Victoria, the Greatest

When I was questioning my previous interviewees, they all asked me: "Why do you start with me, when you haven't talked to Victoria Alexandrova yet? She is the greatest QArea lady!"

Victoria is really great, she seems to obtain and succeed in everything a woman can do in her life. She is a teacher, a team leader and a manager of several projects, she can speak and understand English language and languages of programming, simultaneously she is a mother and simply a gorgeous woman.

Finally it happened! I had an interview with the most hard working QArea lady.

That was absolutely not easy. I was trying to catch Victoria during the daytime and at night but I had to queue in order to get in Victoria's schedule! In the morning she is teaching new generation of Ukrainian software developers who study in famous Kharkiv Aerospace University. I guess there is no problem to send planes and rockets into the sky with such a teacher. In the afternoon she is leading several main projects of QArea and later in the night she is discussing her progress and results with American customers. I admire Victoria for taking all the challenges of life with ease and confidence.

When I met Victoria, she was in the best mood. We talked about everything including career, teaching children and adults, leading projects and of course men. I didn't have to ask any special questions, Victoria described her relations with male colleagues herself.

Look what she told me!

- Which educational establishment (if any!) can be proud of you as its former student?

I am a graduate of Kharkiv National Aerospace University. I studied "Software Development" in "Management-Engineering" and finished my studies with honours.

- What is your previous job experience?

For 6 years I have been working as assistant of "Software Development" sub-faculty of Kharkiv National Aerospace University (disciplines "Mathematical methods of operations research", "Game theory", "Networks designing and exploitation" - Java)

For 2 years after my graduation I was working as a web-developer, designer and teacher of courses "Web-design", "Computer graphic arts" in Private Boiko School. Boiko School is an elite establishment in Kharkiv for those children, who want to get fundamental but non-standard education. That experience was extremely useful for me. I extended my professional knowledge and obtained the first experience of work with different people on projects. Those projects were included into the school programme: periodical school newspaper with computer make up, some internet projects, participation in web-design competition, but I think you know the key difficulties of dealing with children.

Then I worked in a small Kharkiv company as a Flash-developer and team-leader. The main activity of that company was making interactive multimedia presentations and children developing games. I was responsible for tasks decomposition, accurate definition of requirements, planning and control of tasks performance, and sometimes interaction with customers. Also I worked at Kharkiv State Television Company as a software developer. After this I had experience of QA engineering. So as you can see I was not wasting time...

- What brought you to QArea and when did it happen?

I came to QArea in April 2004. I wanted to grow as professional and frankly speaking I was interested in project manager position. I got it after 2 months of work in QArea.

- What are your main responsibilities here?

Almost as it was before: accurate definition of requirements, tasks decompositions, planning and control of performed tasks, and constant interaction with customers.

- How many software developers are there in your team?

Team size varies from 9 to 15 guys depending on a project size.

- How many projects do you lead at the same time usually?

There are about 2-6 projects at the same time.

- What is the most interesting about your job?

Understanding the main idea of a project and finding a way to fulfil it. It is very interesting to hear the final "wow!" or "cool!" from the client when application is finished.

- You control development part and at the same time you discuss everything with customers (and usually at night, as far as I know!), have you worked out your own ways to handle everything?

I'm using small to-do lists and reminders. And... being a woman I am more 'multi-threaded' than men :) I think you understand me, because you can cook and be on the phone at the same time, can't you?

- What do you think is your greatest achievement in QArea so far?

I am self-critical, so I can't talk about my achievements. Actually, I'm in process here. I mean I'm working on my greatest achievements now. I can see some results but still there are many things to do.

- I know that you teach students in Kharkiv National Aerospace University. You teach them to develop in Java and then actually do the same with your team in practice. What is the main difference between teaching future programmers and managing them? And what is similar?

The main similarity is necessity to give a task and get it done, I think. However, with developers we can discuss possible solutions and find the best way, but when working with students I have to show them the right way first, and then help to fix their own solutions. Another difference is that I need to teach all of students but I can choose developers for a project.

In both cases the main question is motivation. In the University I tell students about their future opportunities; and I motivate developers with their current benefits.

Good motivation is half of work!

- Victoria, you are the only female Project Manager in QArea, is it difficult to deal with so many men or vice versa?

Of course it's a challenge. First you should prove them that you are one from them, that you completely understand what they talk about, moreover, that you should deserve the right to criticize their solutions and propose your own ones. It is difficult enough to break men's prejudices and "to have them managed".

But there are some benefits too. Sometimes men simply feel shy to let me down or offend :) Or they can be more precise in explanations and it helps me to understand the current situation better. The most important thing is that there is no competition between us! So we just work to achieve common goals.

Thought Embodied in Words

When I explore the news on QArea web site, check the site content for certain information or inquire any of Project Managers for proposal, I can feel subtle similarity of all the intelligible, polite, though strict phrases I read. I know that whoever of my colleagues is sending me an email with any QArea document or quote, there is a fairy who has already made this technical text comprehensible.

Oksana Lyutikova is Technical Writer and Editor in QArea Marketing Department. Apparently Oksana is one of the most direct, bright and methodical persons I ever met. These features help her not to lose the way in the labyringth of documents, portfolios, estimates and news letters she has to compose and edit every day.

Just with the same straight and sincere mood Oksana is expressing her thoughts in my interview. As far as I'm very often asked about Ukraine, Ukrainian people, business and characteristics of life here, we have paid special attention to these questions. Oksana has an experience of living and working abroad what gives her rather objective opinion about peculiarities of Ukraine. Quite casually she indicates on modesty of Ukrainians which has been always cultivated in our country as a necessary part of decent behaviour. I cannot say if modesty is good or bad trait in general. However, I must admit: we are shy! Ukrainians are not used yet to talk about themselves without blushing and we just start learning to do this now. So for me it's a pleasure to see how easily and clearly Oksana can speak about her experience and achievements.

- Oksana, please tell more about your background.

Since my early childhood I have been dealing with English language. Thus, naturally, I graduated from Kharkiv State University, Department of structural and applied linguistics. This education implied not only linguistic discipline, theory&practice in technical translations but also higher mathematics, theory of algorithms, programming and others. The latter appeared extremely valuable what I understood much later when I came to QArea. Thanks to my education and engineering background (my parents are technicians) I feel myself duck in the waters of technical language and style.

- What experience did you get before your work in QArea?

It is extended and rich. I tried myself in various industries but my job in its major aspect was always engaged with foreign languages and international affairs. This improved my understanding of main social and economic processes, the world globalization pace.

I worked as CEO assistant, import/export manager, translator/interpreter, translator project manager, head of translation office, and translator recruiter.

My last job gave me inspiration and aspiration since I was hired by international localization company situated in Poland. That was educative period because I learnt what international business style is and communicated with many and many people. Due to this experience I became aware of my strong sides and became confident in my capabilities.

- What brought you to QArea and when did it happen?

I came to QArea almost two years ago. The company was in need of a Technical Writer and Editor. I just returned from Poland being deliberate to expand my capacities beyond translating and communicative skills.

- What are your main responsibilities in QArea?

When I came here my objective was to improve the QArea documentation creation process and edit all the outgoing documentation in terms of language and style. I also trained our translators and project managers who wanted to develop their language skills.

Now I am responsible for news, top complexity translations, marketing and other documentation structuring, style and composition. Strictly technical aspects are prerogative of developers and project managers, of course.

- What do you think is your greatest achievement in QArea so far?

First of all many Project Managers speak fluent English now due to my contribution in their progress. And second all the documentation, site content and proposals are in perfect order. This happened so because of my care.

- What do you love about your job?

I do my best to help my colleagues to communicate with existent clients in particular, and potential customers in general. I love the beauty of a thought being precisely and melodically embodied in words no matter what language is applied. I try to search for a verbal form to be appropriate in each particular situation.

- What is your favourite writer and why?

I do read many authors in original. Besides, I appreciate different aspects of creativity. I love Russian writers for incredible richness of the language they use.

Among English and American writers I have read in original, I would like to emphasize Frank Herbert and his Dune sequel. I think this is the greatest human universe production developed with careful attention to the smallest detail: from technology to ideology.

My deepest respect is to Sir John R. R. Tolkien for his fantasy and choice of linguistic means he used in The Lord of the Rings.

Among Polish writers I like S. Lem, H. Sienkiewicz, A. Sapkowski.

- What are your main ‘news sources’?

News is made by people. So, my source is QArea team. But behind every news there is a mainstream idea I would like to promote. Sometimes I collect these ideas when surfing the internet, sometimes they emerge during our marketing department brainstorming, sometimes Max Garkavtsev, QArea CEO brings them from abroad. And finally my feminine intuition serves me a good service! :)

- I am often asked what life in Ukraine is like. After your job abroad, what do you think is the most interesting about our country?

We are still young and thirsty nation. We are well-off with difficulties. Our higher technical education often sets tough rivalry to the one that can be obtained abroad… We share European values and at the same time we are capable of enthusiastic work for an idea.

- As an expert in marketing, could you please describe the situation in Ukrainian mobile market?

As for technologies and trends, the fresh and powerful shot at the two main mobile operators was made by a new and bold one - Life:) which was the first to introduce 3G technology and new types of content in Ukraine. Despite many skeptic analysts it dashed ahead and made the old heavyweights search for more flexibility in mobile content providing.

Though mobile content providers in Ukraine are mainly Russian, due to current internal Russian mobile and VAS market stagnation and drastic growth of handsets pool, both in qualitative and quantitative characteristics, we expect a very fast growth of this market in Ukraine (at the moment it is estimated as 70% annual growth, mobile PC (notebooks and PDA) market is the fastest growing in Europe, 30 million users (of 48 million population), 3G networks are implemented by the three main mobile providers. Special interest is connected with Wi-Fi and Wi-MAX technologies introduction in Ukraine.

- What is the next great trend on Ukrainian mobile market?

Upon my mind new kind of content will gain more and more popularity like Java games, photo image editing and blogging, mobile internet, TV-streaming. Wi-Fi hot spots already appeared in Kyiv and were tested in Kharkiv. We will follow the latest news in these technologies since we have aggregated strong experience in this area. We want to contribute to their development in Ukraine.

- Writing is very creative occupation. What inspires you?

This is the most inspiring and encouraging thing – the success, and I like to tell the world of our success. Ukrainian native character is too modest and this is not the way to international market.

I communicate much with many people in QArea Group – marketing, project managers, client managers, software engineers, QA engineers, designers. I know they are very talented. And if they sometimes lack proper words I feel myself owing to help them.

One of celebrities once said, a person gains recognition when he starts being copied. I remember all my translations – you may call this a “functional tilt”, – recently I discovered my texts with slight changes. I find this a tribute to hit descriptions and ideas.

HuntRess

Today I would like to introduce to you Yana Stoika, QArea HR Manager and the head of our headhunters’ team. Sorry, headhuntresses’ team, of course.

Knowing Yana, it’s very simple to understand ‘why a lady?’ She has this exceptional feminine gift to make a good impression on everyone with her shining eyes and cordial attitude. Her positive energy and psychological skills attracted to QArea the most valuable programmers and they never regret – she cares about every single individual in the staff. There is no wonder, that Yana’s office is the most popular room to visit. All the people in QArea aspire to get there since whatever happens, Yana is ready to discuss a problem, to sort it out and to give advice.

However, Yana is the most dangerous person at the office… She is the one, who knows all the secrets here! I tried to get out some.

- Yana, how did you start to work in HR and headhunting?

Quite unpredictably. I was educated as a software engineer and before I got to QArea, I had been working in modding. We were a small team of creative engineers who turned usual personal computers into something special. We decorated them, tested and finally a customer got exclusive machinery which looked like an orange, toy for a children’s room or cool business tool for an entrepreneur who likes to show off… But at a certain moment I got bored.
By chance, my friends from QArea team told me that an office manager was required, so I decided to try myself in more ‘human’ occupation. I was hired and… I didn’t become an office manager. There had been no HR department in QArea before I came and found my niche.

- What are the processes you settled during these 2 years?

I am responsible for the search of new employees, for interviews with applicants, for preventing shortage of people in each department. For me it’s the most important to make each person feeling comfortable in the office, so the main process for me is to stay optimistic and cheerful in any case.
My job involves innumerable tasks and there was a long way to find capable assistants for my department. I have interviewed many and finally I have found 2 talented girls, who are very helpful in human resources search.

- What was difficult in the choice of your team? What did you want to see in the candidates?

Oh, that was not that easy to find the right ones. The girls should have particular qualities to ‘hunt’ for the best minds and to bring them to the company. They should be dependable, determined, encouraging, brave. They need the art of acting and aptitude not to lose their confidence in difficult situations and not to show any negative emotions. Now I am happy to say that my new co-workers are radiant, they just bubble with enthusiasm.

- What do you like about your job the most?

For me it’s definitely communication and new contacts. In QArea I realize myself and get results, what is the best motivation.

- What is your achievement you are really proud of?

I’ve made friends with many-many developers in Kharkiv. And I must say that there are thousands of them in the city! Lots of very proficient software engineers came to work with us and I dare to think that it was mostly my personal achievement. :)

I always try to have informal meetings with potential employees to make them relaxed and see if they fit the company’s culture. Although we don’t hire everyone, I keep good relationship with all the applicants and this is my another achievement.

- Sounds wonderful! Do you know any special techniques how to make friends?

I just enjoy people.

- How does your ‘dream team’ look like?

One day I intend to increase my team and establish recruitment agency working not only for QArea, but for any company in want of excellent professionals. My ‘dream team’ girls will be able to deliver the best human resources to a client, whatever he seeks for.

Why girls? From my experience I know that I need personalities with deep understanding of others, feeling of responsibility, intuition not suppressed by logical thinking, maternal love to all the people and ability to make others happy with only a smile. I believe that only females can combine all these traits and such females I long for my ‘dream team’.

Well, most of the office secrets remained unrevealed. At least now I know that my personal secrets disclosed to Yana are secure as well. ;)

Women Help to Save Money

Only one week ago I published first interview with Marina Ryazanskaya, QArea Design Manager, but since then I’ve got many comments from men. ‘Unexpectedly’ there were no objections. All of them confirmed that YES, they would always prefer women to work with and they definitely enjoyed telling me their reasons. Here are the most distinguished ideas I heard:

Mr. A: “For many centuries since the times of the Stone Age men have been developing their physical power. They were hunting, building their dwellings, fighting for the territory, taking part in wars etc. On their turn women were keeping fire and growing children. Staying all days long alone they had to employ their mind with something… So they learnt to think. Being at home and thinking in silence they learnt to be patient. Serving their men and babies patiently, women learnt to be neat and careful. Now in the age of technical progress when physical power of men is not an advantage any more, women can show all their precious qualities.”

Mr. B: “I do prefer to hire women since usually they are more loyal to the company; they are more disciplined, less aggressive. They work in team much better than men and they are more tolerant to their colleagues’ faults. Besides, women often are much better in communication and making contacts.”

Mr. C: “Nowadays women expend so much energy to prove that they are equal with men, that there is sense to use it. This fact guarantees that the job is done.”

Mr. D: “Women have unique ability to control many things at the same time, including men themselves! Female way to rule is so delicate that men stay unaware of being controlled, what gives ladies more chances to succeed.”

And finally the most brilliant opinion:

Mr. X: “Women beautify any décor so perfectly, that I can save money on not having fishtanks or marble hall in my office.”

I wonder what wonderful male idea comes next.

If You Want Something Done, Ask a Woman

Inspired by Rudy De Waele’s ‘Women in Mobile’ (have a look at his http://www.m-trends.org/ , you can find me there as well!) interviews I decided to make my own lady-devoted page.

Why? Antoine de Saint-Exupery in his famous book ‘The Little Prince’ compared a woman with a rose. Well, I quite agree with this and when I look around in the office of QArea, I feel that I work in the garden - women take most of managing positions here. Even the name of the company is female! Definitely it’s not by chance. So I turned to our General Manager, Max Garkavtsev, who has grown this garden of flowers in our office, with a question: “Why do you want a lady for this job?” His answer was short. He only repeated the words of Margaret Thatcher: “If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.”

I asked… I asked QArea ladies what they really do. In the series of interviews with them I would like to introduce to you each of these young, good-looking, energetic ladies who manage to control the most complicated projects and to inspire our software developers at the same time.

The first from the rose garden - Marina Ryazanskaya, QArea Design manager. I would say that Marina is a perfect project manager with strong will and charisma. Marina has great imagination helping her to visualize what a customer wants, excellent communicative skills to make a picture clear to designers and patience to deal with both sides at the same time.

Here is Marina herself talking about her mysterious employment and trendy shoes.

- Marina, I’m a real fan of your works. You and your team have accomplished many projects already and all your productions are marvellous. What has helped you to develop your taste and sense of Beauty?

This question should be obviously asked to my parents. I think that sense of Beauty can’t be developed purposely. Exactly like sense of humor. You are either born with it or you don’t have it at all.

- I know very well that you had many job offers. What has brought you to QArea and what do you appreciate in your work here?

Oh, that was really a mystical event. I’ve got an opportunity to work at QArea for several times and each of them happened by chance– finding QArea advertisement in newsletter, then working in neighbouring office for almost one year, accidental meetings with QArea employees etc. So one moment I decided to yield to my fate and as you see I’m here. Still I have no doubts that this choice was right.

- What are your main responsibilities in QArea?

I lead everything that has any relation to design. I work with both sides; I manage our team of designers and communicate with customers.

- QArea design department has excellent references and as far as I know all the customers are very pleased with your work. Can you share your secrets with us? What have you done to achieve these results?

It can be caused only by the fact that my job is my passion and I think this feeling is spread to everyone in my team.

- What is the most interesting experience/knowledge you have gained during your work in QArea?

The most interesting part of my job is of course communication with customers. I’ve learned to guess and foresee their wishes and moods. I think it is the most valuable achievement.

- What of your team’s creations do you like the most and why? Can I place the link of your favourite work here so that our readers could see it?

My favourite project is a web site for shoes design brand ‘Dariju’. Its link is http://www.dariju.it

It’s one of the latest projects. Site is ready soon. In case it doesn't work, you can see sketches here:

http://gisnet.kharkov.ua/joliee/dariju.jpg

http://gisnet.kharkov.ua/joliee/dariju1.jpg

http://gisnet.kharkov.ua/joliee/dariju2.jpg

I love it for combining elegance with minimalism, creative ideas with grace. And what a lady wouldn’t like to lead a project concerning trendy shoes?:)

- Your job is very creative. What inspires you professionally?

It’s difficult to say exactly. I try to find inspiration in everything. But of course travelling and meeting interesting people play the most important role.

- They say that Italians have style and Frenchmen have taste... Continue this thought, what do Ukrainians have?

I think that Ukrainians have great energy and inspiration.

- Travelling broadens our horizons. What places would you like to visit to develop your creative capabilities?

I have been always dreaming about the East. It is so unique and mysterious. So once I hope to visit Peking and Tokyo.

- Which book you read has influenced on you the most?

A lot of girls were impressed with ”Gone With the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell. The same was with me. It is an American classical work which can teach to get over difficulties and despite of anything to stay a lady.

- What is your favourite artist and fine arts style?

It is quite natural that I love painting. Most of all I like Impressionists and Claude Monet in particular.

- What is your design ’dream project’? (Something you’ve never done before).

I’d like to design a site for a very famous brand. Something like Gucci, Dior or Givenchy. It’s only a dream, but step by step my team is coming to it! :)

Next trial to answer the question: “Why do you want a lady for this job?” coming soon.