At Hyve, we believe in celebrating the best in ourselves and each other, and we always make time to honour our milestones.
On 11th August we celebrated a significant one – our colleague Natallia Zhuk marked 20 incredible years with Hyve!
Regina Madonna, Communications Executive caught up with Natallia to discuss her journey so far and the incredible experiences she’s had along the way.
Natallia, can you tell us more about how your journey with Hyve began?
Twenty years ago, the company was known as ITE Group Plc. I had just returned to the UK from Canada in June 2004, with no prior work experience in this country. My career up to that point had been in academia as a university lecturer, but I was ready for a change. I wanted to leverage my language skills in a new way and, honestly, I wanted my evenings back - no more grading papers!
A few applications and a couple of chats with recruiters later, I landed an interview for an Event Coordinator position at an events company with a focus on 'emerging markets'. My interview was more of a pleasant chat than a nerve-racking test, and by early August, I had completed my second interview and received a job offer. I was thrilled and flattered when they offered me the top figure in the salary range. Imagine having such a smooth and speedy job search experience these days!
Wow - twenty years is a long time! What has kept you engaged and excited throughout this journey?
What a journey it has been! With the business reinventing itself so dramatically over the years, I've been presented with endless opportunities to learn and grow. Many of you might think: 20 years?! What's wrong with her? But the change I've witnessed over these 20 years is staggering. Various roles, industries, geographies. Travelled the world, made lifelong friends amongst colleagues and clients. Felt supported, when the time came to have a family, through downturns, through the pandemic.
Natallia always approaches every obstacle by looking for a solution. She is relentless in her pursuit of crafting a positive outcome where everyone wins!What’s your current role at Hyve, and what keeps you motivated after all these years?
I’m currently Key Account Director for Mining Indaba. Despite my 20 years with the company, I'm still learning and growing every day as part of the legendary Mining Indaba sales team. Every day is a school day. Why look elsewhere? Besides, the business changed the name and address, so I didn't have to! Instead, I could focus on my professional growth without the upheaval of changing jobs.
VP Sales & Business Development and Natallia’s line manager, Fred Noce said:
“Natallia is, without a doubt, one of the most dedicated, hard-working, and focused sales professionals I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. The Mining Indaba sales team has seen many sales reps come and go over the years, but only one has truly stood out and earned the respect and place to become the fourth musketeer of the Mining Indaba sales team!"
Looking at this photo, Natallia shared:
"I remember this moment so well! It comes from my very first onsite event - MITT 2005, the Moscow International Travel & Tourism Exhibition. It was an absolute blockbuster back then, and it’s incredible to look back and see how much we’ve grown since."
Natallia’s 20-year journey with Hyve is a powerful reminder that when a company grows and evolves, so do the people within it. Her story is a celebration of commitment, curiosity, and the endless possibilities that come with embracing change.
Congratulations, Natallia!
