This is Nik. Creating factories of the future.

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Welcome to episode 2 in our interview series, This is my IBM.

This week I talk to Nikita Balzyhk from IBM Consulting. Nik shares more on the challenges of implementing change, learning he is less of an introvert than he thought and the entrepreneurial spirit he has inherited from his father.

Hi Nik, lovely to meet you, can you tell me a bit about your current role at IBM?

I am Design Lead on one of our largest accounts in the consumer product industry. As one of the main global producers of consumer healthcare products, our client needs to be able to track the ingredients, formulations and recipes for all of their products worldwide. I have been working on their tracking system, handling requirements from different factories and working with technical architects to deliver modifications and enhancements.

And do you see this work as a way to make the world work better?

Yes. We are working to optimise production across the globe which means less waste, energy and manpower. Connecting factories and enabling tracking and optimisation within systems is not only ensuring compliance, but making a positive difference to the world we live in.

Implementing change is never easy. What stands out to you as one of the hardest challenges to overcome?

I think one of the most challenging situations is dealing with potential scope creep. When you are delivering something exciting and you can truly see hunger for more from the client, it is incredibly important that you don’t let emotion drive your decisions but stick to what has been agreed.

What’s the most surprising thing you have learnt about yourself along the way?

Despite all the personality tests that I have done over the years, I’ve learnt that I’m not the introvert that I thought I was. I really thrive on building successful client relationships.

So what made you choose to become an IBMer?

I joined IBM in October 2016 as a graduate into Consulting. IBM stood out to me, with the awards it has won as a top employer and for its graduate scheme, as well as the excitement I witnessed when talking to IBMers at career fairs and the cool stuff I discovered IBM was involved in. I accepted another job before my offer from IBM came in – but I knew IBM’s grad scheme was the one I really wanted to bepart of and switched to join IBM instead.

If you could do a different role at IBM, what would it be?

I think I would probably look to do something more technical, perhaps architecture design.

With all the experience you now have since joining IBM, what advice would you tell your younger self?

Don’t worry about everything as much. You were hired because you are bright and have a lot of talent. Itis a great learning experience and nobody should be afraid of making mistakes and learning from them. Also, try different roles and soak up as many experiences as possible in those early years; that way you get to really understand what you enjoy doing.

What has surprised you the most about working for IBM?

IBM’s ability to adapt to constantly changing world trends and stay current, especially considering the size of the company and the multitude of solutions and functions we provide. It is impressive how quickly we can make the right changes to keep generating value whatever the demand is in the market!

So outside of life at IBM, is there something that you are really excited about right now?

I’ve been helping my father back in Ukraine to transform his business. When the pandemic hit, he needed an online delivery platform and I helped build a website that links through to a courier system to ensure every order is fulfilled on the same day. It’s extremely exciting to be able to apply skills that I have learned at IBM. Being able to help him is something I’m proud of.

And is your dad then someone who inspires you?

Definitely. He went into the army, then switched to study law, and then switched again to pursue his dream as an entrepreneur. Fast forward a few years later, he owns a chain of cafés and florist boutiques. His journey emphasises that you can do it if you try hard enough.

Note: this interview was conducted prior to the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

Learn more about joining IBM as part of the graduate scheme > https://www.ibm.com/uk-en/employment/graduate/

And finally, find out how the next IBMer in the series responds to the question that Nik poses at the end of his audio interview and discover how they turn ideas into action. What inspires them. What has surprised them. And what they mean when they say This is my IBM.