In honour of International Women’s Day on the 8th of March, we are launching a Women In Tech series to celebrate our talented female Amdarians. This series will follow some of our pioneering female colleagues who are inspirational for future tech talent. And, play a large role in Amdaris being a leading software and digital transformation company across the UK, Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, Dubai, and very soon in Bulgaria as well!
Our first edition of this blog dives into the impressive career journey of Olga Snegur, the Centre Director of Amdaris’ office in Odesa, Ukraine. Olga explores perspectives on female mentorship and the importance of having relatable role models and representatives in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Q: How long have you been working in the STEM industry and what does your current role look like?
I have been working in the STEM industry since February 2020, when I first joined Amdaris. I initially started off as an IT recruiter and then the changes that arose following the pandemic allowed my role to transform and develop.
I was very excited to be offered the opportunity to become the Centre Director of the newly opening Odesa office. This was then followed by a very in-depth leadership training and mentorship process as I was moving into an entirely new job role with different responsibilities. I am really grateful to have received a lot of support across Amdaris, including the CFO, other Centre Directors, and the UK Marketing Team. The training I have received from the company helped a lot with my career transition and with learning important skills that were new to me.
Q: What was making a big career jump like, from working in IT recruitment to becoming the Centre Director in Ukraine?
The switch in job roles was quite scary at first, it’s like when you initially come to a big mountain and you don’t necessarily know how to climb it. Amdaris assisted me a lot throughout the process, however, and gave me all the necessary training and guidance I required in order to make a smooth transition.
Q: What is the most rewarding aspect of a STEM-based career?
It’s always amazing to see the brilliant results of your accomplishments. Once you see the results you realise that all the hard work and putting your heart into everything you do has finally paid off. Being a part of the successful opening of the Odesa office, building the talented team, and becoming an active part of the IT community in Ukraine has been very rewarding.
Q: In your opinion, what is the best way for women to support other women in getting into the STEM field?
Women should not be afraid to join the STEM field, even if you do not know a lot about the sector, you can always learn everything and increase your knowledge. When I first became an IT recruiter I was nervous as I did not know a lot about the tech specialism we were recruiting for, but Amdaris and my colleagues provided all the necessary knowledge and guidance I needed for my role.
Never be afraid of trying something new, it’s good to challenge yourself as that means you are growing and flourishing. Life should always be a learning curve.
Q: How is Amdaris helping women in STEM? And what do you think can be done to entice more women into this industry?
We are very supportive of fellow colleagues at Amdaris, always encouraging each other to expand our skill sets and advance in our job roles and careers.
One of our Senior Delivery Leads is female, she is an ex software developer and frequently speaks to young women regarding any questions they may have about joining the STEM field. It’s useful to have a female role model in STEM who can give first-hand advice and insights into how to join the field. This is why we have internal mentors for junior staff and female employees looking to make a career switch who they can shadow and learn from.
We also actively participate in women in tech conferences, including having attended the Women in IT conference in Ukraine last November to meet and network with women interested in the tech sector. It would also be great to be more active in university and school events and other STEM workshops as well, in order to reach girls interested in tech at an early stage.
Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Growing up, International Women’s Day was celebrated similarly to Mother’s day and centered around gifts and flowers. It’s great to see that the narrative has now changed and we are now using the occasion to give a spotlight to talented women shaping the tech industry.
Looking for a job in STEM? you can view our careers or contact us using the form below.