Be yourself, be part of #WomanPower in IT

In our #WomanPower in IT series, we welcome another #AilleronExpert—Gosia, who has gone from Software Tester to Product Owner and continues to grow within the LiveBank team. See for yourselves what interesting things Gosia does every day.

1. Hi, Gosia, how long have you been working with us at Ailleron?

I've been with the company since 2014. I started out as a Software Tester, then worked as a Business Analyst, and currently hold the position of Product Owner.

2. Did you always plan to work at an IT company, or did that come about while you were looking for a job?

Actually, the fact that I ended up in this industry was a complete coincidence. Before that, it had never even crossed my mind that I could work in IT.

When I finished college, I naturally started looking for a full-time position. At that time, quite a few of my friends who were IT specialists had found jobs at a company in Rzeszów, so they gave me their contact information and told me about an open position for a Software Tester. Literally just a few days before my first interview, I learned that such a role even existed, so I did some research to find out exactly what it entailed. Still, I took a chance—and it paid off! I was hired, thinking it would be just a temporary gig until I found a job in my field. It turned out, however, that the IT world is captivating. 😊 I like it here and feel right at home, so that’s how I ended up staying in this industry for the long haul.

3. These are significant changes that have helped you advance your career. What was that process like? Did you take external training courses, or did you learn from the #AilleronExperts who work in this field every day?

I learned my roles right away by being thrown in at the deep end—that is, mostly through hands-on experience. Of course, my more experienced colleagues and my team leader were always a great source of support. I also took advantage of internal training, and my supervisors sent me to certification courses as part of my professional development hours. I’ve always felt that I have the company’s full support and am being properly guided on my career path.

4. You’re a Product Owner at Ailleron. Tell us what you do on a daily basis.

The role of a Product Owner involves a wide range of activities, and the main goal is to create and develop a product that users will “love.” To achieve this, you must start by collaborating with customers. This involves numerous conversations, workshops, verifying their needs, and analyzing the market and competition. Collaboration with the sales and Customer Success teams is also key here, so that we can meet customer expectations.

Next, we work with the development team on the software—which typically involves Jira, user stories, the backlog, and many, many discussions about what to do and how best to do it to create a product that works great.

5. When you talk about your work, it’s clear that you really enjoy it. Tell us more about the project you’re working on and what interesting things you and your team are creating.

I work at LiveBank SaaS—a business unit that develops banking solutions. Together with my team, we’re building a platform for communication between bank employees and customers. Thanks to this solution, customers can handle their banking matters online—for example, while sitting comfortably on their couch. On the other hand, bank employees can use real-time or asynchronous communication to support various banking processes, saving time and achieving better results.

6. What do you like most about your job? Is there anything you'd like to change about it? 😉

I like that the results of our work are visible and tangible, and that the end users of our product are my friends—and even myself. Our work has a real impact on the professional and personal lives of the average Joe or Smith. Plus, it involves creative collaboration with people and a constant stream of new topics to explore, so there’s never a dull moment.

What would I change? I'm not usually one to complain, but I suppose the amount and pace of work could be scaled back a little.

7. The IT industry—is it still a typically male-dominated world, or are women making their presence felt? What’s your take on this?

When I look at my current team—or my previous teams—I still mainly use the term “coworkers” rather than “female coworkers.” There are still few of us, although we’re slowly joining the ranks and growing in strength.

8. How did you find your way in the IT world? What advice would you give to women who are just entering this field and may have some doubts or concerns?

There’s no doubt that working in the male-dominated world of IT is different from working in a typically female team. I think there are pros and cons to this: it’s hard to chat about a new dress, but on the other hand, you get to hear a good corny joke to start the day. 😉

I believe that one such stereotype is the idea that a job in IT is only about being a programmer. However, my own experience and that of several female colleagues at work show that there are many roles—such as tester, business analyst, or project manager—in which we thrive and where qualities like precision, patience, and empathy are very helpful.

I would advise young women to give it a try despite their fears, see if this is the right place for them, and simply decide whether they want to stay or look for their place in another field. I think it’s worth taking the risk.

9. Do you feel that feminine power at Ailleron?

She’s making her mark. 😊 The “support” departments—which, for a change, are dominated by women—certainly showcase that feminine strength, setting a good example for us girls in Development.

10. And at work—but not just about work. What are you passionate about? What do you like to do when you close your work laptop and leave the office?

I love the mountains, nature, hiking, and climbing in both the lower and higher elevations of the mountains. During my next vacation, instead of relaxing and lounging around, I plan to cover more kilometers in the breathtaking Alps.

11. Oh, that fits perfectly with the idea behind the #Well-being challenge program. Are you taking part? 😊

Yes! To start with, you get great gifts that motivate you to sign up and get involved in the program. The results of other participants—including the kilometers they’ve cycled, run, and the peaks they’ve climbed—inspire you to be more active and help organize group activities that bring participants together.

Gosiu, thank you so much for your inspiring story, which perfectly illustrates that it’s worth pursuing your goals, not giving up, but finding opportunities and making the most of them. Your story proves that #WomanPower is truly an extraordinary force!