Women Reality in TECH :: True & Inspiring Stories of Successful Women (Part 2) by DevStyleR

#Inspiring #Successful #Charming #Leaders

WR TECH Women in Tech Matter

THE TRANSITION FROM PHYSICS TO QA “SOFTWARE THAT’S IN SERVICE TO THE END-USERS IS VALUED THE MOST” THE WOMAN WHO BREAKS STEREOTYPES IN THE IT SECTOR “I LOVE MY JOB, NETWORKING, MEETING PEOPLE, NEW IDEAS, PROJECTS AND CREATIVITY” A MIX OF A HELICOPTER PILOT, A PROFESSIONAL BAKER AND А CERTIFIED AGILE COACH FRONTEND DEVELOPER - A PROFESSION WHICH CONSTANTLY TEACHES YOU NEW THINGS

MIGLENA OUZOUNOVA:

“The recognition and trust of my colleagues give me energy and motivation to move forward” in partnership with

wrtech.io

Fintech:: Възходът

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Fintech:: Възходът

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CONTENTS #1

08 08. THE WOMAN WHO BREAKS

STEREOTYPES IN THE IT SECTOR

NATALIA FUTEKOVA - ERP - MANAGING PARTNER, DIRECTOR OF THE “INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES DIVISION”

14. INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGIES

ARE THE KEY TO SOLVING SOCIAL PROBLEMS

TANYA HRISTOVA - MAYOR OF GABROVO CITY

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40 18. “THE RECOGNITION AND TRUST OF

MY COLLEAGUES GIVE ME ENERGY AND MOTIVATION TO MOVE FORWARD”

MIGLENA OUZOUNOVA-TSEKOVA - А1- SENIOR HR DIRECTOR & MEMBER OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM OF A1 BULGARIA

24. “SOFTWARE THAT’S IN SERVICE TO

THE END-USERS IS VALUED THE MOST” ZHENI KYUCHKOVA, MENTORMATE - DIRECTOR OF QUALITY AND PROCESS

14 36

28 28. POSITIVITY, ENTHUSIASM AND

CONFIDENCE - THE SUCCESSFUL RECIPE FOR BUILDING AN INTELLIGENTLY CONNECTED WORKPLACE

ELENA DRECHEVA - MANAGING DIRECTOR AT KONICA MINOLTA

32. A MIX OF A HELICOPTER PILOT, A PROFESSIONAL BAKER AND А CERTIFIED AGILE COACH GLORIA STOILOVA - QUESTERS - DELIVERY MANAGER

36. “TECHNOLOGIES ARE THE

FUTURE. THEY PROVIDE ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES.”

SVILENA HANDJIEVA - HEAD OF AUTOMATIONS DEPARTMENT AT RAIFFEISENBANK BULGARIA WR TECH | 3

CONTENTS #2

32 44

18 40. FRONTEND DEVELOPER - A

PROFESSION WHICH CONSTANTLY TEACHES YOU NEW THINGS

NIKOLET JENSEN - FRONTEND WEB DEVELOPER AT ACCENTURE

44. A CHARMING FAN OF THE

AUTOMOBILE RACES, WHO DOESN’T LIKE STEREOTYPES ALEXANDRA MECHKOVA CEO OF TELERIK ACADEMY

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48. THE TRANSITION FROM PHYSICS TO

QA MANAGEMENT

SAVINA SAVOVA - ANAKATECH - QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER

52. “IN ORDER TO HAVE A GOOD START,

KEEP IN MIND THAT YOUR TEAM MATTERS THE MOST.” GERGANA PANCHEVA - TECH LEAD AT ACCENTURE

60 56. AN UNCOMPROMISING LADY WHO

64. HER LIFE LED HER TO THE IT

LYUBA ILIEVA - SENIOR DIRECTOR AUTOMATION AND QUALITY AT MUSALA SOFT

LILY LOZANOVA, CLIPPINGS - AGILE COACH

LOVES HER JOB

60. “I LOVE MEETING NEW PEOPLE,

NETWORKING AND BUILDING CREATIVE PROJECTS”

JUSTINE TOMS - BULGARIAN ENTREPRENEUR, LECTURER AND AUTHOR

INDUSTRY AND NOW SHE LOVES HER PROFESSION 68. “I HAVE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER AS

I AM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I TRULY BELIEVE THAT I HAVE FINALLY FOUND THE RIGHT PLACE FOR ME ” GERGANA GRANCHAROVA - INCINERATION PRODUCTIONS - CO-FOUNDER, CEO

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CONTENTS #3

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The woman who breaks stereotypes in the IT sector Natalia Futekova is managing partner in ERP.BG and is definitely a person you do not think you could meet in the IT industry. For her 20 years of experience, she says that she has encountered difficulties and challenges regarding gender inequality, but still managed to find common ground with all her male colleagues. Natalia believes that if the mind is not “beautiful”, the vision is nothing.

“I BELIEVE IN PEOPLE A LOT AND HOPE THAT I CAN BE USEFUL TO THEM WITH MY EXPERIENCE AND ADVISE, SO THAT THEY CAN DEVELOP A LIFE THAT MAKES THEM HAPPY AND SATISFIED.” 8 | WR TECH

For her 20 years of experience in the IT industry, Natalia shares that she has encountered difficulties and challenges regarding gender inequality, but still managed to find common ground with all her male colleagues and build a professional relationship with them. According to her observations, women in the IT sector are increasing more and more, not only as experts and employees, but also as managers and managing partners. Natalia believes that over time, age, gender and any other characteristics lose their meaning, because the qualities and value system that a person has are really important. Professionally, her biggest cause is education support. Natalia doesn`t think that her male colleagues have a different attitude towards her. She added that in her opinion, the most important role of women is to listen, understand and show empathy because colleagues appreciate these qualities very much. For her, the maintained

vision and the positive appearance, which at the same time is confident, gain the trust and make the communication much easier. Natalia is a business owner and says it has been difficult for her to distinguish between personal and professional life. However, she adds that with years has managed to learn that you need to spend enough time on yourself to be in shape for everything else. Natalia’s personal cause is to help people be more aware of their lives and the direction in which they have decided to develop. She shares that over the years she has managed to pass on her professional experience to young people. Natalia adds that it is very important for a person who wants to develop to see successful examples, to be motivated and to know that if he has enough desire and effort, things will happen in the best way. WR TECH | 9

Can you share something about yourself that we can’t find on LinkedIn? In LinkedIn I only share information that affects my professional realization and business development. Maybe your audience will be interested to share about one of the ways I relax - namely, Latin American dances. For me, this is a wonderful way to move, relax and meet very interesting and intelligent people. Have you ever faced challenges in your career regarding the fact that you are a woman? When I started my career in the IT Industry 20 years ago, I encountered challenges. At that time, there were mostly men in this branch and it was more difficult for women to be perceived as serious and responsible experts. My colleagues (men) and I still found a common way of thinking, we complemented each other with knowledge and experience, sometimes we argued, but over the years we learned to listen and accept each other. Thanks to this we have realized many successful projects and we continue to develop more and more. Do you know how many women work in your position? I think that women in the IT sector are growing more and more - not only as experts and employees, but also as managers and managing partners. This can only make me happy. Do you think that the problem with gender inequality still exists in Bulgaria and globally? I don’t think it’s a pressing issue. The world is changing. Increasingly, age, gender and any other characteristics are losing their significance. The qualities and the value system that a

person possesses are the most important. Do women’s appearance and charm help you be successful in a professional way? It surely helps. The maintained appearance and the positive attitude, make you confident, gain more trust and make the communication much easier. But let’s not forget that as long as your mind is not “beautiful”, the appearance can not make miracles. Which policies does your company encourage regarding gender diversity? The number of women is increasing in our country. However, this is not the result of following a particular policy or trend. As I mentioned above- it’s all about the qualities. How do you get along with men in your company? Do they treat you differently? I would not say that they treat me in a specific way or have a different attitude towards me. Beyond expertise, I believe that the most important role for women is to listen, understand and empathize, and colleagues appreciate these qualities very much. This is very valuable for effective management of teams and companies in general. How do you balance your work with your personal life? Are there any rules that you follow? I managed to create a balance between my personal and professional life. I am a business owner and it was difficult for me to distinguish between these two. Over the years, however, I learned that I had to spend enough time on myself to be in shape for everything else. Today, I prioritize my commitments, 10 | WR TECH

delegate my duties and responsibilities, and do not control everyone and everything - this is my formula for success. Which sources would you recommend to our audience? (podcasts, webpages, influenc - ers, youtubers) I would not say there are specific sources from which I get information and which I can recommend. I try to be aware of important economic information, to communicate with business representatives, as well as with many people with different interests. This helps me receive the best information about the current environment.

What motivates you in a professional plan? ERP systems help companies understand how their business works, clean and optimize processes, automate and build on a more solid foundation. The industry I work in is extremely interesting and is changing very fast. We all face many challenges all the time, we learn and we get better. You have been a senior assistant in the Department of Information Technology and Communications at the Faculty of Applied Informatics and Statistics at UNWE, you are a member of the Board

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of BAIT, managing partner of ERP.BG and participate in many other activities related to technology. How did you decide to enter their society? Years ago, when I first got in touch with this society, I was highly impressed by the intellect of the people in it. They are people with a vision who do not just follow, but also create trends themselves. I saw a lot of meaning and value in this. What would you advise your previous self? Going back, I wouldn’t change anything. Everyone needs to go his own way to learn the lessons that are his own. We have to be patient - everything happens at the right time.

Favourite clothes? I like to experiment and try different things. Perhaps what I like the most is the sporty-elegant style and the clothes that give more freedom in relation to the combinations. I think that they emphasize femininity and I feel most comfortable in my everyday life, in which I combine fulfillment of professional commitments and quality spending of free time.

A phone, keys, lipstick and money.

High heels or flat shoes? Definitely high!

Which cause would you support/ Are you currently supporting? My biggest cause, in a professional aspect, is supporting education. Since I’m a managing partner in ERP.BG I am in

Which is THE thing you never go out without?

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Favourite lipstick colour? Classic - red. Which is the feminine quality/duty that you don’t possess? Trying to be everywhere at once and controlling everything. Over the years I learnt how to delegate and trust more in both my professional and personal life.

charge of it - the company donates free licenses to universities, as a member of the board of BAIT in the Department of Higher Education, consulting and supporting universities, as well as through our educational organization ERP Academy, where we train students. I meet many different people of all ages in my daily life. My personal cause is to help them become more aware of the way they live and the direction in which they have decided to develop. I believe in people a lot and I hope that with my experience and advice I can be useful to them to build a life in which they are satisfied and happy.

Възходът::Fintech

“INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY ARE TOOLS FOR SOLVING SOCIAL PROBLEMS”

Tanya Hristova is the mayor of the beautiful Bulgarian city Gabrovo. She thinks that the principle of equal opportunities for both women and men is one of the fundamental pillars of democracy. According to her, being a mayor means not only to be a professional but above all to have the ability to find a common goal in the different and sometimes contradictory desires of people. Being a Mayor means not only to be a professional but above all to have the ability to find a common goal in the different and also contradictory desires of people. Being a woman Mayor is a duty and a huge responsibility. We present to you Tanya Hristova, the Mayor of Gabrovo city. Her responsibility is to serve to those that trust her. To her, the real challenge is to prove yourself every day, to uphold your principles and to overcome difficulties of any kind. Her personal life as a wife and a mother is often at the expense of the responsibility and commitment to be a Мayor 24 hours

a day. Most of the weekends are busy for her, so she is grateful her family for their understanding, patience and fair criticism. She is a firm believer that innovation and technology are not seen as abstracts but as tools for solving social problems. There isn’t a rule she follows in order to balance because probably the ability to successfully combine your personal and professional life is just a wisdom. According to her, the principle of equal opportunities for women and men is one of the fundamental pillars of democracy. She thinks that it is necessary to work at all levels to protect and

implement it. In her opinion, the problem of gender inequality is still relevant in some places. There is a positive trend that gender has long been irrelevant in many typically “male” or “female” occupations. She believes that attention to the details, the ability to prioritize, to mobilize in critical moments, the strong intuition, combined with the absence of unnecessary fears and doubts in decision-making, the ability to communicate and social sensitivity, often give additional benefits and help women more than their appearance.

“TO BE A MAYOR MEANS NOT ONLY TO BE A PROFESSIONAL, TO BE PREPARED AND PERSISTENT, BUT ABOVE ALL TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIND A COMMON GOAL IN THE DIFFERENT, AND SOMETIMES CONTRADICTORY DESIRES OF PEOPLE.”

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“THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND MEN IS ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PILLARS OF DEMOCRACY AND IT IS NECESSARY TO WORK AT ALL LEVELS TO PROTECT AND IMPLEMENT IT. “

Favourite clothes? A dress and each piece of clothing that emphasizes the lovely feminine nature. High heels or flat shoes? Both - depends on the situation. Which is THE thing you never go out without? A phone. Favourite lipstick colour? Pinkish-red. Which is the feminine quality/duty that you don’t possess? I can’t think of one. Which cause would you support/ Are you currently supporting? The cause I’ve been supporting for years and will continue to support is called Gabrovo.

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Have you ever faced challenges in your career regarding the fact that you are a woman? The principle of equal opportunities for women and men is one of the fundamental pillars of democracy and it is necessary to work at all levels to protect and implement it. The real challenge, no matter what your gender is, is to prove yourself every day, to stand up for principles, to overcome difficulties of any kind, and when you are a Mayor you have to serve the people who have given you their trust. Do you know how many women work in your position? I know many women working in my position, both in оur country and abroad, but I can’t give the exact number. Do you think that the problem with gender inequality still exists in Bulgaria and globally? Unfortunately, there are still latitudes where it is relevant. However, there is a positive trend that gender has long been irrelevant in many typically male or female occupations. Do you think that a woman’s appearance and charm affect her professional success? (example: does it make communication easier?) They probably do, but that’s not the point. Provoked by your question, I will admit that a woman, by nature, has the ability to balance and be more adaptable. Attention to detail, the ability to prioritize, to mobilize in critical moments, strong intuition combined with the absence of unnecessary fears and doubts in decision-making, the ability to communicate and social sensitivity, often give additional benefits, and help women more than their appearance. What policies do you follow regarding

encouraging diversity? I prefer a balance, where women rights are equal to men rights. How do you get along with your men colleagues? Do they treat you differently? You should ask them. Personally, I don’t feel different attitude. How do you balance your work life with your personal life? Is there any rule that you follow? It is difficult for me to strike this important balance. Very often my personal life of a wife and a mother is at the expense of the responsibility and commitment of being Mayor 24 hours a day. I can barely steal a few days off in the summer and winter. Most weekends are working weekends, I am often in my office or I visit sites with colleagues. I take this opportunity to thank my family for their understanding, patience and fair criticism. I don’t follow any rules in order to balance. Probably the ability to successfully combine your personal and professional life is just life wisdom. Which sources would you recommend to us? (podcasts, webpages, influencers, youtubers, etc.) Unfortunately, due to lack of time, I can’t say much. But I would recommend to your audience to follow the local information channels. Ever since you started your job you’ve been working on making the city modern and implementing a number of innovations. Can you share with us where did your interest in innovations and technology come from? Innovation and technology have been a tool for solving social problems, rather than abstractions for a while now. They give us the opportunity to mobilize the scientific community and business,

which must meet the agenda of global development. They are the ones that can turn cities into intelligent and intuitive systems and will increasingly dominate. And we need to find the right model to harness them for the benefit of the people and their well-being. And Gabrovo has the potential for innovation and technology. It is one of the regional centers with the strongest industrial profile in the country. Additionally, the good coordination with the Technical University and the business motivates me to put effort into transforming Gabrovo into the technological heart of Bulgaria. Can you give us more information about the technological park on the premises of the Municipality? I would not take away the right of the Technical University - Gabrovo to tell you about the new Technology Park. I will only say that it fully meets the profile of the city - with a focus on mechatronics, clean technologies, energy efficiency and ICT. The new park will be a very good basis for a deeper connection between science and business, as well as for supporting the innovation ecosystem in the city and the region. How does it feel to be the first woman Mayor of Gabrovo? A duty and a huge responsibility. What challenges do you face in your work and how do you cope with them? Which is the right receipt for work-life ballance? Being a Мayor means not only to be a professional, to be prepared and persistent, but above all to have the ability to find a common goal in the different, sometimes contradictory desires of people. I am sure that the balance between personal and professional life is one of the challenges facing every mayor. WR TECH | 17

“The recognition and trust of my colleagues give me energy and motivation to

MOVE FORWARD” Miglena Ouzounova-Tsekova, Senior Human Resources Director and Member of the Leadership Team of A1 Bulgaria, Chairperson of the Management Board of Bulgarian Association for People Management Miglena Ouzounova-Tsekova has more than 20 years of experience in human resources management. In 2002 she joined the HR team of A1 as Head of Recruitment and Selection. In 2007 she took the role of Human Resources Director and since June 2016 she is a Senior Director and member of the Leadership Team of the company. She is currently responsible for the full scope of the HR function in A1 Bulgaria - operational and strategic. She sees as her main achievements the strategies in the areas of employee engagement, organizational design, talent and career management, leadership development, employee wellbeing - all in the course of HR transformation through the years. On top of developing and implementing an integrated approach towards HR responsibilities and tasks, based on the employee lifecycle in the company, Miglena Ouzounova-Tsekova succeeded to

position the HR function on a strategic level in the organization, as partner to the business. Ms. Ouzounova-Tsekova is the Chairperson of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Association for People Management and member of the Management Board of the Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria. In February 2021 she became a member of the Economic and Social Council, as a representative of the BAPM. She has a master degree in English and American Studies and a specialization in Mass Communications from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. She holds an MBA degree from Erasmus University, the Netherlands, in a joint program with the Faculty of Economics at Sofia University. Miglena is also certified in Strategic HR Management by Cornell University, USA, and coaching by Columbia University, USA.

“GIRLS SHOULDN’T PUT BORDERS ON THEMSELVES, BUT HAVE TO FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS. BE BRAVE GIRLS, AND NEVER GIVE UP!”

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Favourite clothes? Dresses. The truth is though that most of the time I wear trousers. It is convenient and they could be combined according to the occasion- formal, casual, sports. High heels or flat shoes? Both, I choose according to my clothing. I want my shoes to be comfortable, but also pretty. Which is THE thing you never go out without? My smartphone – I cannot imagine having no connection. avourite lipstick colour? F Just lip gloss – with natural color. Which is the feminine quality/duty that you don’t possess? I do not believe that we should divide our qualities, and especially our responsibilities, according to gender. People are different in many other criteria; other factors affect their way of life and work – such as upbringing, family environment, education, society. Gender gap has been a factor in the past. In the 21st century, women succeed and cope on an equal pace with men at work and in the family. To answer your question specifically

- nothing feminine is alien to me, but I also handle successfully a lot of male responsibilities. Which cause are you currently supporting? I am very proud that A1 supports numerous socially significant causes, for example foster care, for which we partner with the National Foster Care Association. During the difficult 2020, we supported 375 children from vulnerable families so that they could remain with their parents. A1’s entire investment in the cause in the last 10 years exceeds half a million leva. Through the Payroll Donation Program, my colleagues and I also support a number of NGO causes - Animal Rescue Sofia, “Our Premature Children” foundation, Tacitus Center, the “Ready for Success” scholarship program. We also support young educators from “Teach for Bulgaria”, the foundation “Eyes on 4 paws”, “Project Northwest”, the Fund “Treatment and Rehabilitation of Children”, as well as the foundation “Dare2Care”. Personally, I support the causes that help children - to be healthy, to have a family, a good education and to succeed in life.

“THE KEY DECISION FACTORS IN THE CANDIDATE SELECTION ARE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS, NOT GENDER OR AGE OF THE APPLICANTS.”

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Share something specific about you that we cannot learn from LinkedIn? I played the violin and sang in a choir during my school years. I love music and I will always fondly remember the time of rehearsals, concerts, and tours. Do you think that the problem of gender inequality is still relevant in Bulgaria and around the world? Unfortunately, yes. This is certainly a fact in some countries and it is the result of the development of society - due to cultural, historical, social and religious circumstances. In Bulgaria, however, women have always worked. The homemaker job is not familiar to my generation. That is why I believe that we, as women, have an equal start, but the next step depends on each individual - what are her ambitions for success and how far her dreams extend. I am convinced that when efforts have been made to learn and improve throughout their careers, knowledgeable and capable professionals would not allow themselves to be discriminated based on their gender. In my company, we motivate and reward people based on their achievements, not

according to gender. We have a number of programs that provide opportunities for training, upskilling and reskilling in many professional fields - ICT Academy for Business Sales, Knowledge Club, which offers topics for professional and personal development for everyone. We have also a Talent development program, where top graduates proceed with MBA degree. We offer specialized programs for the leadership development, digital skills and more. In A1 the share of female and male employees is almost equal, where females are 45%, and males - 55%. Of course, in some areas, there is a slight predominance of men (IT) or women (Finance), but when we look for talent, we do not limit ourselves in the name of statistics. The key decision factors in the candidate selection are knowledge and skills, not gender or age of the applicants. Currently, key positions are open in IT, for which we strive to attract new colleagues - software engineers, in the following areas: React JS, React Native, Java Script, Net Core, Java. We also have positions for Data analysts, Big data engineers, DevOps engineers, system administra-

tors specializing in Linux and Windows. We expect the best. Have you ever encountered any challenges in your career just because you are a woman? I would not say so. My experience shows that when you are confident in your qualities and make an effort to develop professionally, it does not matter whether you are a man or a woman. The challenges I faced in my career were not related to gender. I think that in our society the topic is overexposed because there are many successful women in different professions, and they all succeeded because they had the necessary qualities and ambition. Women need to believe more in themselves and their abilities. Do you know how many women work in your position? I cannot say the exact number, but in my profession there are mostly women. In many companies the position of the HR director is positioned high and is on an equal level with the business leaders in the organization.

“WOMEN NEED TO BELIEVE MORE IN THEMSELVES AND THEIR ABILITIES.”

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the subject will also help to promote diversity in the company. How do your male colleagues perceive you in the company? Do they treat you differently? They see me as a partner. They respect me for my work and commitment, for the achievements of my team. In A1, I have not encountered this type of narrow-minded thinking; it is not part of our corporate culture and our attitude towards life. Does a woman’s looks and charm help her to be professionally more successful? (Example: does it make communication easier?) Professional success cannot be “bought” with charm, it can be earned with knowledge and expertise, with proper communication and the right behavior in business environment.

What policy does your company follow in terms of encouraging diversity? In A1 we strive to attract the best specialists without distinguishing by gender, age, ethnicity or other characteristics. What is important for us is people to love their work, to be ambitious, creative and open to new ideas. We work in many different areas. We are increasingly developing as an IT company. We also offer specialized ICT and IoT solutions for business, fintech solutions for end customers, TV channels, etc. We have no prejudices regarding the experience of employees. That is why we have been developing an internship program for over 15 years now, with which we give the opportunity to hundreds of young people to get acquainted with the real business environment. I am glad that over 30 percent of our interns remained as our employees. Part of my role as a business leader regarding A1’s policies as an employer is to support the development of good pro22 | WR TECH

fessional qualities and the achievement of results. I believe that this is the right way to promote diversity - we look for the best professionals and we take care to create a favorable and motivating work environment. Supporting that, this year, together with our colleagues from A1 Group, we are launching a series of seminars on “Unconscious Bias”, by which we aim to draw attention to the prejudices that we do not realize, but which we encounter in our daily lives. We believe that awareness, open sharing, and transparency on

How do you manage to balance your personal and your business life? Do you have a rule that you follow? It is difficult, but I manage to handle it with good organization and prioritizing. Work-life balance has long been obsolete because it is impossible. I personally try to integrate them by giving priority to what is important at the moment. The truth is that I juggle my tasks every day, but I also rely a lot on the help and understanding of my family. In A1 we strive to create a pleasant and productive working environment in, giving the opportunity for flexibility in terms of working hours and place. On the campus, we are providing a kindergarten for the employees’ children, a fitness center, a doctor, a psychologist. We have a number of initiatives in support of parents for the upbringing and the education of their children. We organize seminars with advice on healthy eating, sports and others. We try to be up-todate with the offers for finding a reasonable balance in the lives of our employees - health, family, work, children, and friends.

“FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. WHEN YOU HAVE THE DESIRE AND THE AMBITION TO SUCCEED, THERE IS NO WAY YOU CANNOT DO IT.”

In your role of Senior Human Resources Director and a member of the Leadership Team of A1 Bulgaria, what do you think are the most important qualities for us to be successful in this field? The technology sector is one of the fastest developing worldwide and this determines to some extent the temperament of the people who are in this industry. They are energetic, ambitious and eager to constantly learn, develop and improve themselves. I believe that in today’s dynamic life, it is even more important that people in business, and especially in the IT sector, are flexible and adaptable to change and that they do not stop learning. Consistency and perseverance in achieving goals are also important, as well as proactivity in work. What advice would you give to young ladies who decide to develop in the technology industry? First of all, you have to believe in yourself. When you have the desire and the ambition to succeed, there is no way

you cannot do it. I want to emphasize that the IT industry is not just for men. Young ladies should not put on brakes, but pursue and fulfill their dreams. Be persistent and do not give up on your dreams! How does one day of yours go? Where do you get your inspiration from? Quite dynamic and always interesting. I work with many colleagues - from my team, from the Leadership team, managers and employees from all structures. They all have different topics to discuss and the variety is broad. Sometimes the work process goes beyond the preliminary plan, but I am already used to it and I just rearrange my tasks. I always follow the rule not to leave today’s work for tomorrow. Inspiration comes from within, from the desire to do it and the satisfaction of the achievement. Of course, the recognition and trust of my colleagues are important for my energy and motivation to move forward.

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“Software that’s in service to the end-users is valued the most”

Jeni Kyuchukova, Director of Quality and Process at MentorMate, likes to try new things and look for new experiences. According to Jeni, inequality exists in many areas, but sometimes it’s up to women not to put themselves in a position of inequality. Let’s say hello to Jeni Kyuchukova, Director of Quality and Process at MentorMate, who loves trying new things and looking for new adventures. During her professional years, Jeni has been in different job positions, such as QA, QA Lead, Project Team Lead, and QA Practice Manager. She has always been moving forward, proving her expertise in these roles while being dedicated and loyal to the company she has worked for. Jeni believes that a person looks charming when they smile, have a positive approach to the situation and the conversation, and use a sense of humor. She adds that this, for sure, would give us a great start, but it is just a small part of the qualities that help us be successful in a professional way. To her, the must-have qualities of an IT

professional are the ability to be an active listener, not postpone the work, and avoid the use of expressions such as “I don’t know” or “It can’t happen” at work. She believes that we can balance our stressful work life with our personal life if we are flexible and adaptive to the situations. Jeni shares that critical thinking is a two-edged sword. She believes that if we get too critical, we might turn into unsatisfied perfectionists. To achieve high-quality and intuitive software for the clients, we need to step into the end-user’s shoes and try thinking like them. According to her, there is no software without faults, but the most successful software is the one that’s user-friendly and in service to the end-user.

“CRITICAL THINKING IS A TWO-EDGED SWORD. ON ONE HAND, IT HELPS US FIND BETTER SOLUTIONS WHEN WE DISTINGUISH A PROBLEM. BUT IF WE GET TOO CRITICAL WE MIGHT TURN OURSELVES INTO UNSATISFIED PERFECTIONISTS AND LOSE THE ABILITY TO SEE THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THINGS.”

Can you share something about yourself that we can’t find on LinkedIn? I get bored easily. I often try new things and seek new adventures. Sometimes, I even enjoy stress as it energizes me instead of burdening me. Have you ever faced challenges in your career regarding the fact that you are a woman? It is a challenge for each woman to go on maternity leave and then come back to work. The challenge was even bigger for me because the IT sector is very dynamic. It wasn’t easy, but I managed to catch up quickly. Do you know how many women work in your position? I’m not sure, but I know that at MentorMate, 41% of the management team are women. Do you think that the problem with gender inequality still exists in Bulgaria and globally? It’s a fact that inequality exists in many spheres. But sometimes, it’s up to the women not to accept and put themselves in an unequal position. Which policies does your company

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and friends that are not part of the IT industry. It’s easy to develop a fake personality on the internet. That’s why I recommend live communication with people. Would you give some practical advice on leadership and management for leading our teams more effectively? A team is a group of people with common goals. It’s of extreme importance to set clear goals for the team and communicate them individually. Also, we should always try to formulate measurable goals. That’s how we can have a real understanding of how successful people and teams are, which is also indicative of motivation, quality of work, and productivity. If one team member doesn’t cope with their tasks, an immediate reaction is required because it’s highly demotivating to see how some team members work hard while others sit and wait for someone else to do the same work. If there is no reaction or even a belated reaction in such a situation, that would poison the team’s atmosphere and ruin the leader’s reputation.

encourage regarding gender diversity? The company offers the opportunity to work remotely - which isn’t only because of the pandemic - but is flexible and fully remote. This approach already gives results, and now we have colleagues from other parts of Europe and Africa, from different cultures and religions. Apart from encouraging diversity, we’ve also launched a new initiative, which might turn out even more significant. Together with the QA department, we work with disabled people for a special type of testing called “Accessibility Testing.” Do women’s appearance and charm help you be successful in a professional way? In my opinion, someone looks charming when they’re smiling, thinking positively of each situation and conversation, and approaching everything with a bit of humor. For sure, this would give you a great start, but it is a small part of the qualities that help you be successful. How do you get along with men in your company? Do they treat you differently? I haven’t felt any special attitude. Maybe, when I was pregnant, I got more atten-

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tion from my colleagues, and during the last months of my pregnancy, they were more polite than ever. Otherwise, I’m just like all other people in the company. I have short-term and long-term goals which I pursue while respecting and adhering to the company’s values. How do you balance your work with your personal life? Are there any rules that you follow? Unfortunately, I’ve never managed to follow certain rules, and I don’t have any. It’s exactly the opposite. I think that if you want to combine stressful work with your personal life, you should be flexible and adaptive to situations. For example, I didn’t have time to work out today because I had to be in the office earlier, but I got off the metro 2 stations earlier to walk more. It’s not a proper workout, but it’s still something. Which sources would you recommend to our audience? (podcasts, webpages, influencers, YouTubers, etc.) I hope not to sound old school, but I don’t follow any YouTubers or influencers. I learn from the people around me - colleagues, customers, people I know,

Can you share with us how to become a Director of Quality and Process? Which are the main features a specialist in the sphere needs to have? I don’t think I have a recipe for how to become a Director. I can only share my own experience. I’ve been in different positions, such as QA, QA Lead, Project Team Lead, QA Practice Manager. I’ve always been moving forward, proving my expertise in these roles while being dedicated and loyal to the company I worked for. I believe that the must-have qualities for being successful are: the ability to listen actively: when we talk to someone, to understand their position, what they want and need, to show proactivity to do something about the discussed topics, instead of only discussing them. Another important quality is acting right away, not postponing tasks until the next day or week. We should set short deadlines for ourselves and make them public to keep us responsible. It is important that we don’t use expressions such as “I don’t know” or “It can’t happen” at work. Eventually, if we don’t want to do something, we can always find an alternative to achieve the same result. You shared you’ve never played any games in which you didn’t find any bugs. According to you, is that applicable to real life? Does critical thinking help us

improve ourselves? Critical thinking is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, it helps us find better solutions when we identify a problem. On the other hand, if we get too critical, we might turn into unsatisfied perfectionists and lose the ability to see the bigger picture and the bright side of things. Can you share some tips and tricks for constantly achieving high-quality and intuitive software for the customers?

We should step into the end-user’s shoes and try to think like them or imagine ourselves in a situation where the product would be used. For example, MentorMate develops mobile applications for dentists. They use it on an iPad, hung on the wall, and usually operate with it, wearing gloves. Getting such information from the client and considering the specific environment was extremely important to the app’s development. Another important thing is to create the product in a way that we can guide the

user on how to use it in the right way and at the same time manage their expectations. We need to make sure that the user knows what and how to set up, when they should wait, and inform them in a relevant way that they need to wait. We should prevent them from involuntary mistakes and, if such mistakes occur, they should be fixed easily. Eventually, there is no software without faults, but the most successful software is the one that’s user-friendly and in service to the end-user.

Favourite clothes? Recently, pajamas with dots. High heels or flat shoes? Flat ones. Which is THE thing you never go out without? Keys and recently a hand sanitizer. Favourite lipstick colour? Red. Which is the feminine quality/duty that you don’t possess? Hoping that my partner would read my thoughts or desires. If I want something, I say it out loud instead of waiting for him to guess it. Which cause would you support/ Are you currently supporting? I support the World Food Program.

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Positivity, enthusiasm, confidence - the successful RECIPE FOR BUILDING INTELLIGENTLY CONNECTED WORKPLACE

Elena Drecheva is Managing Director at Konica Minolta. She is a professional with more than 20 years’ experience in the technology sector, leading during both periods of explosive growth and in times of economic crisis. Elena believes that continual learning, empowering people, and building strong teams achieves success. She shares that the values she professes at Konica Minolta are focused on the customer, cooperation, Innovation, and business thinking. Greetings to Elena Drecheva, Managing Director at Konica Minolta. Elena believes that positive thinking and approach are the catalyst of success. Elena loves her profession very much and this helps her a lot to not be in dilemmas. Her rule, which she has managed to build over the years, is that when she is at work she is 100% dedicated to her tasks and respectively when she is with her family - the attention should be entirely for them. Elena shares that the values she confesses at Konica Minolta are Focus on the Customer, Cooperation, Acceptance of the Different, Innovation, Business Thinking and Working in a Digital Environment. Elena is always

guided by three main selection criteria and they are: education and energy of the person, knowledge and experience. The first criteria for it is mandatory, and the other two depend on the position According to her we can always benefit from a situation, no matter whether it’s a positive one or not. She adds that crisis fasten positive changes and make us achieve greater results.Elena shares that she’s met challenges with stereotypes that technologies aren’t appropriate for women, but after a conversation and a few meetings mistrust vanishes. She adds that her personal story is proof that everything depends on us and we have to try hard to get over misunderstand-

ings, anxiety and stereotypes. According to Elena, the gender inequality problem still exists in Bulgaria and globally. She’s an opposite to quotas, because she thinks they lead to discrimination. To Elena, the main criteria should be knowledge and abilities, not gender. To her, the solution for this is hidden in the culture of companies, where we have to work daily with the aim to achieve equality. Elena adds that she always aims to surround herself with people who are open and honest, have sparks in their eyes, are ready to work in a team, and accept challenges with enthusiasm.

“I THINK THAT CRISES SPEED UP THE POSITIVE CHANGES AND MAKE US ACHIEVE GREATER RESULTS.”

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Bulgaria are around 20% of the overall percentage. But I have no information on other sectors. Do you think that the problem with gender inequality still exists in Bulgaria and globally? Unfortunately, it is still relevant around the world and to some extent in Bulgaria too. Attempts to solve this problem through mandatory quotas for women have not been successful. I am personally opposed to quotas, because they also lead to discrimination. Leading should be the criteria of knowledge and abilities, not gender. My solution is the culture of companies - there is a need to work daily towards equality and diversity, equal flexible working hours for women and men raising children and / or caring for parents, internal sponsorship programs for young talent and other such initiatives.

Share something about yourself that we can’t find on LinkedIn. I believe positive thinking and attitude are the catalyst of luck. We can always benefit from a situation, no matter whether it’s a good one or not. I think crisis speed up the positive changes and make us achieve greater results. I support ideas of my teams and always enter each new project with enthusiasm and energy. Have you ever faced challenges in your career regarding the fact that you are a woman? I have encountered challenges and they are associated with stereotypes that technology is not a strong area for women, but after a conversation and some meetings, mistrust disappears. It is very much

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up to us to make an effort to overcome misunderstandings, worries and / or stereotypes, as evidenced by my personal history. I was 28 years old, unmarried when I applied for the position to lead Konica Minolta in Bulgaria. This caused a little concern among the people who had already settled on me then and I think that’s justified. I was about to get married, have children and take care of my family, and I had to develop a company almost to the core in Bulgaria. I assured them that I can take responsibility and I can manage. I kept my word and I am grateful to them for trusting me. Do you know how many women work in your position? The statistics of women of managing positions in Technological companies in

Which policies does your company follow regarding encouraging diversity? One of the values of our company is Embrace diversity - I accept and am positive about the differences. I’m not judging, I’m trying to understand. I create an environment that is inclusive. Our company has various initiatives in terms of promoting diversity, but I will pay attention to two of them: Technology Innovation Program (TIP) - a program in which participation is optional and subject to technological innovation, with a competitive element. Thus, the teams have a variety of people in different positions, from different countries. The end products of the work of these teams are always impressive. We also have a program for mobility of employees from different countries - vacancies are announced internally and everyone has the opportunity to participate, regardless of their physical location. How do you get along with men in your company? Do they treat you differently? I think that the way others treat you depends on yourself. I feel confident in myself and know what I know, I’m open for communication with people and have no prejudice that I have to be liked by everyone. My positions requires saying “no” and separating with people who don’t share my cultural values. In my work there isn’t, or at least I haven’t noticed, different attitude towards me. The reason for that is that we work with educated people, to whom what’s important is the personality, not the gender. (that’s our basic criteria for employing)

Favourite clothes? T-shirts. High heels or flat shoes? Both, depends on the occasion. Which is THE thing you never go out without? A phone and a small diary with a pen. Favourite lipstick colour? Raspberry. Which is the feminine quality/duty that you don’t possess? Aimless shoppings. Which cause would you support/ Are you currently supporting? I support causes connected to taking care of kids and elders. I personally support SOS kids villages and programs for design thinking in Red Plane – the tax for a teacher on a school basis.

“I HAVE ENCOUNTERED CHALLENGES AND THEY HAVE ASSOCIATED WITH STEREOTYPES THAT TECHNOLOGY IS NOT A STRONG AREA FOR WOMEN, BUT AFTER A CONVERSATION AND SOME MEETINGS, MISTRUST DISAPPEARS. IT IS VERY MUCH UP TO US TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO OVERCOME MISUNDERSTANDINGS, WORRIES AND/OR STEREOTYPES.” How do you balance your work life with your personal life? Is there any rule that you follow? I love my profession very much and it helps me a lot not to be in dilemmas. The rule I’ve built over the years is simple - whatever I do I stay focused on it. When I am at work I am 100% with my tasks and accordingly when I am with my family - the attention is entirely on them. I have my personal escape and this is swimming, which charges my mind and body even in the evening after everyone falls asleep - reading books. Do woman’s vision and charm help her be successful in a professional way? It works in both directions. Depends on who’s sitting next to you, but in most cases it helps. The positive attitude and good energy are more important, as you can always distinguish them in a conversation (a term from NLP – two people are in a rapport which means they have the same vibe) Which sources would you recommend to us? (podcasts, webpages, influencers, youtubers, etc.) The following pages: Universities: Alumni group from Standford and IMD of IDEO U

https://www.facebook.com/watch/ designboomnews/ Favorite authors: George Gospodinov Haruki Monakami As an answer to the challenges of the new business building, Konica Minolta develops the conception of the digital workplace of the future. How does it look and are the companies in Bulgaria ready to start working this way? Our concept is Intelligently Connected Workplace. It looks like this: no matter where we are physically, authorized digital data access in the company with a few clicks, digital processes, easy and convenient collaboration with colleagues, partners and customers, automation that saves us time and reduces errors, visualization of the important information for us in a convenient form for analysis. And yes, I think that not many of the companies in Bulgaria are ready to work this way. Circumstances also require the introduction of this type of workplace in order to ensure the stability and duration of the business. Which values do you follow in Konica Minolta in Bulgaria? The values are: Focusing on the client,

Collaboration, Accepting the Different, Innovation, Business Thinking and Working in a Digital Environment. You soon took part in the global discussional panel of Konica Minolta about the International Woman’s Day, the aim of which was to celebrate the achievements of women in the organization. What are your managing methods for encouraging diversity of the company and how do you apply your encouraging diversity for all of your employees? I am always guided by three main selection criteria and they are: education and energy of the person, knowledge and experience. The first criterion is mandatory, the other two depend on the position. I am careful to surround myself with people who are open and honest, have sparks in their eyes, are ready to work in a team, to accept challenges with enthusiasm. To support diversity we have introduced a Talent Program, and equality of colleagues we provide by providing the opportunity to participate in our selections (first we look inside the organization), the opportunity to openly share their ideas and sponsorship to the best, we constantly promote a culture of diversity and acceptance of differences. WR TECH | 31

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A mix of a helicopter pilot, a professional baker and а certified Agile Coach

Gloria Stoilova - a certified Agile Coach, Delivery Manager, helicopter pilot, military paramedic, who is also awarded as “professional confectioner and baker”. A curious fact about her is that she also has her own rosary with designer roses in her garden. Gloria Stoilova is a certified Agile Coach, Delivery Manager, helicopter pilot, military paramedic, who has been awarded the title of “professional confectioner and baker” and has her own rosary with designer roses in her garden. Gloria has two Jack Russell dogs and is a mountain medicine volunteer at the Mountain Rescue Service. According to her, a good “Delivery Manager” should not only possess theoretical knowledge of different approaches in project management but also a fairly rich set of skills for working with people, managing people and creating well-functioning teams. Gloria shares that once she didn’t

get a job because of her gender. Nevertheless, she adds that she is happy to notice that in the last few years an increasing number of women take positions similar to hers and do well, relying on good and innovative practices. Gloria believes Bulgaria is a pioneer in granting equal rights to women. She says that in recent years, people talk more about gender equality, but there are still countries where very little is done at a state or community level. Gloria believes that such policies are needed to achieve the desired gender balance.

“BUSINESS AND DYNAMICS IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT ARE VERY DEMANDING AND IN CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT OF PROCESSES, WHICH IS A COMPLETELY ORGANIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE ROLE.”

Can you share something about yourself that we can’t find on LinkedIn? I’m certified as a “professional confectioner and baker” and I have a rosary (collection) with designer (hybrid) roses in my garden. I also have two wonderful Jack Russell dogs, and I am a volunteer and trainer in “mountain medicine” at the Mountain Rescue Service. Have you ever faced challenges in your career because of being a woman? Yes, a few years ago I didn’t get a role because of my gender. Although the company shared that I am the best candidate in terms of experience and personal qualities, I did not get the job. Out of several thousand candidates, there were only 3 of us at the final stage and I was the only lady. At the last interview I performed very well, but the interviewer said that they’ve imagined a man in this

position and although I was the best candidate, they will not hire me. I was very upset because it didn’t feel right. The idea that this position was more suitable for a man seemed quite subjective. In terms of experience, education, desire to get the job and a personal approach, I felt I was suitable for the role. I wasn’t offended, but I realised how difficult it is to be a woman in a male-dominated business world and how many other great things have happened to me despite the fact that I’m a woman. Do you know how many women work in your position? No, neither as a number, nor a percentage. Apparently, most of the Delivery Managers in tech are men, because in most cases they are people who have progressed overtime from another role in their teams. But I am happy to notice

that in the last 3-4 years an increasing number of women have taken this position, and not only do well, but also rely on good practices and give a modern and diverse outlook to the role. Do you think that the problem with gender inequality still exists in Bulgaria and globally? In Bulgaria – not really. In my opinion, Bulgaria is a pioneer in granting equal rights to women. The country has been enabling women to work, make a living and build a career for years, even during its socialist past. Working women have always been a part of our society. Perhaps years ago, there was some gender inequality in pay, but this has become less common recently and, to my delight, there are more and more women who hold higher positions with more responsibilities and receive higher payment.

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It seems to me that with quite a delay, the world began to realize and accept the fact that women are equal to men, that they can do men-dominated work and can even be more resilient. In recent years, the awareness for gender equality has been increasing globally. Тhere are still places where little is being done in this direction by the state or on a community level. Policies are needed to achieve this desired balance, and fortunately, an increasing number of companies are starting to think in this direction, which is a great start. Do women’s appearance and charm help you be successful in a professional way? It depends on the situation and the people. The female appearance helps to the extent that others feel flattered by the presence of a woman and do not see a direct threat. The charm is useful when opening a conversation. When a woman has charisma, she is well respected by the others, but if she has no other qualities and skills, this magnetism stays at the entrance. The truth is that in recent years a growing number of people are working on developing their soft skills, emotional intelligence, communication skills and charisma. Charm is no longer a big factor for good communication. It helps in the beginning, but then other qualities are expected. You cannot succeed in the long run only with magnetism and a 34 | WR TECH

good look. Which policies does your company encourage regarding gender diversity? At the moment, I notice that most colleagues are hired because of their qualities, not because of their gender. This makes me very happy. And it makes me feel in the right place. I see that when there are vacancies at the company, referrals of suitable candidates in terms of professional skills, experience, soft skills, cultural fit are encouraged, and there is never any hint of gender expectations for the role. This makes me feel comfortable in the company because it values people and gender does not matter when looking for the right talent. How do you get along with men in your company? Do they treat you differently? I would say that they accept me quite well. So far, I have not noticed a different attitude towards me because I am a woman. Sometimes they are surprised by my age, my experience, my knowledge or my previous achievements, but always in the context of what I do and how I apply this experience to the benefit of the team. The discrepancy between their expectations for my role and work in the context of the team and the real situations does not provoke a different attitude, but rather a more open approach in communication between us in a calm manner and active dialogue with

each other. Honestly, so far I have not worked with people who perceived me more as a woman than as a professional and part of the team. How do you balance your work with your personal life? Are there any rules that you follow? It is said that in order to develop a career, a woman must make compromises with her personal life. In my opinion, this stigma is long gone. Fortunately, I manage to combine my personal and professional life and find a balance between them. I can’t call it a rule, but rather an approach that worked for me. I try to indirectly acquaint my family with the work I do, with the role I have in the team, with the dynamics of the team and the people in it. This makes them feel not only like bystanders of my professional life but also as a part of my team and my work. They approach it with understanding when they see that in my head I am still at work with my colleagues. I consider myself a happy person because I have managed to build a good career without harming my family. Tell us a little more about your work as a Delivery Manager. How is this role related to the IT industry? In general, the role of a “Delivery Manager” is not a role created by the software business, but it has successfully entered the IT industry and evolved over the

Favourite clothes? A dress.

“PERHAPS YEARS AGO THERE WAS INEQUALITY IN WOMEN’ SALARIES HOLDING THE SAME POSITIONS AS MEN, BUT THIS HAS BECOME LESS COMMON RECENTLY AND, TO MY DELIGHT, THERE ARE MORE AND MORE WOMEN WHO HOLD HIGHER POSITIONS WITH MORE RESPONSIBILITIES AND RECEIVE HIGHER PAYMENT.”

years, acquiring the complexity that it has now. The business and software development dynamics are very demanding and there is a constant evolvement of processes. This is a completely organic development of the role. The Delivery Manager role is quite complex and includes a lot of responsibilities - from project and team management, through budget and timeline management, process management and product roadmaps, to the management of the integration, implementation, deployment and subsequent maintenance of a software product. My main responsibilities as a “Delivery Manager” are to help the team move in the planned direction, to have a clear vision and understanding of what is expected from them as a final result and within what time frame. I ensure they are able to focus on the work and maintain speed of the work process that is in line with the dynamics of the team and the expectations of the product organization. Another very important part of my role is to observe the evolution of the people in our teams, so I can provide them with the right training for their personal development (competencies and skills that would help them become better at what they do). As I said, the role is quite complex, but it is based on the principles of project management and “lean-agile” methodologies for process management. A popular understanding is that the “Delivery Manager” is the person who manages the whole processes from the idea, through development to commissioning.

High heels or flat shoes? Flat. Which is THE thing you never go out without? Something sweet. Favourite lipstick colour? Givenchy’s “Ashes of Roses”. Which is the feminine quality/duty that you don’t possess? Gossiping and cleaning windows. Which cause would you support/ Are you currently supporting? I support all kinds of causes related to helping children – in a physical, psychological, emotional, educational, and any other way.

You are one of the few certified Agile Coaches / Trainers in Bulgaria. Can you tell us a little more about this title and how you integrate it into your current position? I enrolled in an “agile” course led by one of the founders of the “Agile Manifesto” and throughout this course, he shared that he noticed I had a lot of knowledge and quite diverse experience in working with people and teams in different process environments. He encourages me to become an “agile coach” so that I can share my knowledge with others. I underwent specific training, which was quite intensive and encompassed a large amount of information. Subsequently, under his supervision, I had to conduct several training sessions in different companies with diverse teams, and only after gaining enough experience as a coach and facilitator, I passed certification. I believe that my experience as a mentor of other teams and in different types and sizes of companies is the thing that helps me the most in my work. A good “Delivery Manager” must not only have theoretical knowledge of different process approaches in project management, but also a fairly rich set of skills for working with people, managing people and creating well-functioning teams. The role of the Delivery Manager is not to manage people or teams, however it requires such skills and the ability to apply them without imposing managerial rights on the team. This is the main part of its role - to manage processes together with the teams in the name of the product delivery on time and within budget.

You have been in the army for 12 years, a helicopter pilot, a military paramedic, participated in many projects, seminars and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro twice. How does the current pandemic situation affect such an active person like you? Are there any specific difficulties you face and how do you deal with them? I would not say that I have difficulties slowing down, on the contrary, I accept this period as a kind of emotional and physical rest. I have time to make new plans and to deal with old ones I never found the time for. I am trying to obtain new skills in preparation for the challenges ahead and the new normal that this pandemic will bring us. I learned to value my own and other people’s time. I have become an even more organised person and I no longer have to explain to other people why it is important to be organised and have plans the pandemic has absolutely proven this need so that we can move forward and develop as a society. This situation actually allowed me to explore new hobbies - I started taking drawing and calligraphy lessons, I started tai chi lessons – things I never had enough time for before and I didn’t want to push into my schedule, just because they are in my “bucket” list, but to enjoy them as an emotion, a feeling, a process and a time for myself. How would you describe yourself in one sentence? A woman who enjoys life, faces challenges and has already planned how to solve them and what she would do as she gets old. WR TECH | 35

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“Technologies are the future. They provide COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES”

Svilena Handjieva is a Head of Automations Department at Raiffeisenbank Bulgaria. She manages Test Automation and DevOps teams, ensures the adoption of industry best practices in terms of test automation, continuous integration and delivery, The Head of IT Automations Department at Raiffeisenbank Bulgaria, Svilena Handjieva, shares with us that being a leader is a big responsibility and at the same time very satisfying and inspiring to her. She manages Automations testing teams and DevOps. She is an extremely natural, positive and radiant personna who constantly inspires her great team. A person who turns each failure into a ‘learned lesson’. The most important task of hers is to motivate her team to come up with new ideas, to suggest new approaches for optimization and successful work. She is a firm believer that technologies are the future and they give us the opportunity to be innovative. She ensures the adoption of the best practices in terms of Automation testing, the continuous integration and delivery, as well as deployment and security. She coordinates and plans the distribution of tasks among the members of the department. In her opinion, being experienced in the sphere is not enough as long as you aren’t able to maintain a good and topical expertise. In order to keep her professional level at its highest, Svilena takes part in different engineering initiatives, attends forums and social events. She is constantly exchanging experience with experts on implementing different tasks.

“I ALWAYS SEEK THE POSITIVE SIGHT OF THINGS, I TURN THE SMALL FAILURES INTO “LEARNED LESSONS” Share something about yourself that we can’t find on LinkedIn. I am a very natural, sunny and positive person. I communicate with people easily, I find balance in communication and don’t make conflicts. My ‘sixth Sense’ is never wrong, especially when I’m looking for talented people for the team. Have you ever faced challenges in your career regarding the fact that you are a woman? I wouldn’t say so. Do you know how many women work in your position? There are many of them. There are different forums and social initiatives, in which only women working in the IT field take part. Many of them are working in managerial positions. At Raiffeisenbank 50% of the manag-

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ers on my hierarchical level are women. Do you think that the problem with gender inequality still exists in Bulgaria and globally? I think there is no such problem in Bulgaria, but there are many countries around the world, where women are not equal to men in a professional aspect. What policies does you company follow in terms of encouraging diversity? Encouraging diversity by creating an atmosphere where we understand, trust and respect each other, building an environment where everybody can develop their potential and contribute with their uniqueness, are some of one of the biggest values of Raiffeisenbank. Following our Code of conduct and Policy for encouraging diversity, the bank organises different initiatives regarding equal rights and developing an open working environment. How do you get along with men in your company? Do they treat you differently? I believe that they think of me as their colleague, I haven’t noticed them treating me in a different way. Do you think that woman’s appearance and charm affect her professional success? (example: does it make communication easier?) I guess it does but I don’t use such methods on purpose and I can’t be explicit. What helps me personally is the good behaviour towards the colleagues, as well as responsiveness and empathy. 38 | WR TECH

How do you balance your work life with your personal life? Is there any rule that you follow? It’s hard. I try to spend more time with my family and make my days off-work free ones. Which sources would you recommend to us? (podcasts, webpages, influencers, youtubers, etc.) Oh, there are many of them! Everything about software testing and DevOps practices - personal pages of leaders in those fields, as well as “Soft skills for IT people”. As a Head of IT Automation, would you share with us which is the most exciting part of your job? I wouldn’t say that being a Head is exciting. But it is very inspiring and satisfying. I have a great team, full of motivated and ambitious people, who definitely love challenges and know what they want to achieve. Working with such people is very easy - they turn themselves into success drivers. I just give them the “sparkle”. I’ve given “chances” to junior specialists with minimal experience to become part of the team, because I’ve seen potential in them and now most of them are experts who continue to work for us on different projects. I always look on the bright side of things and I always turn small failures into learned lessons. I try to give positive feedback almost daily - for each achievement of the members of the team. Even saying “congratulations” makes miracles! That motivates

them to give new ideas, to suggest new methods on how to optimise the process of work between each other and between the other teams. That’s what inspires me. What inspired you to get involved in the technological sphere? Technologies are the future. They give us endless possibilities, which we can use to suggest products, which we don’t’ just construct, but innovate. You are a long-experienced specialist in the field of IT Industry. How do you keep developing in the sphere of technology and is it needed, as you already have a solid experience in that sphere? The solid experience is not enough as long as you can’t keep a good and current expertise. The tendencies change very dynamically in the sphere of technologies and in order to be able to satisfy the needs of our customers, we have to be very acknowledged with the new trends and technologies in the global marketplace. Personally, I take part in engineering initiatives, which are part of Raiffeisen Bank International and Raiffeisenbank Bulgaria. I visit forums and social events related to software testing in order to be informed and exchange experience with experts for implementing different decisions in our practice. Which are the essential qualities that every Head of IT Automation should possess? To communicate well with the team, to imprint trust, to support them, listen to them and help them develop their skills.

Favourite clothes? A dress, a dress, a dress! High heels or flat shoes? High ones. Which is THE thing you never go out without? А phone, a wallet, a debit card… and other ‘important stuff ’ you can find in a woman’s bag. Favourite lipstick colour? Red. Which is the feminine quality/duty that you don’t possess? I find cooking annoying, but it’s not foreign to me. Which cause would you support/ Are you currently supporting? I take part in different initiatives created by Raiffeisenbank through the campaign “Choose to help” . Thanks to our charity initiative, I annually support causes regarding health and social life, as well as causes related to protecting the environment - cleaning the area around Vitosha, planting trees.

“I TRY TO GIVE POSITIVE FEEDBACK ALMOST DAILY - FOR EACH ACHIEVEMENT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE TEAM. EVEN A SMALL “CONGRATULATIONS” MAKES MIRACLES!”

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“Frontend Developer A profession, where you ARE CONSTANTLY LEARNING NEW THINGS” Nikolet Jensen is a Frontend web developer at Accenture who believes she has the knowledge without which you can’t be a developer. She adds that the qualities that make a good developer are different. According to Nikolet, this is a profession in which you are constantly learning new things, so we need to be flexible and get used to stepping out of our comfort

Nikolet Jensen is a Frontend Web Developer at Accenture who decided to come back to Bulgaria by a coincidence. Nikolet shares with us that she doesn’t think that being a woman is a challenging thing. However, being a parent can sometimes be a career challenge, especially when the children are young. What inspired Nikolet to dive into the IT industry was the fact that she wanted to try something new and interesting and the IT covered many of the things that were important to her - creativity, the flexibility of working hours, location, and also good pay. In Accenture everyone strives to have a balance of staff. They encourage the em-

ployment of women, who are still fewer, but significantly more than in the industry as a whole. In her opinion, there is knowledge without which you cannot be a developer. However, the qualities that make a good developer vary. According to Nikolet, this is a profession in which you are constantly learning new things, so you need to be flexible and get used to getting out of our comfort zone. She advises everyone to always spare some time for physical exercises despite any personal and professional obligations. Nikolet thinks it is very important to find time to move, for instance, a short walk outside or a workout at home.

“I USE THE FLEXIBILITY, WHICH THE WORK IN IT GIVES ME, SO THAT I CAN BALLANCE FULLY BETWEEN WORK AND FAMILY.” WR TECH | 41

Can you share something specific about you that we can’t find on LinkedIn? I have two kids. Have you encountered any challenges in your career in connection to being a woman? I would not say that it is a challenge that I am a woman. Being a parent can sometimes be a career challenge, especially when children are young. Do you know how many women work in your position? I am aware that there are enough opportunities for many more women to join the IT field and I would like more of them to take this step. Do you think that the problem of gender inequality is still relevant in Bulgaria and globally? Yes, it is relevant, but it is also being discussed more than ever and steps are being taken towards alignment. Which policies does your company encourage regarding gender diversity? We strive to have a balance of staff, we encourage the employment of women, who are still fewer, but significantly more than in the industry as a whole. Do your male colleagues treat you differently? They don’t have a different attitude to-

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wards me.

and learn to get out of our comfort zone.

Which sources do you follow and can you recommend some of them to our audience? (example: podcasts, pages, influencers, vloggers, etc.) I would recommend Hacker News https://news.ycombinator.com/

How and where should we put boundaries between the working day and the private life when everything happens in one place? Can you give some good practices and tips as an example? When you have children, the boundaries are set by getting up early, leading and picking up from school, preparing food, etc. If I have to give specific advice, it is to have some time for physical exercises. I think it is very important to find time to move. For example, a short walk outside or a workout at home.

You have obtained your bachelor’s degree abroad. What made you go back to Bulgaria? It was a coincidence - we came here for the summer when our daughter was little, and we never left. Your bachelor’s degree is in Journalism and Communications, and then you obtained a Master’s degree in American Science. What inspired you to move to the IT sector? I wanted to try something new and interesting and IT (in particular frontend development) covered many of the things that were important to me - creativity, flexibility of working hours and location, good pay. Which are the most important qualities of a front and developer? Тhere is a certain knowledge without which you cannot be a developer. But the qualities that make a good developer vary. I would rather say that it is a profession in which you are constantly learning new things, so we need to be flexible

“I WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING NEW AND INTERESTING AND IT COVERED MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO ME.”

Favourite clothes? Jeans. igh heels or flat shoes? H Sneakers. Which typical female quality or household responsibility does not apply to you? To sow flowers. What is THE thing that you must have in your bag when going out? Mobile phone. avourite lipstick colour? F Red, however I don’t wear any.

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A charming fan of automobile racing who doesn’t like STEREOTYPES OF ROLES

Alexandra Mechkova is the Executive Director of Telerik Academy.Alexandra is responsible for the overall vision of the Academy and the strategic development of its IT career start and professional development programs. She has over 13 years of experience in the technology sector. She holds a Master’s degree in Communication Management from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts and a Bachelor’s degree in Integrated Social Sciences from Jacobs University Bremen in Germany. Meet Alexandra Mechkova - the CEO of Telerik Academy who has over 13 years of experience in the tech sector. She is the driving force behind Telerik Academy’s strategic vision. In her role, Alexandra is also responsible for the development of Telerik Academy’s IT career and professional development programs. Her work has had a profound impact on Telerik Academy in the first few years of its establishment as an independent organization. Alexandra led the marketing, business development, and partner network activities of the company. Before joining Telerik Academy’s team, she took various roles at the marketing team of Telerik (later acquired by Progress). In Progress, she worked as a Senior Manager “Global PR”, where she was responsible for the company’s external commu-

“THERE ARE NO ROLES THAT ARE TYPICALLY “MALE” OR “FEMALE” AND IN WHICH WE HAVE TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY.”

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nication across diverse markets like the EMEA, Latin America, Africa, and Australia. Alexandra received a “Most Valuable Player (MVP)” recognition for her work at the time. Moreover, she participated actively in the foundation of Campus X and its establishment as a leading flexible office hub. Alexandra has a Fulbright scholarship and holds a MA in “Communication Management” from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, and an “Integrated Social Sciences” Bachelor’s degree from Jacobs University Bremen, Germany. In her view, personal and professional life can’t be fully balanced - one can dominate the other depending on the circumstances. Yet, she believes it’s vital to switch off and practice digital detox from time to time.

Share something about yourself that we can’t find on LinkedIn. I’ve been a fan of automobile races ever since I was little. I like fast vehicles andfor me,the car has always been more than just a means of transportation. Have you ever faced challenges in your career regarding the fact that you are a woman? I believe that we should be judged by our actions, and I’ve always strived to give my best in everything I do. So, if there were any challenges related to my gender, I’ve never noticed.

Do you know how many women work in your position? Although I can’t name an exact number, I’m glad that Bulgaria leads the ranking of women in leadership positions, according to (the latest?) data from the European Institute for Gender Equality. Do you think that the problem with gender inequality still exists in Bulgaria and globally? It would be frivolous to say that it is non-existent. At the same time, however, I believe that there are different dynamics between industries, geographies,

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and even organizations. In my daily life and I hope in the lives of my colleagues and Telerik Academy’s students, I do not think that inequality is an issue. We work in an industry, which values good ideas and dedicated work. The greater a person’s contribution is, the more successful they are, regardless of gender. What policies does your company follow regarding diversity? For each role in Telerik Academy, we choose the best-prepared candidate, who also fits well into our culture and team. There are no roles that are typically “male” or “female” and in which we have to promote diversity. Asmentioned above, I don’t like stereotypes and this is not something we follow or avoid.Meanwhile, I’m a firm believer in meritocracy, and it, at least in my eyes, has no gender. Telerik Academy is a well-balanced organization with a 50:50 ratio of women and men, including in management positions. The latter came about naturally, without being a goalin itself. Do women’s vision and charm help you be successful in a professional way? I believe that being authentic, brave, ambitious, purposeful, empathetic, and respectful is what shapes people, regardless of the rolesthey’re taking . . Gender and appearance do not matter. :) How do you get along with men in your company? Do they treat you differently? You have to ask them. With the risk of repeating myself, I believe that a person should be judged by their actions and the work they do, not their gender. And labels like “charming women” and “brave men” don’t help us achieve that. On the contrary, they put the focus in the wrong place. How do you balance your work life with your personal life? Is there any rule that you follow? For most of my professional life, the balance has always beensuffering. In recent

years, I have been more consciously trying to give equal priority to both, and it is something that I encourage my colleagues to do as well. I still do not think that the two areas can be completely differentiated, so my rule is that according to the situation and the period, one can prevail over the other, but it is important in the context of the bigger picture to balance each other. Which sources would you recommend to us? (podcasts, webpages, influencers, youtubers, etc.) I digest a lot of information on a daily basis so my recommendationwill be a little different -always strive to have periods of digital detox. I’ve been thinking about a day of the week without access to electronic devices for a while, but I admit thatI haven’t had the courage to doit justyet.

successful.Nowour students can benefit from a 120% more practice as part of their programs.Last but not least, many of our graduates start working in a fullyonline environment - something that distinguishes the IT sector. During our 6-month training, in addition to acquiring the necessary technical skills for a successful career start in the IT sector, they also work in a near real-world online environment. On top of the tech training, we dedicate 20% of the program to polishing their personal and teamwork skills so that they can succeed in their professional life.

Which are the most important qualities a CEO must possess? The CEO should be humane to those they work with. The CEO should be authentic (which is a good quality) and should show respect to others. Respecting others is of great importance. Also, they should be ambitious and brave to make decisions and thinking a few steps ahead. And last but not least – the CEO should possess a sense of humor. That helps too.

What inspires you professionally and personally? I’m inspired by the numerous successes within the ecosystem we have built at Campus (Telerik Academy is a part of the Campus X community). Also, I’m inspired by the people of my generation, with whom I grew up in Bulgaria. Many of us went to study abroad but came back here. I sincerely believe that we are changing Bulgaria for the better - one step at a time. Personally, I am increasingly inspired by the way of life outside big cities - nature’s slow pace and the quality of people’s relationships there. The people there are more successful in escaping the rat race and the stress of their busy schedules and responsibilities.

What kind of changes were made during the year of COVID19 regarding the learners at Telerik Academy? It’s been a transformational year. When we first faced the global health pandemic, our learners were affected by the stress of our new lifestyles and the fears for our health. But as time passed, they got used to learning online and now I think this format isn’t a new thing to anyone. As an organization, we introduced many innovations related to remote education. Due to thenew formats and practices, we managed to keep and advanceall the elements that make our programs so

Which are the qualities a professional, stepping into the technological sphere, must possess? Being ready to accept that there are always v2, v3 and so on. To me that means two things. Firstly, to be ready to work fast and to achieve the best he or shecan do at this point, and to be in peace with that. Secondly, to be flexible and to be able to embrace the constant change, to learn from it, to not be afraid to be in constant compete with time and the worldwide companies. I would like to add creativeness and affinity to new and innovative decisions.

“THE INDUSTRY WE WORK IN IS A FIELD OF GOOD IDEAS AND WORK, AND THE GREATER A PERSON’S CONTRIBUTION, THE MORE SUCCESSFUL HE / SHE IS, REGARDLESS OF GENDER.”

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Favourite clothes? T-shirt, jeans and sneakers. High heels or flat shoes? Low, definitely low. Which is THE thing you never go out without? A phone. Favourite lipstick colour? Nude, simple and neutral. Which is the feminine quality/duty that you don’t possess? I don’t like gender stereotyping. Which cause would you support/ Are you currently supporting? I’ve been supporting Animal Rescue Sofia for years because of everything they do for animals, their dedication and love for the cause, despite all the challenges, rudeness, and violence they face on a daily basis.

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The transition from Physics to QA Management Savina Savova, QA Manager at Anakatech, believes that it is the difference and diversity in the workplace that is the secret to complementing each other so well and being so good at what we do as professionals. What inspires Savina the most at the moment is her team. She describes her professional path in one word, which is Meet Savina Savova, the QA Manager at Anakatech, who believes that diversity at the workplace is the secret to completing each other and being good at what we do as professionals. Savina shares that she is happy to be working for a company that offers such a good work-life balance and she does her best to develop relationships with her teammates. As a QA Manager, Savina says that her work in Anaketech is very dynamic. The typical duties of a QA Manager, such as “establishing metrics for quality, increasing the quality of the products, managing releases and hotfixes, prioritizing tasks, weekly reports, developing QAs, relocating, delegating, etc” are just a small part of her responsibilities. Savina is currently lead-

ing five teams and is responsible for the communication between them. According to Savina, her bachelor and master’s degree in the sphere of Physics, as well as her internship in CERN have taught her to develop and “out of the box” way of thinking and have also helped her gain huge technical knowledge, which suits one QA Engineer in the world of high technologies. What inspires her the most is her team. She shares that she has faced several challenges because of the fact that she is a woman, which in most cases happened due the competitive work environment. She described her professional experience with one word and that is ‘perseverance”.

“I AM HAPPY TO WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT OFFERS GOOD WORK-LIFE BALANCE. TOGETHER WITH MY COLLEAGUES, WE DO OUR BEST TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE TEAM BASED ON FRIENDSHIP.”

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Have you ever faced any challenges in your career regarding the fact that you are a woman? Yes, I’ve experienced a few unpleasant moments. I think that they came out of the envy and the competitive working environment. Are you aware of how many women have the same job as yours? When talking about QA Managers, in Anakatech there is only one :) To be honest, I don’t know anything about statistics outside the company I’m working with at the moment. In your opinion, does the issue of gender inequality still exist in Bulgaria and around the world? I haven’t experienced such issues in years, knowing software companies in Bulgaria. What kind of policy does your company follow when it comes to encouraging diversity? We support diversity and differences between people as that’s the secret to completing each other so well and be-

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yourself that we cannot learn from LinkedIn? When I was accepted in University with Physics, I was imagining myself working for NASA… Too ambitious :) Which sources do you follow and want to recommend to our audience? (podcasts, webpages, influencers, youtubers, etc) Recently I’ve been following more standup comedians in order to relax :) But I follow different leaders and motivators such as Mel Robbins, Simon Sinek, Ray Dalio, Warren Buffett, Elon Musk. I could also recommend an author - Kim Scott, who shared her leading experience in the book “Radical Candor”.

ing so good in what we do! We work with people from different countries and cultures, and what’s important to us are their qualities that contribute to our success. I think everyone in Anaketech feels calm, accepted and free to express themselves. How do your male colleagues treat you? Is their attitude towards you different? There is no difference in their approach towards me. We all respect eachother, despite the hierarchy. Do your feminine appearance and charm help you be more successful in a professional way? (for example, does it 50 | WR TECH

make communication easier?) Yes, but the opposite happens too, don’t you think? How do you balance your personal life from your professional one? Is there any rule that you follow? I’m happy to be working for a company which gives me a good work-life balance. Together with my colleagues, we are doing our best to establish communication in the team, based on friendship, which helps a lot, but can also be negative. I often don’t manage to establish the nessesary boudaries. Can you share something specific about

Which are the main duties of one QA Manager? My work at Anaketech is very diverse and dynamic, so the typical QA Manager duties are “establishing metrics for quality, increasing the quality of the product, managing releases and hotfixes, prioritizing tasks, weekly reports, developing QA-s, relocating, delegating, etc*. I manage five teams - Platform Admin, Player’s Application, Games, Automation and Marketing/Affiliates and they all have team leaders too. The communication and collaboration here are very good as we often share ideas with similar aims - to improve the internal processes and the way we work among the teams. You are a Physics graduate. How does that integrate with your current

working status? One of my bachelor’s degrees is Theoretical Physics and the other is about teaching Physics and Mathematics, while my masters is “Physics of the nucleus and elementary particles’’. All these together with a summer internship at CERN (where the existence of the Higgs boson was proved) gave me a different way of thinking, and I gained technical skills that suit well the role of a QA Engineer in the “high technology world”. What inspires you the most in professionally? Maybe what inspires me now is my team. Can you describe your professional experience in one sentence? I’ll even do it with one word – Perseverance.

“WHEN I WAS ACCEPTED WITH PHYSICS, I WAS IMAGINING MYSELF WORKING FOR NASA... TOO AMBITIOUS.”

Your favourite piece of clothing? A sweatshirt. High heels or flat shoes? Flat shoes - sneakers. Which is the essential thing in your bag you never go out without? Lip balm. Your favourite lipstick colour? Pink. Which quality/duty that is typical for women is foreign to you? Mysteriousness. Which cause would you support/are you currently supporting? Sharo, Sharethemeal.

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“In order to be a good lead, you have to know that your team MATTERS THE MOST”

Gergana Pancheva is a Tech Architect at Accenture, Bulgaria, who loves movement, books and often diversifies her daily life by riding a bike in the park. According to her the most important qualities that one Tech Architect should possess are communication skills, time management skills and courage. Gergana Pancheva, а Tech Architect at Accenture, Bulgaria, is a professional who has been working in the IT sector for over 15 years, dedicating the last 6 years to her current position. Gergana loves movement, books and often diversifies her daily life by riding a bike in the park. She relieves stress with a headstand. Gergana says that so far she has not encountered any professional challenges in relation to being a woman. She doesn’t notice the problem of gender inequality at her workplace, however, she does not deny that it is still relevant. According to Gergana, both female and male appearance and charm can help us everywhere. Gergana shares with us that at Accenture everyone strives to create a favourable environment with pleasant working conditions. She adds that the company provides various opportunities which facilitate, encourage and stimu-

late women’s work. Gergana tries to follow some rules for a good work-life balance, however, she admits that it is quite difficult because both personal and professional life are equally important. She adds that with compromises and prioritization, things are going smoothly. Gergana chooses the IT industry as her professional path because this field develops itself at an enormous speed and provides numerous opportunities to all professionals. For her, this is an area where we constantly have to use our mind and creativity. Gergana thinks that the most important qualities that one Tech Architect must possess are communication skills, time management skills and courage. According to Gergana, women in the IT industry are a minority, however, there is a tendency of change in the upcoming years.

“I LIKE THE DYNAMIC ATMOSPHERE, THE FAST WAY IN WHICH THE IT INDUSTRY DEVELOPS, AND THE OPPORTUNITIES IT OFFERS”

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Share something about yourself that we can’t find on LinkedIn. I relieve the stress with a headstand. Have you ever faced challenges in your career regarding the fact that you are a woman? I don’t think so. Do you know how many women work in your position? I haven’t checked. Do you think that the problem with gender inequality still exists in Bulgaria and globally? In my work environment I haven’t noticed any gender inequality, however, I think the problem is still relevant. Do women’s appearnce and charm help you be successful in a professional way? Feminine appearance and charm help everywhere, as well as male. Which policies does your company encourage regarding gender diversity? Accenture aims to create a favourable environment with pleasant working conditions. Specifically, if we look at the diversity of “men vs women”, our company provides various opportunities that facilitate, encourage, and stimulate the work of women. How do you get along with men in your company? Do they treat you differently? I haven’t noticed any discrimination. How do you balance your work with your personal life? Are there any rules that you follow? I try to follow some rules to create a balance, but it’s quite difficult because both personal and professional life are important to me. I make compromises and prioritize my tasks. Are women “Minorities” in the IT industry? Yes, but there is a tendency to change in

the coming years. You have more than 14 years of experience in the software industry, can you point out the biggest changes in the IT field that you have witnessed? Agile & DevOps, Cloud technologies, Blockchain, etc. What are the most important characteristics that one Tech Architect

should posess? Communication skills, time management skills and courage. Why did you choose the IT field for your professional path? I like the dynamic atmosphere, the fast way in which the IT industry develops, and the opportunities it offers. It is an area where you have to constantly use your mind and creativity.

”IN MY WORK ENVIRONMENT I HAVEN’T NOTICED ANY GENDER INEQUALITY, HOWEVER, I THINK THE PROBLEM IS STILL RELEVANT”

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Favourite clothes? Comfortable ones. High heels or flat shoes? It depends on the mood. Which is THE thing you never go out without? Lip balm. avourite lipstick colour? F Red. Which is the feminine quality that you don’t possess? The anger. Which cause are you currently supporting? Causes related to defense of human rights, the environment and nature.

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One uncompromising PROFESSIONAL WHO LOVES HER JOB

Lyuba Ilieva is a Senior Director Automation and Quality at Musala Soft. That’s what it says on her business card, but on LinkedIn she is Queen of QA, Khaleesi of the TestSuit, Breaker of Core, Mother of Quality. Lyuba manages a team of 90+ QA engineers and she is convinced that work discipline and self-care are key for a successful balance between personal and professional life. Lyuba Ilieva has 18 years of experience in the field of IT. She is a graduate of the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and naturally dove into the IT world - the technological infinity, which gives us the opportunity to improve the world here and now. Lyuba is part of large-scale software projects for global com-

panies, working with creative, international QA teams with wide technological expertise. She continues to walk boldly forward and upward, because she caries an aspiration to challenge herself every day, and the courage to not be afraid of mistakes... Because fortune favours the brave! The sky is the limit!

“SOFTWARE INDUSTRY IS EXTREMELY ATTRACTIVE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG SPECIALISTS. WE’VE OFTEN SEEN COLLEAGUES THAT RETRAINED FROM OTHER PROFESSIONS.”

Share something about yourself that we can’t find on LinkedIn. You can hardly find out anything from LinkedIn. The professional qualities can be seen in the process of work. Have you ever faced challenges in your career regarding the fact that you are a woman? Each challenge is an opportunity. Do you know how many women work in your position? Yes. Just one. :) Do you think that the problem with gender inequality still exists in Bulgaria and globally? A study by Reboot Online was recently published and it presents Bulgaria as the best place to work for women. Looking at the statistics both as payment and as percentage of women working in the field, women are less than men. However, there is an explanation, according to which gender is not the only thing that matters. There are fewer girls in tech-

nical specialties globally because of the desire to develop in this field. There is a difference between the sexes, but this does not necessarily mean inequality. From my experience, I can say that the opportunities offered in the IT field for both women and men are the same. Do you think a woman’s appearance and charm affect her professional success? According to a social survey, good-looking people progress faster with their careers. This is true for both men and women. Everyone has their own weapons to achieve their goals. However, if we emphasize too much on our female or male advantages, it will certainly come back like a boomerang and there is a possibility that they will see us more as a woman (or a man, respectively) and less as a professional. Which policies does your company encourage regarding gender diversity? The most important policy to promote

diversity is not to limit it. At Musala Soft, 30% of the employees are women, 30% are foreigners from over 10 countries. Professional qualities and shared values are what’s important How do you get along with men in your company? Do they treat you differently? My colleagues treat me unconditionally as a professional, and so do I. How do you balance your work with your personal life? Are there any rules that you follow? I have a strictly defined profile of my obligations, which I follow. Of course, there are exceptions, but it is important for me to be disciplined and this inevitably benefits both personal and professional life. Which sources would you recommend to us? (podcasts, webpages, influencers, youtubers, etc.) The blog and the events in Dev.bg (https://dev.bg), specialized QA and Testing groups in Linkedin.

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As a Senior Director Automation and Quality, which do you think are the qualities a specialist in the sphere has to possess? During the last few years, the software industry has been extremely attractive for the development of young professionals. We often witness colleagues who have retrained from other professions. The motivation for development in this area is really high and this has a positive impact on the sector. Colleagues who have a strong interest in mathematics and information sciences, especially those with an engineering degree, are able to quickly establish themselves as specialists in software development and to chart a major career path in the field. Do you think it’s good for us to aim to perfection in a professional and person-

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al plan? Absolutely not. This is an unattainable task and can easily increase the feeling of failure, and this will inevitably affect our results. The strength of every person, both professionally and personally, is to know both their strengths and weaknesses. Nobody’s perfect and there are no perfect situations. The only thing that moves us forward and upward is striving every day to be better than yesterday; not being afraid of making mistakes, because success loves the brave. What gives you inspiration in a professional and personal plan? When you love the things you do, it is such a great pleasure and it’s very inspiring. Of course, in addition to what you do, what matters the most is who you do it with. I am inspired by the colleagues

I work with - creative, smart, fun, innovative, as well as my family and friends. It is important for everyone to choose the environment that develops and pulls him forward. What made you choose the technological sphere as your professional path? It happened naturally in a way. Back at school I was very interested and had some achievements in mathematics and information sciences. That’s what made me choose the specialty “Informatics” at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and I have been working in the field for 18 years. This is the area with the strongest impetus for innovation - it is inspiring to create software that improves and also opens up completely new horizons for business and people’s leisure time. Sky is the limit!

Favourite clothes? Comfy ones. High heels or flat shoes? Depends on what I’m wearing. Which is THE thing you never go out without? My phone. It has everything I need. Favourite lipstick colour? Nude. Which is the feminine quality/duty that you don’t possess? Everything feminine comes naturally to me. Which cause would you support/ Are you currently supporting? Unicef - access to education for nonverbal kids.

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“I love meeting new people, networking and BUILDING CREATIVE PROJECTS”

Justine Toms is a Bulgarian entrepreneur, lecturer and author who has played a major role in Bulgarian digital marketing since 1998. Justin loves her job and networking, meeting people with new ideas, and creative projects. Justine Toms is a Bulgarian entrepreneur, lecturer and author, who has played a major role in Bulgarian digital marketing since 1998. Justine loves her work and networking, meeting new people, new ideas, and creative projects. Justine tells us that she is still looking for a way to successfully balance her professional and personal life. When she is working from home, her roles are constantly intertwined - mother, wife, teacher, expert, and of course time for herself. She admits that juggling is not an easy task, and although it has been more than 12 months, she is still learning. Justine believes that over time she has managed to gain equal gender rights professionally. When asked if she has encountered any obstacles in her career because she is a woman, she answered that this has happened more than once. Justine adds

that she has been involved in business and online entrepreneurship for 23 years – an area seen more like a man’s jobs, although this has changed significantly over time. She is a big fan of podcasts and follows a few in Bulgarian and a lot in English, out of which she recommends the Ratio and Internet Speaks podcasts. Regarding inspiration, she recommends their project “Creators - the digital optimists of Bulgaria” (blog and podcast). About social networks, Justine says that she has relatively reduced Facebook, but instead she follows Twitter, which gives her enough information. She reads many books and also listens to them in audio format. Justine warmly recommends Harari - Homo Deus to those who have not read it yet, as well as their new book with Marina Stefanova Leaders for a New Beginning.

“WE’VE ALWAYS TRIED TO GAIN A DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE ON OUR TEAM AND FORTUNATELY, WE’VE SUCCEEDED.”

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Can you share something specific about yourself that we can’t find on LinkedIn? I don’t know whether it’s obvious how much I love my job. :) Also networking, meeting people with new ideas, with projects with creativity. Have you encountered any challenges in your career in connection to being a woman? Yes, not once. Maybe mainly because I have been involved in business and online entrepreneurship for over 23 years areas that in the past were seen as males’ jobs, but lately the problem is not seen so often. Do you know how many women work in your position? There seem to be more men, probably only 15-20% of women. Do you think that the problem of gender inequality is still relevant in Bulgaria and globally? Yes, it exists in Bulgaria, but in places around the world, such as Asia and Africa – much more. But yes, the topic is very important. What policy does your company follow in terms of promoting diversity? We have always strived to have a variety of people on the team and fortunately,we have succeeded. Not with quotas, but with the search for interesting alternatives. Do your male colleagues treat you differently? I seem to have won equal gender rights. My positions on the topic are clear, communicated and probably due to that. I don’t think this applies to all girls and in all situations. Do you think that a woman’s appearance and charm affect their professional success? (example: does it make communication easier?) I’m not sure. It depends on who is standing in front of you and what their attitude is. I strongly believe that the “female vision” will not matter in the future. About charm - it’s up to the person, it’s not so much related to gender or gender identity. How do you combine personal and professional life? Are there any rules that you follow? I’m trying to keep the boundaries, however the balance is difficult. It is especially complicated in the last year, when we are at home during the last year, when 62 | WR TECH

the roles are constantly intertwined mother, wife, teacher, expert, time for yourself - juggling turned out to be quite a difficult task and although 12 months have passed I am still learning. Unfortunately, personal time suffers the most. Which sources do you follow and can you recommend some of them to our audience? (example: podcasts, pages, influencers, vloggers, etc.). I’m a big fan of podcasts - I watch a few in Bulgarian and many in English. Out

of these, I would recommend. Of these, I recommend the Radio and Talk Internet podcasts. Also for inspiration our project Creators - the digital optimists of Bulgaria (blog and podcast). I have reduced Facebook. I mainly follow Twitter which gives me enough information. I also read a lot of books, I also listen to audiobooks. To anyone who has not yet read Harari - Homo Deus, I strongly recommend it. And our new book with Marina Stefanova - Leaders for a New Beginning.

Favourite clothes? In the last year - leggings and a T-shirt. :) Otherwise – dresses. :)

“I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE “FEMALE VISION” WILL NOT MATTER IN THE FUTURE. FOR CHARM - IT’S UP TO THE PERSON, IT’S NOT SO MUCH RELATED TO GENDER OR GENDER IDENTITY.”

High heels or flat shoes? Low, comfortable, fast. Which typical female quality or household responsibility does not apply to you? Vanity. What is THE thing that you must have in your bag when going out? Maybe a phone. :) Favourite lipstick colour? Sour Cherry. Do you currently support any social causes? I currently support several causes: - Gorichka and eco themes, life with a small ecological footprint, green future. - Several projects related to children from marginalized groups. - Causes for equality, women’s entrepreneurship.

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Her life led her to the IT industry and now she loves her profession Lilly Lozanova is an Agile coach at Clippings, who is always a positive, caring, empathetic and energetic person. According to her, the problem of inequality is still relevant in Bulgaria and globally. Lilly shares that it was life that took her into the Technology world while she was exploring different career paths. The Agile coach of Clippings is a lady, with a name of a beautiful flower- Lilly. She is the one who is driving the transition of the entire organisation to Agile. Lilly Lozanova is restlessly working not only on paper, but actively incorporating the mindset within every single member of the organisation. She has spent many years in project management in the banking and telecom industries, leading strategic projects with cross-functional and multinational teams in Technology and Business departments. From handling the projects portfolio to managing the nightly releases she has always been leading by example, people oriented and delivering results. Today, Lilly is a strategic catalyst

of change. One can see her talking to the DevOps team, then speaking with the Architect, meeting the Leadership team and the Sales and HR teams. Lilly steps into each task with a positive and professional attitude and creates great achievements with all her colleagues in the Technology, Business, HR, Marketing and Finance sector. Her hidden or not so hidden talent is to inspire others, to encourage them to seek a solution to every single problem, to empower them for a better performance even if there are mistakes that need to be fixed. Her hobby is to be positive and to never give up. Lilly dances and sings, she also sometimes draws - either like a child or like a professional, but always for fun.

“DO WHATEVER YOU LOVE DOING, AS EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED TO THE PASSION AND EFFORT YOU PUT IN IT, TO MAKE IT WORK.”

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Can you share something specific about you that we can’t find on LinkedIn? I’m very emotional. Have you encountered any challenges in your career in connection to being a woman? No matter women and men, we all should act as professionals. But yes, I have been treated differently, because of being a woman in the past. Do you know how many women work in your position? Many. At my position it’s all about how much you care, not which gender you are. Do you think that the problem of gender inequality is still relevant in Bulgaria and globally? I think so, yes. That’s why there are so many movements. It comes from history, culture, mentally, traditions, etc. Which policies does your company encourage regarding gender diversity? We have a Diversity and Inclusivity committee. Our Leadership is strongly involved and supportive. Do your male colleagues treat you differently? No.

“COACHING, MENTORING, FACILITATING MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS AND ONE-ON-ONES ARE ALL PART OF MY DAY TO DAY JOB SO THAT WE ALL EMBRACE THOSE AGILE VALUES AND PRINCIPLES.”

Favourite clothes? Neat and comfy, business casual. High heels or flat shoes? Low heels :) Which typical female quality or household responsibility does not apply to you? Nothing female scares me - I have it all. What is THE thing that you must have in your bag when going out? Phone. Favourite lipstick colour? Lips colour.

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Do you think that a woman’s appearance and charm affect their professional success?(example: does it make com munication easier?) Charm always affects, no matter if you are a man or a woman. Appearance can influence, but not as much as the attitude. How do you combine personal and professional life? Do you have any rules that you follow? You will see me acting the same way at work and at home. I do my best to always be positive, caring, empathic and energetic. Which sources do you follow and can you recommend some of them to our audience? (example: podcasts, pages, influencers, vloggers, etc.). There are many of them out there. If you are interested in Agile - AgileAlliance. com is your starting point. What made you choose a career in the tech industry? Life took me there. I was exploring different career paths until I got where I am today and I love it so much!

What are the key responsibilities of one successful Agile coach? The list is long, but I would start from guiding the organisation, the teams and every individual in it to those “A-ha” moments when they realise they should do only the things there is a reason for and have value. That reflection, continuous improvement and transparency are key to increased productivity and motivated people. Coaching, mentoring, facilitating meetings, workshops and oneon-ones are all part of my day to day job so that we all embrace those Agile values and principles. What inspires you the most in personal and professional plans? The ”little big” things: the smiles, the care, the sea and the sun, the person that is so happy with what just happened, what he or she achieved, the team that is proud with the latest deployment, the manager trusting his/her team, the organization. What is your advice to the younger generation of women who want to develop a career in the tech industry? Do only what you like as it’s all about the passion and the effort you put in it to make it work.

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“I have never been happier as I am right now because I truly believe that I have finally found the right place for me ” Gergana Gruncharova is the Co-Founder and CEO of Incineration Productions. For her there has never been a path different from entrepreneurship. Gergana strongly believes that every person has the need to find his or her calling and if appropriate to grow professionally with it. Gergana Gruncharova is the Co-Founder and CEO of Incineration Productions. She has graduated with two bachelor’s degrees as well as a master’s degree and started working at the age of 14 dealing mainly with marketing and sales. At the age of 21, she founded LeadersPlay - a company that offers digital and physical products and offline training for children ages 7 and 19 in the sphere of entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and the development of personal skills. Gergana does not divide people based on their gender. She strongly believes that every person has the need to find his or her calling and if appropriate to grow professionally with it. Gergana thinks that

even if we manage to attain our shortterm goals alone, we wouldn’t be able to achieve our long term goals without the help of the right people. She admits that it took her seven years to understand who she is outside of work and to learn how to balance the roles in her life. Gergana shares that she doesn’t have a strict schedule - if she feels like working on the weekends, she does so. She follows her inner instincts and always does her best in every situation. Right now Gerana believes she understands herself very well and knows that if we want to succeed in life we don’t have to put any arbitrary rules to the things that make us truly happy.

“EVEN IF WE MANAGE TO ATTAIN OUR SHORT-TERM GOALS ALONE, I DON’T THINK WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE OUR LONG-TERM GOALS WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE RIGHT PEOPLE”

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Can you share something specific about you that we can’t find on LinkedIn? The truth is that for me there has never been a path that is different from entrepreneurship. I started working at the age of 14 dealing mainly with marketing and sales. In the very beginning, I was capable of promoting different types of products. When I look back at these memories, it immediately puts a smile on my face and makes me feel happy and grateful for those job op - portunities. Even back then I knew that if you want to be a successful entrepreneur it’s crucial to be able to sell both your ideas and yourself well. And I learned a lot. I graduated with two bachelor’s degrees as well as a master’s degree. During my studies at university, I met professors who taught me management and finance through the method of gamification. This style of teaching differed greatly from standard lectures and what impressed me was the high engagement of all the students during the sessions and the excellent results we achieved on exams. This experience greatly contrasted with the way my previous schooling took place, and so I came up with the idea that I wanted to propose a new way of learning that is fun and motivating for the kids so

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they can easily learn more with less effort. At the age of 21, I founded LeadersPlay - a company that now offers digital and physical products and offline training for children ages 7 and 19 in the sphere of entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and the development of personal skills. No matter the strong cause behind LeadersPlay and everything we achieved, together with my team, I somehow felt empty. All I knew back then is that I wanted to keep creating games, but I needed to find my true passion. This is why in November 2018 I decided to start offering LeadersPlay’s intellectual property as a worldwide franchise and focus my whole attention on the creation and development of Incineration Productions - a game production company, working on both our own video games and high-tech virtual reality software projects. I have never been happier as I am right now because I truly believe that I have finally found the right place for me. Now I am on a pursuit of putting Incineration Productions on the worldwide map, showing that even a young girl from a small country in Eastern Europe, can succeed in the games business when she believes in her dreams and has the right team behind her back. Have you encountered any challenges in your career in connection to being a woman? I don’t like to divide people based on their gender. I strongly believe, however, that every person has the need to find his or hers calling and if appropriate to grow professionally with it. Every single one of us has strengths and weaknesses and if we manage to swallow our ego and accept ourselves for who we are, it would be much easier to follow the right path for us. If a woman has good communication skills, is honest, goal-driven and responsible, and people think that she has leadership qualities, then why, if it makes her happy, should she not have an executive role or start her own business? Then there is the opposite. If a woman is happier having a less stressful job and thus having more time for her family or household responsibilities, nobody should judge her for that. I strongly believe that many people share the same (or similar to mine) opinion. Of course, we can’t always expect to meet and work with such like-minded people. I’ve had men try to manipulate me, telling me that my business “is worthless” in order to get a bigger share for it in a potential investment. I’ve had men ask me out “to 70 | WR TECH

coffee” so that they can give me a better business offer. I have been asked directly when I am planning on giving birth, so they can know for how long I can work to the fullest. I’ve had many other similar situations. However, I don’t think it is due to the fact they were men, rather the lack of proper moral values and manners. I choose to react to such events with a smile. It’s funny when the other person is thinking he is manipulating you and you just look at him with your pretty eyes and nod. Do you know how many women work in your position? Gaming has long been a male-dominated hobby. According to research by Statista, females made up 38% of all video gamers in the United States in 2006. In 2020, it is calculated that the percentage has increased to 41%. If we look at the numbers on a global scale, women now make up almost half of the gamers

worldwide. This trend is particularly noticeable in Asia, where the female gaming community grew by 19% last year alone. Things are different when we take a look at women who are part of the development of video games. The employment rate for women in the industry is about 15%. Less than 5% are women who are in managing positions or have co-founded a game production company. Do you think that the problem of gender inequality is still relevant in Bulgaria and globally? My personal opinion doesn’t count when the statistics speak. The gender pay gap is well documented - women make about 80 cents for every dollar that a man earns. However, less well known is the gender investment gap. A recent study by Boston Consulting Group and in collaboration with Mass Challenge found that when women go for funding

“EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US HAS STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AND IF WE MANAGE TO SWALLOW OUR EGO AND ACCEPT OURSELVES FOR WHO WE ARE, IT WOULD BE MUCH EASIER TO FOLLOW THE RIGHT PATH FOR US.”

Favourite clothes? Mid-length girly dresses in soft colors. High heels or flat shoes? Sneakers. Which typical female quality or household responsibility does not apply to you? Actually, I don’t think there are any. What is THE thing that you must have in your bag when going out? Money. Favorite lipstick color? 999 with a Velvet Finish for special occasions and nourishing pink / Daisy Plum with a matte finish for everyday use. rounds, they receive less funding, but produce more revenue per dollar funded. Investments in companies founded or co-founded by women averaged $935,000, which is less than half the average $2.1 million invested in companies founded by male entrepreneurs. Despite this disparity, startups founded and co founded by women actually performed better over time, generating 10% more in cumulative revenue over a five year period: $730,000 compared with $662,000, or for every dollar of funding, these startups generated 78 cents, while male-founded startups generated less than half, just 31 cents. Furthermore, female-founded startups received a fraction of the capital available in central and eastern Europe in 2020, and gender disparity is increasing — according to a report from community platform European Women in VC, growth-stage fund Experior VC and early-stage VC Unconventional Ventures. Despite a year that saw the European tech sector raise a record amount of funding ($43.6 BN according to calculations by NGP Capital), the amount of funding going to all-female founding teams in CEE

dropped from a high of 4.1% in 2018 to just 1% in 2020, the report found. To put that figure in context, roughly 13% of the region’s startups are founded by women. And I don’t even want to speak about the number of game development studios founded by women worldwide and the available investment capital for such businesses. Which policies does your company encourage regarding gender diversity? We don’t have such policies. When we hire new people we only care about their personal skill set and professional skills and how fast they can adapt to our existing office environment. From there on out, it does not matter what their age, gender or nationality is. Do your male colleagues treat you differently? I don’t think so, but it might be mainly because I am their boss, not a proper colleague. However, very often, when some of my colleagues travel somewhere, they bring me small gifts. For example, they go to the sea and bring me cute seashells, or a conch, some sand

or a magnet. I do believe, however, that these kind gestures are not due to the fact that I am a woman or that I am their boss. I think it is because of the everyday care I put in to make them feel good at the company and help them grow professionally, as well as the honest happiness and gratitude in my eyes when they make such a gesture towards me. I often bring them some things too, like themed chocolate eggs, socks or small figurines. I talk to my team constantly and know what would make each one of them happy - so if I spot it in the street, I just get it for them. Do you think that a woman’s appearance and charm affect her professional success? (example: does it make communication easier?) It depends on her full set of personal and professional skills and what type of person is sitting in front of her at that moment. Very often we hear the phrase “I don’t care what other people think about me”. I, however, believe that this is an incredibly wrong way of thinking. If people think that we are unreliable and can’t be trusted, or to put it simply, they don’t

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like our personality, then the chance of them helping or doing something for us is minuscule. Even if we manage to attain our short-term goals alone, I don’t think we would be able to achieve our long-term goals without the help of the right people. So, yes, I do think that charm might help us in getting to the next stages of a business’s negotiation, however charm alone will not close the deal and will not establish a long-term partnership between both parties. How do you combine personal and professional life? Do you have any rules that you follow? Seven years. That is how long it took me

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to understand who I am outside of work and to manage to balance the roles in my life. Of course this time is nothing in comparison to the decline in my physical and mental health, failed relationships and most importantly the feeling of wasted time for that period. I guess everybody has the lessons that they need to learn soon - er or later. Now that I understand myself better and I know what are the things that make me truly happy I don’t make any arbitrary rules to follow. I only ask myself what I need at the current moment and I do it. If I had a tough work week, during the weekend I do things that recharge me - family time,

long walks, night driving, baking, going out with friends, book reading, acrylic painting, different craft arts, etc. If I feel like working on the weekend I work. I don’t have a strict schedule, just following my inner instincts and doing my best in every situation. Which sources do you follow and can you recommend some of them to our audience? At the moment I am interested in Tom Bilyeu’s Youtube channel. Everything else is strongly connected with the game indus - try, financial markets, investments, psychology and/or related to my hobbies.

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