nerves of steel
by Jessica Goosby and Hayley Hill; photography by Stevye Murray
Think your job is tough? Try running a business in multiple countries! It’s just a day in the life for Tamara Weinert, President of Business Area Americas for Outokumpu (OTK). And if you think steel isn’t interesting, you’ll be as shocked as we were. Empowered by our hardhats and fascinated by every turn on our bumpy golf cart tour, awe doesn’t begin to cover it. With humor, passion, and a knack for listening, Tamara is a leader from whom we can all learn a thing or two.
“I find trust and empowerment really important, as well as
giving credit where credit is due. What I’m striving to do is to
be open to other opinions, appreciate differences around the
table, and to discuss pain points, however tough they may be.
Listening to ideas for improvement is, for me, time wel-spent”
Spending the day with Tamara Weinert was more than exhilarating. From her humble humor to her infectious passion for her company, it was easy to see how she’s a leader among so many men and women and adored by all.
As we pulled into headquarters we were greeted by kind faces and treated to breakfast as we set up to meet Tamara. Our level of giddiness was tangible, and before we knew it, Tamara appeared in the room with a gorgeous smile and offered a warm hello and fist pump — the unofficial Covid-19 handshake — to each of us. Clearly in charge but not intimidating, we were instantly smitten.
With countless stamps on her passport and as president of business area Americas, she makes runs across the U.S. and to Central and South America more often than most of us run to the grocery store, all in the name of international business. Born in Germany, she has held residency in dream destinations all over the world including India, Pakistan, Singapore, Russia, The Netherlands, and Finland.
What’s most important to consider is that it never occurred to Tamara to pursue a role outside of finance. “I joined the company in 2012, just before the merger between Outokumpu and Inoxum, the stainless steel arm of ThyssenKrupp at that time,” Tamara details. “I started as the Treasurer, then became the Head of Investor Relations. A pure communication role was not the best fit for me, so I moved on to become the CFO for Europe — a very challenging role in very challenging times.” In that role for three years, it was suggested by someone that noticed her potential that she try expanding her role from a finance capacity to that of a major leader.
Going for it, Tamara took a leap of faith and switched roles, this time to take on commercial responsibilities as the Senior Vice President for OTK’s sales in the South of Europe (Italy, Spain, Portugal, and France), the Benelux, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia, as well as all exports to the Americas. “This was a great job, as it connected me with so many of our fabulous teams around the world with many very interesting cultural experiences,” she beams.Now serving as President of business area Americas for OTK, Tamara leads their business based in Calvert, Ala., as well as those in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil. “I work with many talented men and women to shape the business and operational functions of our mills and service centers that support our customer bases in the United States, Mexico, and South America,” she shares, which includes overseeing nearly 2,000 team members. “This includes our operations, safety, finance division, legal support, sales team, human resources, and many more divisions that equate to us operating in a healthy and safe environment.”
As leader of the Americas Management Team (AMT), Tamara is also a member of the global Outokumpu Leadership Team, which is responsible for OTK’s global groups’ operations. The global leader in stainless steel, OTK is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, with operations in more than 30 countries including production units in Finland, Sweden, Germany, the UK, the United States, and Mexico. “Our local mill in Calvert (about 40 miles north of the city of Mobile) is the most technically-advanced stainless steel mill in the United States and is focused on service center partnerships along with end-use markets including the appliance, consumer goods, and automotive industries,” Tamara shares. “Our facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and employs over 900 people in our region, most of whom live in Mobile and Baldwin County.”
With nearly 10,000 team members worldwide, OTK produces millions of tons of stainless steel annually — 2.1M last year alone. “Stainless steel is a most amazing product,” Tamara emphasizes. “Our main raw material is scrap metal, so we buy scrap and then melt it. We add additional metal to end up with the mix we need, but up to 90 percent of what we produce is produced with scrap. Every single bit of what we produce can be melted again and reused!” A global sustainability leader, OTK also boasts the industry’s lowest carbon footprint.
With inclusion and diversity at the forefront of Tamara’s mind, she shares, “This year we implemented a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ini-tiative in Calvert and Mexico. The goal of the initiative is to ensure that our team actively reflects the diversity in the communities we serve and that we provide a work environment that promotes equality and inclusion.” In doing so, OTK aims to attract and retain the best talent possible. “This is a really important issue for me personally,” Tamara divulges. “I have the vision that we have people of all backgrounds, origins, religions, genders, colors, sexual orientations, and heritages at the table, that all feel welcome, and that as a company we thrive because we have such diverse teams and an open and welcoming culture. I see this as an opportunity for us to ensure all team members are equally heard and have equal chances.”
On a local level, OTK holds membership in area organizations such as the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and the Business Council of Alabama. “Through these memberships we’re able to have a seat at the table around local discussions about diversity and inclusion in the workplace and sustainability to ensure we’re doing what we can support protecting our environment,” Tamara shares. “These topics are important to us, and we’re proud to be a part of the conversations in our area.”Steadily increasing their visibility and commitment to supporting the greater Mobile community, Tamara says OTK also gives back by sup-porting the next generation of manufacturing workers through scholar-ship endowments at local two- and four-year colleges and universities and participating in internship and apprenticeship programs that provide valuable hands-on training. “We’re also excited to be a part of a new program, GLAM (Girls Learning About Manufacturing), where our fe-male team members from various departments will serve as mentors to high school and junior college-aged girls interested in what we do,” Tamara adds. Led by Manufacture Alabama, the program will support students who attend Bish-op State Community College. “It’s important for OTK team members to show Mobile what we do, who we are, and the wonderful opportunity that’s only 40 miles north.”
Major supporters of nonprofit organizations and neighbors in need, OTK’s Calvert team has also participated in various events supporting USA Health, the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, United Way of Southwest Alabama, SAWDC, and the FOCUS Women’s Confer-ence locally. “We also host donation drives for displaced storm victims and raise funds for many organizations that serve our community,” she adds. “Giving back to our community is important, and we strive to do our part every year.”
Well-versed in avoiding “career burnout,” Tamara says her greatest ad-vice is to avoid the notion that you have to be perfect. “No one is,” she states. “Speak out when it becomes too much and ask for support. Ensure your boss understands any conflicts you have with managing time and ask for the flexibility to work around these.” As for overall success? “I think a large factor for success on the job is to be brave and take opportunities when they arise,” she says. “We (women) can sometimes be a bit hesitant when larger career steps are possible or when asked to step outside our comfort zones. Women can do whatever they set their minds on. We just need to believe in ourselves.”
This post has been modified for the web. Read the original article in full in the December 2021 issue of ACCESS Magazine.
Outokumpu 1 ThyssenKrupp Dr, Calvert 251.829.3600
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