People at ALPLA – Interview with Lidia Janeth Bernal Yepes

Hi Janeth, thank you for your time. I’ll ask a few questions to help us get to know you better. To start, could you please tell us your name, age, and position?

My full name is Lidia Janeth Bernal Yepes. I am 44 years old, and my current position is Chief Accountant.

How long have you been working at ALPLA?

I have been at ALPLA for 22 years—two years as a temporary employee and 20 years directly with ALPLA Colombia.

How did you start? What was your first position, and how did your career develop within ALPLA?

I started in the packing area as a temporary employee, putting covers on bleach packaging. Due to my performance, I stayed and rotated across different injection machines. That experience motivated me to study, as I had always done well in school and loved numbers.

While working rotating shifts, I completed a technical degree and later moved into an administrative role at ALPLA Colombia. I began at Reception, where I supported accounting tasks such as cash receipts, reconciliations, and payment documentation. As operations grew, I progressed through roles as Accounting Clerk, Assistant, Payroll Auditor, and Accounting Analyst.

Since last year, I have been Chief Accountant. Along the way, I also completed my university degree as a Certified Public Accountant, followed by a specialization in Management and Financial Administration.

And what would a typical day of yours be like?

On a typical day, I arrive at 7:00 a.m., either by company shuttle or by car. I start the day with a coffee and then review priorities and pending tasks. I coordinate topics related to treasury and payments and support my colleagues with questions or decisions on how to proceed and what to prioritize. Samuel Barrera, our Finance Manager, has placed a great deal of trust in me and given me the authority to make certain decisions when he is not available.

If you had to describe to a child what your work is like, what would you say?

I would say it’s a really fun job—one that I truly love and that feels like a second home to me. What I do fulfills me and has supported my life and my family in many ways. I have two daughters, and I often tell them that while I’m very happy at home, I’m also happy at work. There are challenging and urgent days, but learning how to manage situations and find solutions has been incredibly valuable for me.

Are you currently working on a project, or have you worked on one that has given you a lot of satisfaction?

During a leadership training, the topic of the Supplier Portal came up. Basically, we noticed that it could reduce our administrative workload, and at the same time, suppliers could benefit by checking their paid invoices, tax reference certificates, and whether their invoice has been processed or not. The project was launched last year. Now we are in a transition phase: new suppliers are already on board, and we need to integrate the existing ones that were already in the accounting software.

What would you say is your greatest achievement so far, personally or professionally?

My greatest achievement was facing the challenge that came with the passing of our former Finance Manager. In many ways, it felt like a tribute to the trust he had placed in me—being able to keep the department running and support General Management during that time.

Despite the sadness we all felt—personally, he was like a father to me—we were able to ensure continuity without any issues. For that, I was later thanked by our General Manager - Hernando Beltrán.

If you could choose a mentor now, who would you choose?

Wow, a mentor… I have several people to choose from. For me, Ignacio has been a huge support from the very beginning because he always showed trust in me. He’s a person with great knowledge and strong human qualities, someone who knows how to see people’s potential. So, from the perspective of understanding people, it would be Ignacio. And from the financial knowledge side, it would be Samuel.

How do you think your team would describe you as a leader?

I believe they would say I’m a serious person who is always open to helping at any time—someone they can turn to for anything they need.

Regarding ALPLA’s identity, how do you live it?

Basically by doing my job, focusing on quality, and striving to do everything as best as possible, both internally and externally. And always looking for improvement—what I can do to improve individually and collectively.

On a personal level, if you had to share a unique saying from Colombia, what would it be?

There’s a very traditional one—I don’t use it much, but I think it applies here: "El que a buen árbol se arrima, buena sombra lo cobija" - “He who gets close to a good tree, good shade shelters him.” Because when you’re in a place where you feel good, where you’re welcomed, you’ll be fine.

What's your favorite place on earth?

My favorite place is my home. I feel very comfortable there.

In your free time, what do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies?

In my free time, I read. Due to personal and work situations, I’ve noticed that nowadays the world demands a lot of emotional control… control over many things. So I read about that. I also like movies; I often go out with my best friend to watch movies.

What kind of music do you like to listen to in the car?

Well, I’m a rock fan—and also salsa. But mainly rock.

If you had to think of something you can’t resist, what would it be?

Well… I can’t resist food. Yes, I admit it.

Lastly, if you had to describe ALPLA in three words, which ones would you choose?

Vision. Commitment. Human quality.

Thank you so much for your time and for letting us get to know you.