Janeta is the Senior Engineering Manager of the Aristotle Risk Screening team at Paysafe, with nearly 20 years in the IT industry and over 10 years of experience as a software engineer. She has gone through various positions from engineering, and Agile Coaching, to software team manager. Janeta makes sure there are clear goals for the team, helps to optimize the process and teamwork, and is always available for advice or support. The career and personal growth of everyone on her team is a priority for her. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, staying active, and spending time with her family and her two cats, Fifi and Evora. During the summer months, she often works from Balkanity Hut or Red Riding Hood hut, an opportunity that is part of Paysafe’s social benefits in partnership with the two huts in Vitosha mountain.
How do you enjoy working from an office in nature from two huts in Vitosha?
Variety in daily life is an important part of the rhythm of work, not only because it improves emotional stability and health, but also because it naturally unlocks human creativity. Because our work in the IT department is not trivial and we don’t always know in advance the steps that will solve the problem at hand, some of the idea generation happens in unconventional places, often away from the computer. In this line of thought, we appreciate very much the flexibility that Paysafe provides us, to work in nature for part of the time, to enjoy the sun, greenery and fresh air.
What are the main advantages for you when working in the mountains compared to working in a traditional office environment?
Working outdoors in the mountains activates alternative parts of the brain that often get left behind in a predictable office environment where everything looks the same, day after day. In fact, some of our boldest ideas have been generated outside of the regular office environment and the effect on team spirit is unparalleled.
How does this change in environment affect you – do you feel a difference in concentration, motivation or work-life balance?
I have noticed that after a day like this, all colleagues are extremely energised and I am sure that even after they go home, the feeling remains and they are able to share it with their loved ones. This is the magic of fresh air, open skies and the living forest. For me personally, the feeling after such a day, no matter how busy it was in terms of operational tasks, is like coming back from an outing with friends.
How often do you take this opportunity and does it happen that you work from the hut together with colleagues?
We use this opportunity the most in the warm season, when the weather is suitable to stay outdoors all day. This means that we open the season from the beginning of June and close it after mid-October when late autumn starts. So far, I have never gone to work from the hut alone, we are always together with colleagues – it is so much more fun, and more productive. Many times we have used these days out to organize workshops with the teams in order to generate ideas, solve a particular problem and bring the team together.
How do your family and friends react when they find out you work from a cabin in the mountains?
Some of them, who are not used to the concept, are surprised, even asking me, “Well, how come? Do you manage to do good work from there?” I answer this question with a smile, assuring them that some of our most significant results have been achieved precisely through the unconventional approach, encouraging them to try it too, if of course their employer offers them such flexibility. I have also shown them photos of workshops in nature, where the mood and commitment of the participants is evident. After such a discussion I leave everyone with a curiosity and willingness to try and give something new and different a chance.
What place do nature and the mountains have in your way of working and taking care of yourself?
No matter how advanced we are as a society and technology, nature remains our natural habitat. I am personally of the opinion that without regular contact with it, true and complete human health and happiness is unattainable. That’s why I’ve given this type of activity a central place in my life, taking every possible moment to be outside in the woods or a nearby park. As for outdoor work – it inspires me, refreshes me and brings me new perspectives.
Would you recommend this model of work to colleagues and why?
Not only do I recommend this model of work to colleagues, I directly encourage them and go with them when commitments allow. I have repeatedly recommended working from the mountains to my fellow managers as an excellent prerequisite for running successful team workshops, and quite a few of them have already been convinced by personal experience. I would like to tell everyone who reads these lines not to hesitate and get up in the mountains, try the homemade breakfast softies, open their laptop and see what wonders their mind will create in this environment free from office barriers.
The material and images are provided by Paysafe
