Fertilizer International 495 Mar-Apr 2020
31 March 2020
Young professionals
The International Fertilizer Association (IFA) is helping to fully develop the career potential of younger employees through its Young Professionals initiative. This is providing a new generation of industry professionals with access to mentoring and career development advice. It also gives individuals a chance to network with their peers, as well as subsidising attendance and participation at international conferences.
To support IFA’s new initiative, Fertilizer International magazine is running a series of profiles featuring industry young professionals. These highlight the wide range of attractive and rewarding career options available to young people in the fertilizer sector. In this issue, Pranjali Yadav of IFFCO talks to us about her career.
How did your career in the industry start?
I graduated with a degree in chemical engineering from India’s Banasthali University back in 2015. IFFCO was hiring a number of fresh graduates as apprentices that year, including chemical engineers. So I applied for the post and luckily got through successfully. The job then became permanent after I’d completed my one-year apprenticeship and a follow-up year of training. Currently, I am a senior process engineer in the technical department of IFFCO’s Phulpur production unit.
What achievement are you most proud of?
Practical learning is what every process engineer needs at the start of their career. I was involved with the commissioning of a gas turbine and a CO2 removal project during my apprenticeship. Those experiences gave me a huge opportunity to both learn and be involved – from making the punch lists, to witnessing the priming of a pump, the steam blowing of lines or hydtrotests.
Being part of the task force for an ammonia-urea audit was also full of insights. It also gave me the opportunity to deliver presentations in front of top officials at meetings.
What do you find most rewarding about your job?
Honest feedback from my seniors, good or bad, helps me to improve and deliver more. I always value praise for a job well done. Just one kind word of appreciation – a simple “good!” – boosts my dedication to work. But a deeper sense of satisfaction also comes from knowing that my contribution towards IFFCO’s performance ultimately benefits those who buy our products – the Indian farmer.
What hurdles have you had to overcome?
When I joined IFFCO, I was a raw and inexperienced graduate. So learning how to apply theoretical concepts practically was a real challenge. I’ve definitely been on a learning curve. One time, for example, I took a very long time completing a calculation given to me by a senior colleague. But he did say something very valuable to me, “Time is a key in any organisation. Don’t wait to make things perfect, make them optimum.”
How do you get the best from yourself and your colleagues?
Being positive, acknowledging the contribution of others in the work place, and showing a little humility and gratitude can reap the best results. When working as a team, you also need to take full advantage of one another’s strengths. What helps keeps me motivated is learning about plant and the production process and accepting every opportunity that comes my way.
Has mentoring been important to you?
Yes, definitely! Raw clay needs to be moulded to achieve the desired shape. Likewise, for a person to reach their full potential, some guidance is needed to bring out their best and channel their skills and energy in the right direction. Fortunately, I have benefitted from great mentors and senior colleagues in the workplace. I have always been able to develop the right skills for the job thanks to their help and guidance.
How will your job and the industry change in future?
Automation and digitisation are big trends on the production side of the business. The move to distributed control systems is providing us with better process monitoring, for example. Cloud computing also helps us to store our standard operating procedures in one single secure place. I also think the market will demand a pragmatic shift towards organic and innovative fertilizers in future. IFFCO is already venturing into organic farming in India through a collaboration with the Sikkim state government. As a company, we’ve also introduced a range of fertilizers that incorporate nanotechnology. That’s a particularly exciting development to watch out for!
What advice would you give to anyone about to embark on a career in the sector?
Always try to be inquisitive and never stop learning. My attitude is that every task is actually an opportunity in disguise.
