21 years ago, Valentinas Barančiuskas was only the third employee of the company to start his career by receiving and transferring orders to Slovenia. Today, he is a seasoned professional who has also contributed to some of Europe’s most remarkable buildings.
With a career that has not shied away from bold changes that provide chances for growth and development, Valentinas is a living example of how people come first in every successful project.
So we caught up with Valentinas to hear the story of how he joined Staticus, how our company has evolved over the years, and what qualities helped him constantly adapt as we grew.
Hello, Valentinas. How did you end up working at Staticus?
I have always been someone who was skilled at reading technical drawings, and, most importantly, enjoyed doing this.
So my friend gave me an address and said: “There are some very interesting people working here – you should like it.”
I went to the address and found a simple office with a desk, a computer and a fax machine. I remember the conversation was very informal. Then, on the spot, I was given a task: to answer a call from a supplier, take the order and forward it to Slovenia. As a young professional, it was wonderful to be shown such trust immediately.
At this time Staticus didn’t even have its own factory. We acted as a small intermediary in the sale of plastic windows. Our own production began a little bit later.
I remember very well when Vytas (Vytautas Vankevičius, Staticus’ founder) came to me with my first project. It went well, so the second one came along, and then the third. That’s how I became the third team member of a company that has since grown into a successful international business.
How did your career develop after that?
Thanks to the start of our production activities, we started to carry out our first projects abroad, in Sweden and Norway. Entering these new markets brought the need for better English language skills. I did, however, decide to go to work for another company in Ireland to see how things were done elsewhere.
Eventually, I came back to Lithuania because I had a family waiting for me, but I came back a changed person. With these changes in our company came new opportunities.
My previous colleague Vladas (Vladas Laučys Expert of Technology) suggested that I change my field a little and start handling warranty services: fixing defects, resolving issues, and putting in place measures for improving our process and products. I accepted, driven by a combination of courage and confidence in myself and my level of expertise.
I started travelling abroad, communicating in English with customers and partners. For me, taking this step in my career was essential. I realised that there was no need to be cautious because I was afraid of something.
For example, I didn’t let myself be held back by the fear that my English was insufficient. I’ve always remembered my Brazilian friend who once said to me: “If you stay quiet, no one will understand you. It’s better to just talk. After all, if you say something people don’t understand, they will just correct you or ask for clarification.”
What was it about Staticus that hooked you? Why did you decide to develop your career here?
I simply liked and enjoyed what I was doing. When a job requires a high degree of responsibility, you have to believe in yourself and enjoy what you do. If you don’t, you will end up asking yourself why you are doing it in the first place.
I have always told my colleagues that there is no such thing as a situation that we can’t learn from.
Have we made a mistake? OK, let’s analyse why it happened so it doesn’t happen again. Did we make a bad decision? All good. We will rework things and find a solution. The important thing is to take responsibility and act, not to give up.
How has the façade industry changed over the years? And which technological developments have had the biggest impact on your work?
The most significant changes have been in the field of Design Engineering. It is not necessarily that our earlier projects were worse or less beautiful than the ones we deliver today. But it is definitely true that the tools we have today give us a whole new level of engineering capabilities.
However, technological progress is not everything.
Yes, modern programmes and systems can perform very precise calculations. On the other hand, relying on these tools alone can reduce confidence in our knowledge and capabilities. I always encouraged my colleagues to be willing to solve problems and figure things out themselves. And I reminded them to think not only about how to do things faster and cheaper but also how to do them more safely and efficiently.
In your early years at Staticus, what was your day-to-day work like?
Everything was different. We did our drawings by hand. We used to write out the measurements and instructions on the sheets of paper. But we had a great deal of confidence in ourselves and our level of knowledge.
There was also a deep sense of responsibility. You had to guarantee not only the quality of the parts but also the health and safety of the people. If there was a problem, it was your responsibility and no one else’s. After all, a construction site is not a playground.
Ultimately, the confidence we had in our level of expertise, our sense of duty, and the courage we had to take on new challenges have allowed us all to grow and improve.
Out of the projects you worked on, which one stands out the most?
For me, probably the most beautiful and interesting project is the Forum Palace building in Vilnius.
Each of its corners is different, and for a very long time, we couldn’t find a solution that would suit all the stakeholders. We even debated whether to go ahead with the project at all. At the time, the technological tools we had just didn’t seem to be sufficient for such a complex project.
However, we knew what the end result should be. We were determined to realise the architectural vision. So we counted the ellipses, drew the segments, and worked with a lot of ambition and desire, and in the end, we were able to realise this project. The result of our efforts is a beautiful building that still graces the centre of Vilnius today.
What advice would you give to new employees starting their career at Staticus?
The most important thing is to be collaborative. At Staticus, the number of opportunities is increasing all the time and our projects are getting bigger and more complex. This growth is only possible if we respect each other’s work and contribution.
So, I would encourage you to see the tasks you have taken on not as an obligation, but as an opportunity. Civil Engineering is a very broad and interesting field. You have to use your spatial reasoning, your knowledge of Physics, and your ability to communicate to be successful. You can expect your career to be very varied, and it is all about grabbing and enjoying the opportunities it offers.
It’s crucial to maintain the good reputation of both yourself and your company. Your behaviour must be impeccable in the office, in production, and on construction sites.
My wish is for Staticus’ name to be associated with quality, respect, and professionalism. I want customers and partners to proudly say that working with Staticus means you can expect only the very best.