This year, Amdaris is a Gold Partner of Tech Women Moldova (TWM), a public association that is dedicated to attracting, supporting and empowering women in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
In the Republic of Moldova, as in the rest of the world, women are vastly underrepresented in IT. Tech Women Moldova aims to provide the resources and tools needed to change this through experience-sharing events, knowledge transfer, mentoring programmes and motivational conferences that will open up more opportunities, growth and development for women in tech.
As part of this mission, Tech Women Moldova is hosting a voluntary, three-month mentoring programme. Starting mid-May, the programme will be run by 18 mentors working in the fields of Development, QA, Project Management, Product Design, IT Recruitment and Digital Communications.
Four of our talented Amdaris QA Engineers will be taking part: Natalia Bodrug, Dina Gritco, Maria Sahaidac and Natalia Nezalzov. In this blog series, we catch up with each of them to find out about their journeys into tech and what made them decide to become mentors.
Meet Natalia Bodrug
How long have you worked in tech?
I have worked in tech for five years in various roles, working my way up from a Test Analyst to Test Lead, before becoming a Full-stack QA Automation Engineer. I have been an Ambassador for Tech Women Moldova since September 2021.
How did you get into a career in tech?
I was studying Art and Fashion Design when I realised that I wanted a career in tech. I attended an open day at the Faculty of Computers, Informatics and Microelectronics (FCIM) and I glimpsed another world, different from the one I knew, with a different kind of art. Something switched in my mind and I decided that, after completing my Art and Fashion Design degree, I would become a student at the Technical University of Moldova (UTM). This is exactly what I did and I went on to graduate successfully in both Art and Fashion Design and an Applied Informatics speciality from the UTM, FCIM. Nothing is impossible for women, we are multi-talented and giving up is not in our DNA.
When you were younger did you have any female role models in tech?
No. When I was younger my role models didn’t come from STEM. I didn’t know that this kind of field existed for women – maybe because of stereotypes – but it’s funny how life turns out.
Are there any women in your life that particularly inspire you?
My sister. She’s my rocket. In addition to this, I find every woman an inspiration and am grateful for all the amazing women in my life.
Do you have any mentors when you joined Amdaris and did they make a difference?
Yes, definitely! I’ve met a lot of people who are very motivating; who challenge me daily to become a better version of myself and to always strive to achieve the impossible.
Why did you choose to take part in the mentoring?
As a proactive team player, speaker and coach who is always willing to share her knowledge and contribute to process improvements and team development, it’s a pleasure to be involved in this brilliant initiative. For me, being a mentor is not only about seniority in something, it’s about caring and sharing and guiding. Being a mentor is a big responsibility; you are helping your mentees to find their impossible and to achieve it. I have already been a mentor for a few women in the industry. Years later, these women still come up to me and say thank you and that’s amazing. I feel the impact I’m having and that’s what makes me continue.
What does your impossible look like when it comes to Women in Tech?
It’s hard when you don’t know about something for it to feel possible or real, but if you can dream about it you can do it! Hence, everything is possible. The impossible just takes more time.
Are you feeling inspired by Natalia’s story and looking to make your first steps in a career in tech? If so, apply to our Amdaris internship programme today.
This was the first in our ‘Meet the Mentors’ blog series. Follow along to meet the other mentors Dina Gritco, Maria Sahaidac and Natalia Nezalzov in our upcoming posts.
