Lesia Yanytska sits at the intersection of technology, innovation, and leadership—a place she hadn’t always envisioned for herself, especially growing up in a household deeply rooted in medicine and engineering.
Her father was a doctor, and her mother was an engineer. While both career paths were undeniably appealing, Lesia made the bold decision to forge her own unique path.
“I decided to go with my own path,” she says, reflecting on the early decisions that set her career in motion. “My journey began not with ambitious plans but with a solid belief that I could achieve more day by day.”
Today, Lesia is far from an ordinary figure in the manufacturing industry. She has become a trailblazer, driving the digital transformations that are reshaping the sector.
But this wasn’t the destination she initially had in mind. Her early love for language and problem-solving played a pivotal role in her academic and professional development.
With her roots in Ukraine, Lesia charted her academic path at Lviv Polytechnic National University, where she delved into Applied Linguistics and Psychology. While linguistics may seem like an unusual choice for someone now leading product innovations in manufacturing, it laid the groundwork for her expertise in tackling complex issues.
“I pursued a degree that provided me with a solid foundation in both technical skills and languages,” Lesia explains. “I’ve always been driven by a desire to solve complex problems.”
Her education involved taking courses in natural language processing, machine translation and software development – all of which would become useful as her work progressed to product management.
Eager to build on that foundation, she added a second degree in Pedagogics and Social Management, further developing her leadership and organizational skills.
And when it came to mastering agile methodologies, Lesia didn’t stop short. With certifications like Professional Scrum Product Owner™ and Scaled Agile Framework Product Owner/Product Manager under her belt, she quickly emerged as a leader in the IT and manufacturing sectors.
In 2014, she made a significant career pivot, stepping into the world of IT. “In the early months of 2014, I secured my first position in the IT domain. This role marked the beginning of my career in technology, where I was eager to apply the knowledge and skills I had acquired during my education.”
Her entry into the tech space opened her eyes to the rapid pace of innovation and the necessity of continuous learning.
“In the fast-paced evolution of IT innovation, continuous learning is crucial,” Lesia emphasizes. “Adaptation and growth are key to staying ahead in this dynamic field.”
With the tech field always changing, she knew she had to keep learning. This drive led her to amazing opportunities at renowned schools like Stanford and MIT.
Currently, she is deepening her expertise through the Chief Product Officer (CPO) program at MIT—a step she considers essential as she looks toward future leadership roles.
“My next year at MIT will be allocated to studying the CPO program,” Lesia shares. “I would like to continue in my current domain—manufacturing. So far, I have experience with well-known manufacturing companies.”
Lesia’s trajectory in manufacturing reached new heights when she led a major digital transformation initiative that significantly redefined product development at her company. She proudly recalls the impact of this initiative:
“I led a digital transformation initiative to integrate new technologies into product development,” she says. “Our efforts boosted R&D efficiency by 35%, thanks to agile methodologies and project management tools.”
The results of her leadership were undeniable. By enhancing their data analytics capabilities, her team achieved a 15% increase in product performance metrics. They even reduced the time spent on manual reporting by 50%! This change allowed everyone to shift their focus to more strategic priorities and explore innovative projects.
Lesia turned heads again when she took on the bold task of rolling out a cutting-edge manufacturing execution system (MES) for a key player in the global manufacturing scene. And what were the results? Production costs plummeted by 15%, while overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) surged from 75% to a remarkable 85%.
It’s Lesia’s special gift for combining her technical savvy with a sharp eye for market trends that truly distinguishes her in an industry driven by innovation and efficiency.
When it comes to self-growth, Lesia isn’t just focused on her own journey. She’s a strong proponent of mentorship, understanding just how crucial it is for career development. With her own positive experiences as motivation, she’s all about urging others to find mentors who can inspire and guide them along the way.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who guided me and shared their insights on leadership and innovation,” she says. “Their encouragement and success stories inspired me to aim for leadership roles within product management.”
The manufacturing scene is buzzing with new developments in automation, sustainability, and digital transformation, and Lesia is all in! She’s eager to jump into this new era of innovation and see where it takes her.
“I’m inspired by the potential to lead products that not only advance business goals but also contribute positively to society and the environment,” Lesia shares. “My background, coupled with my experiences and inspirations, has shaped my career path in product management.”
She is ready to dig in as she imagines what’s next. She’s passionate about creating solutions that not only drive success but also embrace sustainability, showing everyone that you can chase your dreams without letting go of what’s truly important.
With a visionary mindset, she’s setting her sights even higher. She’s aiming for the Chief Product Officer title in the next five to ten years.
This ambition shows that Lesia is not just looking to lead product innovation; she wants to help shape the strategic direction of an organization, too. Lesia pictures a future where she can tap into her extensive experience in product management and her deep understanding of what customers really need to create transformative products that truly resonate in the marketplace.
To make this dream a reality, Lesia is all about continuous learning and professional growth. She’s committed to picking up new skills and insights that will help her get there.
Lesia’s career really stands out as more than just a series of achievements.
It’s like a living narrative of leadership that evolves all the time. She’s all about innovation and empathy, always pushing herself to reach new heights. With every role she takes on, and every decision she makes, she leaves a lasting impression. It’s not just her industry that feels the impact; the people she leads and mentors benefit from her insights, too.
You see, for Lesia, leadership goes beyond titles or authority. It’s about igniting a spark in others and encouraging them to dream big. She loves to see people take those daring steps toward their goals.
No doubt about it, Lesia has already made a significant impact, yet she’s just scratching the surface. The horizon is filled with exciting prospects for her, and we’re all on the edge of our seats, eager to witness her next big moves.
