Dairy World CEO: I am the kind of person who always prefers the word “I want!”

So much has been written about the Order Bearer, Honored Agricultural Worker Marina Anikeeva! However, with my hand on my heart, I still want to write so much. Charismatic modern female leader for many years competently manages the largest enterprise, actively introduces new technological processes, combining this with comprehensive care for people of work. As a result, the staff of the enterprise is one hundred percent staffed, and employees value their workplace.

As an astute person and a subtle psychologist, Marina Anikeeva knows the needs and aspirations, strengths and weaknesses of each employee without exception. The first in subordinates she develops, the second helps to correct.

By the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 303 dated September 4, 2026, the General Director of Dairy World OJSC Marina Anikeeva was awarded the Order of the Fatherland of the III degree. The Order was solemnly presented by the Head of State.

Importantly, I have always seen her surrounded by people – in the workplace, in student classrooms, in numerous meetings as an MP. Overflowing positive energy constantly allows it to solve problems for people and in the name of people, and professionalism, versatile knowledge and intelligence to find the only correct and often non-standard solutions.

In 2023, the Grodno OJSC of the Order of Labor Glory “Milk World” became the first enterprise in Belarus to receive this high state award. The bar of professional skill has been raised to the highest level, and keeping it is not an easy task! However, a friendly two-thousand team, which acts as a living well-coordinated organism, where each individual employee is unique and irreplaceable, manages to perform even the most complex tasks. As a result, the company is constantly increasing production volumes, actively promoting its brand far beyond the borders of Belarus, opening new markets.

And the main driver of growth has always been and remains Marina Evgenyevna, because the CEO is personally responsible for the overall result. A true professional, for whom the work of life has become selfless work for the good of the Motherland. A man who made himself, building his destiny brick by brick. A person for whom one of the main principles is “First think about your homeland, and then about yourself!” At the same time, the foundation was her parental home, where basic everyday values were laid and the character of a modern leader-innovator was formed. Hard work, honesty and the desire to always come to the aid of those who need it are the three pillars on which Marina Anikeeva’s worldview rests. By the way, the fate of Marina Evgenyevna made more than one amazing turn, worthy of the script of an exciting film, before the successful manager-director, having carried out a large-scale modernization, led the Milky World to new successes with a confident hand. Today, the enterprise processes 1800 tons of raw materials per day, and in its assortment - 300 items of various products. Over 50 percent of all dairy raw materials produced in Grodno region are processed here.

The processing industry in the current five-year plan is designated as one of the drivers of growth of the Belarusian economy. An important role in this belongs to the company headed by Marina Anikeeva. When it comes to personal achievements, she always repeats: “This is not my merit, but the merit of the whole team.” And a large, two-thousand-strong team of “Milk Mirists” knows perfectly well that the shock work of each will be appreciated.

Stably high wages, a solid social package, a well-developed system of bonuses for achieving specific results are the key tools that help a dynamically developing processing company attract young people, retain professionals and see clear career prospects.

Every business is not just about numbers and accomplishments. It's people first. The management comprehensively cares about the existing employees, while not forgetting about their veterans who have given 15 years or more to work at the plant. There are 330 of them now. Several times a year, they receive financial assistance, food packages and the possibility of free trips to iconic places of their native Belarus.

Marina Anikeeva is from the village of Artyushino, Pskov district of the Russian Federation. In 1990 she graduated from the Riga Red Banner Institute of Civil Aviation Engineers with a degree in “Economist Engineer”. Then she passed a professional path from an accountant to the first deputy director of OJSC Berezovsky Cheese Plant. In February 2012, she received a new appointment: she became the General Director of Dairy World.

One, but very important touch to the portrait of the heroine. Having thoroughly known the work of dairy processing enterprises, that is, from the inside, Marina Evgenyevna made modernization of production at the expense of the enterprise and at the expense of attracted funds the basis of the foundations. The introduction of modern technological equipment, according to her, allows you to simultaneously solve a two-pronged problem: firstly, it greatly facilitates the work of workers, and secondly, saves large energy resources.

Like any creative and visionary leader, Marina Anikeeva works for the future. And he sets tasks to his subordinates through the prism of the implementation of Presidential Decree No. 143 “On the Development of the Dairy Industry”, the State Program “Agribusiness of the Future” (for the period until 2030, he sets large-scale tasks to increase production, including a significant increase in milk production and processing).

The company invests profit not only in modernization and salary increase. The red line here is taking care of people. In 2023, a cooperation agreement was signed with the Belarusian Red Cross. And together with the whole team, its General Director takes an active part in dozens of charitable projects and actions: they sponsor orphanages, schools, hospitals, as well as veterans of the Great Patriotic War, labor and people with disabilities.

The newspaper square is not rubber. When it was time to interrupt the conversation, all I had to do was ask a very interesting question. Marina Anikeeva gave 22 years to work at the Berezovsky Cheese Plant, invested a lot of effort in the production and (what to hide?!) her own health. The enterprise from Brest region successfully survived the modernization, it can be said that the business went on a rolled-out, and here it was proposed to head the Milky World in Grodno. An urgent move to another area, a new production, an unfamiliar team in a strange city of 1,200 people. When I say this, I answer philosophically:

- I am the kind of person who always prefers the word “I want!” I moved. At first she lived in a dormitory, and by the New Year, indeed on December 31, almost moved to a service apartment under the chimes. (Smiling.) I knew a lot, I had to get acquainted with something at night. Interesting challenge! And in terms of psychology, and in terms of building human relationships. I got a large and rather troublesome farm: three factories located in different cities, an agricultural enterprise in Berestovitsky district and, again, a difficult team that had to be charged with enthusiasm and new ideas. Would it work? In any case, the “Milk World” has many reasons to be proud

kozyrev@sb.by