach to leadership is crucial for achieving desired outcomes. It's really important to create a workplace where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas and trusts each other. When people feel valued and can see how their work contributes to the bigger picture, it helps everyone succeed. This kind of leadership, where everyone feels included and respected for their unique perspectives, is key to achieving great things.

Transition periods often present stressful experiences due to the uncertainty and adaptation they necessitate. As I am currently navigating a similar transition, I highly recommend "The First 90 Days" by Michael Watkins. I was first introduced to this book years ago during a leadership training program and recently had the opportunity to revisit it. The systematic approach and practical advice presented in the book are incredibly valuable for overcoming the challenges of a new role and enhancing performance during this period. The insights offered on stress management and creating an effective roadmap are particularly helpful in ensuring a smooth and successful adaptation to the changes.

For the podcast I can recommend "Good Life Project" by Jonathan Fields. This podcast features interviews with inspiring individuals who share their stories and insights on living a more meaningful and fulfilling life. It helps the listener to feel energized.

During my first year as a manufacturing engineer, I was tasked with a production line improvement project. I purchased a piece of equipment that, unfortunately, did not fit the designated space on the production floor. This miscalculation necessitated a complete reconfiguration of the entire production line layout. This resulted in unforeseen costs and significant delays on the project.

What remains particularly memorable from that experience was my manager's response. Instead of focusing on the setback, he emphasized the valuable lessons learned. He assured me that this experience would prove invaluable in my future. He was right! I learned how important teamwork and talking openly are. Now, when I start a project, I focus on getting the right people together and making sure everyone shares their ideas. This helps us really understand what's going on and creates a team spirit where we can spot problems and find solutions together before they become big issues. I truly believe that working together as a team is the best way to avoid risks and achieve success.

I really appreciate having quiet time to myself. It's especially nice to relax early in the morning with a cup of coffee and a good book. It helps me feel refreshed and ready for the day. Spending time with family and friends is also really recharging. Talking, sharing stories and just being together is a great way to relax and feel connected.

This approach to weekends allows me to start each week feeling refreshed and energized, rather than depleted and overwhelmed

To me, success is all about growing and moving forward. It's even better when I can do that without losing sight of my passions. I believe that challenging myself to be better every day is what drives success. This belief has shaped my career, leading me to try different things in finance, production, engineering and product management. Throughout my career, I've always kept a few things in mind: always try to improve, follow your passions, accept people for who they are, and be ready to adapt to new situations. By sticking to these principles, I've seen myself grow and find happiness in the successes I've achieved.