Ilya Gevorgizov: a leader must be able to manage his emotions

We continue the “Frankly speaking” section. Its heroes are employees of the Mosmetrostroy group of companies, who share their rules of life with readers and speak honestly about themselves. This time we talked with the General Director of Tunnel-2001 LLC, Ilya Gevorgizov. He told us who he dreamed of being as a child and how bridge builders go through their baptism of fire.

• I have been working in Metrostroy for 27 years. I started with the master. Before that, he worked at Mostotrest No. 7, on the construction of the BAM and at the Design and Survey Institute as a department head.
• There should be a slide rule on my desk, like a talisman.
• I have an ascetic office, although I could have chosen the largest one in the building. This is not the point, but the volumes that we carry out.
• The manager must foresee everything and be able to organize. And also - to replace each specialist in his place.
• Human life is strangely structured: while there is strength, there is no experience. Then experience works for you, but a little less strength.
• As a 17-year-old boy, I went to MIIT to study at the Faculty of Bridges and Tunnels. Since then, my life has been connected with transport construction, and I have never wanted to change my activity.
• I teach my children that no matter what you do, if you are honest and dedicated to your work, you will achieve success.
• As a child, I dreamed of being a sailor because I loved the sea. And then I changed my mind. When I flew on an airplane for the first time, I understood what seasickness meant. And my mother, a doctor, said: “Ilyusha, just imagine, you will always be chatted like this on the ship.”
• The sages say that you can read thousands of books, but only five will remain in your soul. For me, they were the Bible, the Torah, the Koran, “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and “The Master and Margarita” by Mikhail Bulgakov.
• The main rule at the planning meetings in Tunnel 2001 is dialogue. I always listen to people.
• I have 20 tunnels behind me, which is already 30 kilometers in total.
• Colleagues value me for my efficiency and experience.
• Mostotrest No. 7 was engaged in the construction of bridges and structures throughout Kazakhstan and Central Asia. I, a 23-year-old boy, was tasked with building a five-span bridge in the steppe, 40 kilometers from the nearest populated area.
• According to the tradition of bridge builders, the builder must stand under the span when the first train passes over it. I got there and the train started moving. And suddenly there was a crash - it turned out to be compression of the supports. I was so scared - why did I climb?! I'm only 23 years old, I'm about to fall! But everything went well because it was built correctly. This was my baptism of fire.
• As soon as a person learns to manage his emotions, he will achieve the highest skill, including as a leader. The rest is just experience.
• Parents often complain that their children have forgotten about them and don’t come. So it’s your fault, you raised them. If you love your child, then everything will come back. The same with the team.
• My mother was a doctor, and my father was a mining electrician. They met as students in Tashkent.
• Moscow is my city. I also love St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Tbilisi. They are close and understandable. But I wouldn’t want to live there.
• The World Cup will be held, and Moscow will be left to us - wide sidewalks, street cafes.
• At 17, I arrived at the Kazansky station, while I was moving to the next one, I was dragging my suitcase. On Komsomolskaya I see a chandelier in the center and think – why? It would be better if an escalator was built between the stations. Today, another concept is to connect transport hubs. I got out of the subway and got on the train.
• I have a daughter, Arina, and a son, Grisha. I am very proud of them.