Meet Dace Silvonika, the head of Balcia's administrative department!
She enjoys the dynamic aspects of her work and always lends a hand to colleagues in resolving diverse situations. Meanwhile, in her free time, she sings, reads, and ventures into nature. How does she manage it all? Read the interview with Dace! ✨
What is Balcia?
Balcia is a Latvian insurance company that offers quick and easy insurance for the things that matter to people - whatever is relevant to their lifestyle. The company is structured broadly, with over 100 people in Latvia and branches in Poland, Lithuania, France, and Estonia.
Which of the insurance products do you use yourself?
We have two children in the family actively participating in sports training, so we have Junior Insurance. We have also chosen Accident Insurance because you never know what might happen. We also have car insurance and insurance for my husband's motorbike. And when we go traveling, we also make sure we have Travel Insurance.
How did you end up in Balcia?
When I was still a student, more than twenty years ago, I was approached by the company's owner, Gints Dandzbergs. "Enough slacking; time to do some work!" he said, inviting me to join him. I have evolved with the company, which has changed dramatically over the years.
What do you do in Balcia?
I started working in insurance in the claims department. Then I became Assistant Manager, Assistant to the Board, then Assistant to the Council, and now I head the administration department. Our department handles all kinds of documents - letters, contracts, board decisions, orders - and organizes events for colleagues. It's also our day-to-day responsibility to ensure that other colleagues feel comfortable so everyone can do their job. At work, colleagues don't have to worry about household things; they can do that at home. In addition, I'm always aware of the latest jobs Balcia offers, just in case someone is searching for a new job opportunity – I have a good thing to offer.
What do you like about your job?
I really like to take care of people to put things in order. If someone is not feeling too well, I see how I can help them. I also like to grow and change myself, and I'm happy to accept changes in the company because it allows me to grow, too. In a way, I'm a bridge between management and all my colleagues.
Another thing I really like is that every day is different at Balcia.Jobs are so diverse, and I see so many emotions, what my colleagues can and sometimes can't do - I am very interested in people and what they do; we are so different! Work at Balcia is so dynamic that I am always energized. I also like the people here. I am particularly attached to people who inspire me - from the Board, the Council, and the shareholders to my colleagues in my department, from whom I have learned much and continue learning.
I also appreciate that the people here are always there for you in different situations. For example, if a child falls ill or a private matter needs to be taken care of, we can always deal with it.
What is challenging for you?
Our office building has recently been renovated, and I had to be part of the process. It was challenging because I was not used to this kind of work, so I had to switch and adapt quickly. I'm still learning how to switch quickly and try to enjoy and have fun during the process. I'm like a match – I light up so quickly, then wonder from the side – is it really me reacting this way?! But in any situation, I know how to interest myself, to find what is useful and what is my added value. As soon as I think things are routine at work and I need to change, life throws me a change. Then I think - wow, why should I leave? Who said the grass is greener elsewhere? It seems pretty green here! :)
I see that as the building changed, so did we. It is my personal growth - to be, grow, change, and accept. There was a period when the company was changing very fast. Still, I didn't change myself - I wanted to stay with the old, the familiar, in my comfort. And then, at some point, when another change was happening, I caught the rush of change. From that moment on, I enjoy every transformation; I relish it. I am very interested in how far we will go, what else we will do?
People generally don't like change; they look at it with suspicion.
That's the first three days. It is difficult to accept if people are only shown ideas initially but are not told why change is needed. At first, it isn't easy to put the big picture together. Still, as you "sleep" on the new ideas and talk to colleagues responsible for change - for example, implementing a new strategy or project - you start to understand its need. And then I got interested!
What would you like to change about yourself?
I'm too responsible; I have the perfect girl syndrome. I wished myself in the new year to rely more on others and not to be in control all the time. I am also determined not to react so quickly and sharply to all situations because not all of them require immediate action. And most importantly, not to feel guilty about it
What is your favorite Balcia event?
I love all the events; they are like stars in my jacket. We organize events for colleagues, such as Independence Day, Midsummer, and Christmas, creating a festive feeling. I especially like simple and sincere events with a family feeling. For example, the last Christmas event was like that - colleagues baked cakes under the guidance of a professional chef, and a cello was played by the Christmas tree. At the Midsummer celebration, girls made crowns on the terrace of our office, a beer sommelier came to tell us about the making of beer, beer tasting, and Latvian music was played. I like to bring tradition into every celebration so we stay aware of it. Perhaps someone might think – do we need a Christmas tree every Christmas and cheese every Midsummer? Yes, we do!
Is there an event that stands out in your memory?
I was expecting my daughter, and in the last days of my pregnancy, I organized a big sports games event for the company. I felt good and really enjoyed the event. But I couldn't understand why two colleagues were walking behind me all the time, it really got on my nerves! Ultimately, I couldn't stand it and asked why they were doing it. My colleagues confessed that they were doctors, and the management gave them the task of looking after me - in case I suddenly went into labor. Even the ambulances were prepared for every eventuality. In the evening, they realized I was all right and gave me more space. ?
How do friends call you?
Several friends still call me by my old surname - Egle! Many Daces have been born in my year, so I was often called by my surname at school to differentiate.
What arguments would you use to convince a friend to join Balcia?
Most of us at Balcia enjoy our jobs in insurance; it is a way of life! We are more than just a typical firm; we are like family. It would depend on the friend because they are very different. I would first ask the friend what they want, and then I could answer whether they have something to do with us. We are the place for people who don't like routine but like challenges; work in insurance is constantly changing. Working here would be perfect for dynamic people who like to be on the move! If you want to grow as a person and score big goals in a career, Balcia is the place to be.
What have you studied?
When I had to choose a field of study after finishing secondary school, I resisted the pressure to go into prestigious professions, such as being an economist or a lawyer. I have always been fascinated by literature and languages, so I chose to study Baltic philology with a focus on folklore. Although I have never worked a day in the profession, I am still excited about this choice. We were the first course that had the opportunity to study folklore. We were taught by such unique teachers as Janīna Kursīte, Valdis, and Rūta Muktupāveli, guest lecturer Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, who talked about the sun "dainas" (A daina or "tautas dziesma" is a traditional form of music or poetry from Latvia) and generally showed our own strength. We also went on expeditions to the regions to collect contemporary folklore, organized by the Academy of Sciences. It was exciting and a real step out of my bubble, my comfort zone, which gave me a lot as a person.
Where do you have the chance to apply Baltic philology knowledge in real life?
I get to correct mistakes in letters at work! :) I am generally very interested in folklore - rituals, history, where we come from, who we are? There's nothing more beautiful written than Dainas - that's our whole life. In my bachelor's thesis, supervised by Janīna Kursīte, I researched my daughter's surname - the word "egle". What is a fir tree - in botany, folklore, literature, science, and art throughout the Baltics? How is everything intertwined, what is the symbolic meaning of the fir tree? I used to read dainas, adore fairy tales, and know spellcraft.
Your colleagues have to be careful you don't cast some spells.
No, no, I'm a good sorceress. The witch of happiness :)! Some people think I can change the weather and tell me to summon sunny weather to our events. I can't, but it just happens that events have the perfect weather – let them think I'm responsible for it. My favorite theme in folklore is natural processes. My colleagues also call me Meadow Girl or Flower Girl. I read different herbal teas and try to spend my holidays in nature. I call myself a dualist - as much as I love the hustle and bustle of work on weekdays, I also enjoy the quiet of the homestead on weekends. Then I go to the countryside, get out of the car, and immediately feel a different energy and peace.
Where do you get out of the car?
Since I got married, my home has been on the Vidzeme seaside - in Lāņi, near Svētciems. At first, it was challenging to get used to a different seaside than my childhood in Lapmežciems, to the vastness and the absence of people. Now, I feel this place is my own because I have found a sense of homestead and peace there. My favorite hut is there, perhaps because it is where my closest people are - my husband and children. We have our own backyard field farmed by local farmers, but we plant our own shrubs, clean ditches, etc., and sometimes get angry at the rabbits that eat the hydrangeas and lilacs. My husband and I also get angry with the deer that tear down the Christmas trees, but my son rightfully noted: "Mum, we have come to live in their space, not the other way round". He is right! The children have given names to some of the deer - the cheeky ones that come close are Pienene (Dandelion) and Sniegpulkstene (Snowdrop). We also have a sea eagle called Zeltainis, and for many years Laimonis the stork was the keeper of the house; now his daughter Elfrīda has returned, which of course, is unproven. This is how we live in the countryside, capturing everything through the feeling and calmness of nature! Keeping ourselves busy with work with saws and shovels - we look after everything and relax by working. We're all together by the bonfire – cooking soup. In the evening, we have a tradition of putting all our work aside and going through a small forest to watch the sunset together. This is where I feel best!
Tell us about your childhood!
I grew up in Lapmežciems, in an old fishing family, and I have both the wit and the strength of my ancestors. I feel this grit very strongly in myself, and almost no job is too hard for me. I know what it is like to dip my hands in cold water early in the morning, putting nets in the sea - it is not hard, it is beautiful! I know what a fisherman's wife's hands look like. I have a bundle that I used to mend nets with when I was a child, and it is challenging work. But it has given me this grit, and I see it in my sister and other relatives from fishing villages. It is very difficult for us to say the word "can't", which is sometimes necessary. We are also often moody, easily annoyed, and reluctant to talk to strangers. My cousin and I have been researching our family and have found out that the prototype of Oskars, from "Zvejnieka Dēls", is my great-grandfather Andrejs Galanders, who also introduced traps in Latvia.
My other grandmother comes from Selija. She came to Kurzeme as a refugee and stayed there. We stayed with her in the peat fields when we were children, a place in Smārde - in the middle of the forest- and my grandmother would tell us stories every evening. They were not real fairy tales but stories about her childhood, from which I learned much about my ancestors, great-grandfather Kārlis, the horse whisperer, and various life pearls of wisdom. For example, which herbs should be harvested for teas and at what time, which herbs can be harvested first in spring, and which are best left untouched?? My big talk comes from these ancestors because fishermen's relatives usually tell me, "how much can you speak?!
Since my childhood was spent between these two different worlds - in the middle of the forest and by the sea- that may be why I like different environments. I can adapt very quickly and find colors in life. It is very important for me to live well - not in terms of comfort, but of experiencing every moment. Since childhood, I have been aware of the value of every moment, experiencing the proximity of death, fear, and the fragility of life. When you have experienced difficult situations, it is important not to stay inside the pain but to come out of it with a different quality. They have also given me a sense of acceptance - this is my life, my life's road bag. I have been walking along the sea since childhood; it is my Santiago way. I have also taken a bag, gone alone, and stayed in the forest, thus experiencing something within myself. There is a way for everyone! I feel best by the sea only in a storm; I am developed by the storm. When there is wind, I feel alive. A calm sea is not for me.
What was your first job?
My grandfather brought back tubs full of eelpout from the sea, which I had to clean. This is how you do it: take a small knife, gut the fish, and throw it in the other tub. Then Grandma cut the fish to size on skewers, put them on a long pole, and then it was my sister's job to run around and chase the flies off the fish while they were drying. Meanwhile, my grandmother was preparing the hut where the fish would be smoked: first, she would bring sawdust, then alder wood, a special process. When the fish was being assembled to be smoked, we always drank mint tea and waited for them to be ready. We were allowed to eat one warm skewer - which was not for the customers.
How long did you have to wait?
It felt like an eternity, but it certainly wasn't that long. An hour, an hour and a half. It depended on how high they put the skewers in the hut. I remember how good the clothes smelled after smoking. For others, it might be an unpleasant smell, but it was a scent for me! I think my patience comes from both the work with the fish and waiting.
What makes your heart sing?
It's definitely singing! I have been in the Minjona choir for more than 15 years. We are conducted and inspired by Romāns Vanags. I also enjoy attending great concerts, traveling, exploring new cultures, and having inspiring conversations with people.
What is the Song Festival for you?
Knowing that all is well with us. I first participated in the Song Festival as a kokle player as a teenager and then sang in the choir. When you stand among all the participants, it's a feeling that you can't describe.
Which songs are closest to your heart?
Lūgšana, Kur tu biji, bāleliņi, Mūžu mūžos būs dziesma. There are many. I get shivers down my spine when I sing "Nācēji" by Valtis Pūce, a new work with a part of the song dedicated to each region. I feel myself now as a Vidzeme woman; I also feel the Sēļi, where my grandmother comes from. When we sing about Kurzeme, I feel like standing up straight and puffing out my chest more. There are many beautiful new songs in the repertoire. When we sang 'Koki' by Jēkabs Jančevskis, I couldn't sing – I had tears in my eyes, such power and message in the song. We cannot forget our classic Song Festival songs, but we must also make room for new compositions, just as we make room for new chief conductors.
Do you see a link between your hobby and work??
Yes, I have a very well-pitched voice! :)
Do you have any other hobbies?
I read many books, and poetry is particularly close to my heart. Klāvs Elsbergs, Ojārs Vācietis, Knuts Skujenieks - these are my favorites. We are also melomaniacs in the family!
What book would you suggest to your colleagues?
I recommend everyone to read Eduards Virza's "Straumēni," especially those who are always running and rushing somewhere and who want to outrun winter, autumn, spring, and summer. Nature is above everything, and "Straumēni" slowly and calmly takes you through all the seasons. Every Latvian should read this book - a god training for patience.
My life book is Zenta Mauriņa's "Dzīves Vilcienā," which my literature teacher recommended me to read in 10th grade - when I was thinking about who I was, what I was doing in life? It's a dramatic enough book, which is how I like it. It is also intelligent enough – just like the author. There are also very practical scenes of life, the fate of a Latvian, the always striving upwards. For example, there is a quote in this book: "She didn't know how to think because she was a herd." These words have helped me stand up straight when I do something others don't understand, such as choosing to study according to my interests or traveling alone. The main character's stories helped me through various times of change - the 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s - as I went through life.
Did you know what you wanted to be when you were a child?
Yes, I wanted to work in a kiosk because you can read magazines all day. I didn't know that you had to sell there too, the main thing for me was to read. In the first grade, I registered at the library, took a book out, and brought it back the next day to check out the next one. Then the librarian explained that you don't have to read what you've checked out in one day. But that was my other world as a child - sitting in the dunes and reading, reading, reading - everything!
Do your kids also read?
My son, who is 11 years old, is very much into football, and that's his whole life. Still, he also loves to read, even encyclopedias and is a history and geography enjoyer. I have never forced it on him, but he is interested in Latvian language and literature. My son perceives Latvian as a mathematical formula; for example, he is fascinated by how a comma changes a sentence. The nine-year-old daughter does not read at all and says of her brother: "Is it my fault that my brother has such a boring life that he has to read all the time?". Such is life for us. Both children play musical instruments - my daughter piano and my son cello, just like my sister and I did when we were kids. I'm a kokle player, my sister is a violinist.
Is there anything you would like to try?
Yes, I would like to write a book. I want to go on ethnographic expeditions where I can talk to people - learn, research, and help.
What are your life beliefs?
To be alive and live every moment to the fullest, whether happy or sad. Not to run away from life's different experiences but to learn from them. Of course, we all have situations when we get stuck, but we have to get out of them - we have to go and do it! And for people to go more to the forest and to the sea, where they get better.
