Yoana Boyanova, speaker for Women in Tech Con at DevCon 2021, online on November 3: https://www.dev-con.ro/speakers
Yoana Boyanova is Sr. Member of Technical Staff at VMware Bulgaria.
She is a UI developer with 5+ years of experience, actively participating in the design and technical decisions around building great UI and UX. Currently, she is leading a team of 7 great developers!
Also, a member of Women Who Code Sofia, she is taking part in different initiatives about supporting women in technology and mentorship.
“I’m thankful and excited about the opportunities and challenges in front of me and speaking to DevCon is one of them!” – Yoana Boyanova
What do you love most about your work?
I love my work because I have the chance to work with smart, ambitious, and brilliant people who motivate each other every day. I work in an amazing environment which gives me the opportunity to grow and to find my strong sides and to develop them. I have the support from my team, and I receive a lot of different challenges – being involved in features design, release plannings, and speaking to a conference!
How does a day look like in the life of a Sr. Member of Technical Staff at VMware Bulgaria?
One of my main responsibilities is to track the progress of the tasks of the team and to take care of the quality of the product we are developing. I’m taking part in a lot of general UI discussions and meetings about clearing requirements and making designs of critical features. I’m also helping the team with their daily tasks, answering their questions, and making code reviews. I also have some time for various activities like taking part in our internal conferences and initiatives.
What is the biggest challenge in the industry at the moment?
My answer won’t be surprising – the Covid situation and the so-called “New Normal”. Our lives have changed and we need to adapt very fast. The challenge here is that we need to keep alive the communication between people in a virtual environment – to motivate them, to connect and coordinate them and to still be able to share knowledge between them. Because the Software is developed from people for people.
What has helped you get where you are and what advice would you have for others who want to set off in a similar direction?
I’ve been in the industry for over five years but even before that I knew I want to be a Project Manager. If you want something, you need to have a plan and work hard for it. Also, you need to be very agile and to take every chance you have. Don’t forget to communicate your plan with your manager and your team – these are the people who can help you grow and to support you.
What future technology excites you the most and what are the tools you use?
I’m excited by the technologies that make the “Future of work” possible – I believe that in the future people will be able to work from anywhere they want. Working in a virtual environment needs specific technologies – to connect people, to share knowledge, to make our lives easier. Everyday I’m using products like Zoom, Miro, and Figma for sharing knowledge and to connect with my team. I also think that the future will be SaaS oriented and we need to work towards this new mindset.
What is the number one way we can make a substantial difference?
As a very big community, IT can impact a lot of different aspects of people’s lives. We can be the good example in society and to help people in need or to take care of the environment around us. This can be done both via the software products that we develop and in-person – to do some volunteering. We can be the change we want to see in the world and this change starts from the small things we do every day.
What inspires you most?
I’m inspired by the people around me – how they think and behave and what they achieve in their lives. I’m so happy that I’m surrounded by great people – at VMware, Women Who Code and the whole IT industry! Something else which inspires me are my own achievements and the moments when I did something that I thought would be impossible.
What are your hobbies?
I love sports and traveling. I’m very active person and I love trying new things and activities – cross-fit, yoga, climbing, snowboarding, aerial sports and more. Before Covid I travelled a lot – for only 3 years I visited 18 countries on 3 continents. Now I’m exploring the beauty of my country Bulgaria.
DevCon Live 2021 will give participants access to 9 dedicated conferences, covering a variety of technologies and areas of interest, such as Java, .NET, Data, AI & Machine Learning, Web & Mobile, Women in Tech and more.
This year you will get to know industry-leading speakers, combining representative sessions with expertly held masterclasses.
