Bridges and tunnels play a key role in construction and infrastructure development. Behind every one of these small, large engineering marvels is a team of experts whose work brings safety, connection and comfort to our lives. And one such prominent figure who is an expert in her field is Ing. Tatiana Bacíková, based in Bratislava.

Is there also a place for female intuition in technical waters? Is it advisable to underestimate active relaxation when you have so much responsibility? And how does the delicate Slovakian female soul work in a male team? Ms Bacíková knows the answers to all these questions.

Mrs. Bacíková, you are the head of the Bridges, Tunnels, Geotechnics studio at the Bratislava office. How can a layman imagine such a job position?

The position of the studio manager is mainly based on the management of custom-made activities and “hand in hand” with this is closely related to leading the team to achieve the set goals. Another important part of the job is technical and consultancy activities within projects to ensure the quality and professional level of the contracts.

Let’s go back in time. Tell us how did you get into this job? Did you know from a young age where your heart was drawn?

Construction and studying at the Faculty of Civil Engineering were not my goal. In the beginning, I considered it as a backup plan until I could get into my dream economics college. The turning point came when I came into contact with bridge construction. I completely fell in love with the field and it has stuck with me ever since.

D3 Svrčinovec - Skalité, Most Markov

What is it about this profession that you enjoy and find fascinating? What do you always look forward to?

My interest is drawn by the uniqueness of the buildings I work on. Historically, bridges are among the monuments that have the ability to impress us with their importance, size, shape and arouse admiration. I am passionate about the entire project process, from the initial conceptualisation of the engineering design, through the team design process, to the final approval phase of the structure.

And let’s take it the other way around. Even in the most amazing and maybe even the most fun job in the world, there will always be something you don’t enjoy. What is your least favorite part of your profession? Is there some little thing or activity where you usually say to yourself: “Yeah, that’s not my cup of coffee,”?

Every major project has a peak phase, which is characterised by time pressures, while achieving the quality and efficiency of the building design is required. These periods tend to be challenging for me and the whole team, and I always feel a sense of relief when they are over. I consider the bureaucracy and associated administration in the construction preparation process to be my least favourite part.

When it comes to highways, bridges, structures and so on, the numbers and projects speak volumes. But I’d be very interested to know if there is also a place for female intuition in your work? Is there a loophole where that intuition gets to speak?

I see women’s intuition as an extremely useful quality in the construction industry, because we women subconsciously observe thousands of small details and can be extremely helpful in technical solutions. I must also admit that in my profession, the support and alliance of male colleagues is important to me.

What has been the biggest personal challenge for you in relation to your work so far?

My personal long-term challenge is to maintain a strong team of colleagues that I lead. To reach out to young people, to pass on experience, to motivate, to encourage them to be independent and to be able to take responsibility for this highly professional work. I have become convinced that the key to successful projects is the quality of teamwork.

How can we imagine your day? Please tell us what it looks like in the context of such a job.

I start work early in the morning, where I have quiet time to prepare, plan and prioritise within the studio. This is followed by creative work, engaging with colleagues, going through technical solutions and reviewing projects. Afternoons usually belong to the administrative and economic agenda. Meeting with clients is also an essential part of my work, as well as regular visits to buildings as part of inspection days.

Let’s go to the highways. With so much highway construction going on, I wonder why we drivers usually get nervous when something is being repaired somewhere? I understand that there is some delay, constraint and inconvenience, but why can’t we usually look ahead and say, “Oh yeah, when it’s done, it will be to my benefit”? Do you think that the quick indignation whenever a repair is in progress is something that affects more Slovak and Czech drivers? Or is it probably like this everywhere where something is being built and repaired?

I think such outrage is natural when building transport infrastructure, because the public is part of the construction site. For this reason, it is a key role of us traffic and civil engineers to design projects to have the least negative impact on road comfort and safety.

How do you cope with the pressure and responsibility that comes with your job? Do you have any good tips on how to handle some of this and how to clear your head, for example?

If a person finds a job that he enjoys, he sees pressure and responsibility as an inherent part of the profession. The value of fulfilling work becomes the driving force that overcomes obstacles. Quality time with family and active relaxation in sports are then the most effective ways for me to recharge positive energy.

I will come back to you personally in conclusion. When you are driving around a building that you were part of and you were involved in some way, what goes through your mind? Do you realise that the bridge you are driving over is also standing because of you?

At a moment like this, I am grateful to be part of a building that will benefit human society for a long time.

Ing. Tatiana Bacíková, vedoucí ateliéru Mosty, tunely a geotechnika, Valbek SK, spol. s r. o., Bratislava