Gergana Pancheva, а Tech Architect at Accenture, Bulgaria, is a professional who has been working in the IT sector for over 15 years, dedicating the last 6 years to her current position. Gergana loves movement, books and often diversifies her daily life by riding a bike in the park. She relieves stress with a headstand. Gergana says that so far she has not encountered any professional challenges in relation to being a woman. She doesn’t notice the problem of gender inequality at her workplace, however, she does not deny that it is still relevant. According to Gergana, both female and male appearance and charm can help us everywhere. Gergana shares with us that at Accenture everyone strives to create a favorable environment with pleasant working conditions. She adds that the company provides various opportunities which facilitate, encourage and stimulate women’s work. Gergana tries to follow some rules for a good work-life balance, however, she admits that it is quite difficult because both personal and professional life are equally important. She adds that with compromises and prioritization, things are going smoothly. Gergana chooses the IT industry as her professional path because this field develops itself at an enormous speed and provides numerous opportunities to all professionals. For her, this is an area where we constantly have to use our mind and creativity. Gergana thinks that the most important qualities that one Tech Architect must possess are communication skills, time management skills and courage. According to Gergana, women in the IT industry are a minority, however, there is a tendency of change in the upcoming years.

“In my work environment I haven’t noticed any gender inequality, however, I think the problem is still relevant.”

Gergana Pancheva, Tech Architect at Accenture

Favourite clothes?

Comfortable ones.

High heels or flat shoes?

It depends on the mood.

Which is THE thing you never go out without?

Lip balm.

Favourite lipstick colour?

Red.

Which is the feminine quality that you don’t possess?

The anger.

Which cause are you currently supporting?

Causes related to defense of human rights, the environment and nature.

Read More Inspiring Stories for Women in Tech in WRTech here.

Share something about yourself that we can’t find on LinkedIn.

I relieve the stress with a headstand.

Have you ever faced challenges in your career regarding the fact that you are a woman?

I don’t think so.

Do you know how many women work in your position?

I haven’t checked.

Do you think that the problem with gender inequality still exists in Bulgaria and globally?

In my work environment, I haven’t noticed any gender inequality, however, I think the problem is still relevant.

Do women’s appearance and charm help you be successful in a professional way?

Feminine appearance and charm help everywhere, as well as male’s.

Which policies does your company encourage regarding gender diversity?

Accenture aims to create a favorable environment with pleasant working conditions. Specifically, if we look at the diversity of “men vs women”, our company provides various opportunities that facilitate, encourage, and stimulate the work of women.

How do you get along with men in your company? Do they treat you differently?

I haven’t noticed any discrimination.

How do you balance your work with your personal life? Are there any rules that you follow?

I try to follow some rules to create a balance, but it’s quite difficult because both personal and professional life are important to me. I make compromises and prioritize my tasks.

Are women “Minorities” in the IT industry?

Yes, but there is a tendency to change in the coming years.

You have more than 14 years of experience in the software industry, can you point out the biggest changes in the IT field that you have witnessed?

Agile & DevOps, Cloud technologies, Blockchain, etc.

What are the most important characteristics that one Tech Architect should possess?

Communication skills, time management skills, and courage.

Why did you choose the IT field for your professional path?

I like the dynamic atmosphere, the fast way in which the IT industry develops, and the opportunities it offers. It is an area where you have to constantly use your mind and creativity.

If You Want to Read More Inspiring Stories for Success and Professional Growth Join the DevStyleR #Tech Influencers Community and Get Access to our Special Editions here.

Being a Mayor means not only to be a professional but above all to have the ability to find a common goal in the different and also contradictory desires of people. Being a woman Mayor is a duty and a huge responsibility. We present to you Tanya Hristova, the Mayor of Gabrovo city. Her responsibility is to serve to those that trust her. To her, the real challenge is to prove yourself every day, to uphold your principles and to overcome difficulties of any kind. Her personal life as a wife and a mother is often at the expense of the responsibility and commitment to be a Мayor 24 hours a day. Most of the weekends are busy for her, so she is grateful her family for their understanding, patience and fair criticism. She is a firm believer that innovation and technology are not seen as abstracts but as tools for solving social problems. There isn’t a rule she follows in order to balance because probably the ability to successfully combine your personal and professional life is just a wisdom. According to her, the principle of equal opportunities for women and men is one of the fundamental pillars of democracy. She thinks that it is necessary to work at all levels to protect and implement it. In her opinion, the problem of gender inequality is still relevant in some places. There is a positive trend that gender has long been irrelevant in many typically “male” or “female” occupations. She believes that attention to the details, the ability to prioritize, to mobilize in critical moments, the strong intuition, combined with the absence of unnecessary fears and doubts in decision-making, the ability to communicate and social sensitivity, often give additional benefits and help women more than their appearance.

Tanya Hristova, Mayor of Gabrovo City

Favourite clothes?

A dress and each piece of clothing that emphasizes the lovely feminine nature.

High heels or flat shoes?

Both – depends on the situation.

Which is THE thing you never go out without? 

А phone.

Favourite lipstick colour?

Pinkish-red.

Which is the feminine quality/duty that you don’t possess?. 

I can’t think of one.

Which cause would you support/ Are you currently supporting?

The cause I’ve been supporting for years and will continue to support is called Gabrovo.

Have you ever faced challenges in your career regarding the fact that you are a woman? 

The principle of equal opportunities for women and men is one of the fundamental pillars of democracy and it is necessary to work at all levels to protect and implement it. The real challenge, no matter what your gender is, is to prove yourself every day, to stand up for principles, to overcome difficulties of any kind, and when you are a Mayor you have to serve the people who have given you their trust.

Do you know how many women work in your position?

I know many women working in my position, both in оur country and abroad, but I can’t give the exact number.

“The principle of equal opportunities for women and men is one of the fundamental pillars of democracy and it is necessary to work at all levels to protect and implement it.” 

Do you think that the problem with gender inequality still exists in Bulgaria and globally?

Unfortunately, there are still latitudes where it is relevant. However, there is a positive trend that gender has long been irrelevant in many typically male or female occupations.

Do you think that a woman’s appearance and charm affect her professional success? (example: does it make communication easier?)

They probably do, but that’s not the point. Provoked by your question, I will admit that a woman, by nature, has the ability to balance and be more adaptable. Attention to detail, the ability to prioritize, to mobilize in critical moments, strong intuition combined with the absence of unnecessary fears and doubts in decision-making, the ability to communicate and social sensitivity, often give additional benefits, and help women more than their appearance.

 Read More Inspiring Stories for Women in Tech in WRTech here.

 What policies do you follow regarding encouraging diversity?

 I prefer a balance, where women rights are equal to men rights.

How do you get along with your men colleagues? Do they treat you differently?

You should ask them. Personally, I don’t feel different attitude.

How do you balance your work life with your personal life? Is there any rule that you follow?

 It is difficult for me to strike this important balance. Very often my personal life of a wife and a mother is at the expense of the responsibility and commitment of being Mayor 24 hours a day. I can barely steal a few days off in the summer and winter. Most weekends are working weekends, I am often in my office or I visit sites with colleagues. I take this opportunity to thank my family for their understanding, patience and fair criticism. I don’t follow any rules in order to balance. Probably the ability to successfully combine your personal and professional life is just life wisdom.

Which sources would you recommend to us? (podcasts, webpages, influencers, youtubers, etc.)

Unfortunately, due to lack of time, I can’t say much. But I would recommend to your audience to follow the local information channels.

If You Want to Read More Inspiring Stories for Success and Professional Growth Join the DevStyleR #Tech Influencers Community and Get Access to our Special Editions here.

Let’s also greet Miryana Markova, who is working for AIOPSGROUP as a VP Professional Services. She describes herself as a travelling-lover, who enjoys meeting new cultures and getting to know everything about their past and present. She said that she loves challenges and mysteries– solving technical and organizational problems gives her a lot of energy. Miryana told us that her career in the IT field began years ago when she was a sophomore at the university. She adds that her working atmosphere has always been very dynamic and each day she learns something new. That’s exactly what made her work in the IT sphere for 20 years. According to her, this tendency hasn’t changed a lot. Her opinion is that technologies are improving very fast and you should constantly study and adapt to them in order to keep on track. Miryana shares that the teams she’s worked with always included International members from different parts of the world with various cultures and perspectives. She adds that tolerance and respect have always been part of her work. That’s exactly why she has never faced any problems concerning being a woman. When it comes to gender inequality, Miryana shares that during the last two decades there has been huge progress regarding this topic, but unfortunately nowadays it remains a problem all around the world. To her, the key for solving this problem is changing the point of view of society. She thinks everything begins at home and work – a woman is and should be treated as an equal partner who has her own duties and rights. To Miryana, appearance is never a factor for accepting someone. She wouldn’t go to a Business meeting dressed in shorts or a T-shirt, but apart from that, what matters the most in order to be successful is to have the right knowledge and skills. In order to achieve a balance between her personal and professional life, Miryana prioritizes her tasks daily and never puts off anything for the last moment. For her, the key to success is hard work, dedication to what you’re doing, constantly improving skills and expanding knowledge… and a little bit of good luck too.

“Senior Managers have strategies for the development of the organization and add constant improvement, in order to reach maximum effectiveness. They aren’t afraid of making decisions and support their teams in hard times.”

Share something about yourself that we can’t find on LinkedIn.

I love travelling and getting to know new cultures, their past and present. Some of the most exotic places I’ve visited are Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Easter Island (Chile) and Petra in Jordan.

Have you ever faced challenges in your career regarding the fact that you are a woman?

No, or at least, if it happened, I didn’t realize the reason was being a woman. The teams I’ve worked with have always included international members from different parts of the world, with different cultures and perspectives. In those teams, we’ve always tolerated and respected each other.

Read More Inspiring Stories for Women in Tech in WRTech here.

Do you know how many women work in your position?

The percentage of women in senior roles globally is around 25-29%

Do you think that the problem with gender inequality still exists in Bulgaria and globally?

There’s been huge progress in the last two decades, but unfortunately, the issue with gender inequality still exists globally. There are still countries, where the educational access for young girls is limited or they are discriminated against or abused. To me, the key to fixing this problem is changing the perspective of society. Everything begins in the family or at work–a woman IS and should be seen as an equal partner, who has his rights and duties.

Do women’s appearance and charm help you be successful in a professional way?

I don’t know. I never thought that appearance is something we should judge someone on. Of course, I wouldn’t go to a business meeting dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, but outside of that what matters the most are your knowledge and skills.

How do you get along with men in your company? Do they treat you differently?

As a professionalist, the atmosphere in AIOPSGROUP is very open and one of the main values is teamwork. Our experience is proof that we can only succeed if we are together and in our workplace there is no separation in any aspect.

How do you balance your work with your personal life?

The balance between my work life and personal life is extremely important to me. In order to achieve it, I prioritize my duties and never leave the not so urgent things for the last moment, I delegate and rely on the help of my colleagues.

Which sources would you recommend to us? (podcasts, webpages, influencers, youtubers, etc.)

I like TED Talks because of the variety of topics. I follow Richard Branson’s post, as well as those of Bill Gates and Satya Nadella.

Which policies does your company encourage regarding gender diversity?

In AIOPSGROUP we create a working environment focused on respect and tolerance between the employees without considering gender, ethnic or race background. In the company, there are people from different countries and cultures–Bulgaria, USA, Serbia, Bosnia, India, Maroco; our clients and partners are from huge international companies. Around 25% of the employees are women and the ones on management level are 50%.

How did your professional development in the technological sphere begin? What inspired you to choose this path?

I started working in the IT sphere when I was a second-year university student. By the time, the technological companies in Bulgaria weren’t that much and most of the workers were students and young people. The working atmosphere was very dynamic, everyone was encouraged to share knowledge, everyday we learned new things, which I enjoyed the most and that’s why I’ve been working in the area for 20 years. This trend hasn’t changed, technologies keep improving dynamically and in order to follow them, you have to study constantly and adapt.

As being a woman what is the key to developing such a successful career in the IT industry? Are there any secret recipes for success?

I wouldn’t say so. Success relies on hard work, dedication to what you’re doing, constant self-improvement of your skills and expanding your knowledge. And of course a little bit of good luck.

Which are the main qualities that a successful Vice-President Professional Services should possess in the tech sphere?

Senior managers have strategies for developing the organization, they constantly improve it in order to reach maximum efficiency. They aren’t afraid of making decisions. Every Senior Manager should support its teams and should be focused on constructive actions, not
on mistakes and failures.

“Technologies keep improving dynamically and in order to follow them, you have to constantly study and adapt.”

What recharges you in a professional and personal plan?

I love adventures and mysteries – solving technological and organizational problems gives me energy.

If You Want to Read More Inspiring Stories for Success and Professional Growth Join the DevStyleR #Tech Influencers Community and Get Access to our Special Editions here.

Irina Toncheva, Senior Business Analyst and Team Lead, Accenture Bulgaria

Irina Toncheva is a Senior Business Analyst and Team Lead of the Business Analysis Department at Accenture, Bulgaria. She has been working for 9 years in the IT sector, more specifically in the field of Business Analysis. She is the woman who believes that communication is facilitated when people are positive and smiling, regardless of their gender. Irina shares with us her strong interest in biomedical informatics and adds that she really hopes to work on a software product for medical purposes in the future.

When asked if the problem of gender inequality is still relevant in Bulgaria and around the world, Irina answered that in her opinion this topic is not so relevant in our country, unlike some other countries in the Middle East and North Africa, where this is still quite a pressing problem. Irina shares that the company she works for has an internal “Inclusion and Diversity” program that promotes diversity in all countries. She added that many initiatives are being organized to integrate women and people with different needs. Irina adds that her colleagues of the opposite gender perceive her as an equal colleague and because of that she has never felt different.

For her, as for many other ladies who are parents, it is still a challenge to combine personal and professional life, especially with two small children. Irina calls on everyone to look at the UN goals on their official website and to support some of them if they want.

“The company has an internal “Inclusion and Diversity” program to promote diversity in all countries where Accenture is represented”

Share something about yourself that we can’t find on Linked In.

I have an interest in biomedical informatics and I hope that one day I will work on a software product for medical purposes.

Have you ever faced challenges in your career regarding the fact that you are a woman?

No.

Read More Inspiring Stories for Women in Tech in WRTech here.

Do you know how many women work in your position?

No.

Do you think that the problem with gender inequality still exists in Bulgaria and globally?

In Bulgaria, I don’t think it is relevant. However, in some countries, such as the Middle East and North Africa, this issue is still quite relevant.

Which policies does your company encourage regarding gender diversity?

The company has an internal “Inclusion and Diversity” program to promote diversity in all countries where Accenture is represented. Numerous initiatives are organized for the integration of women, people of different sexual orientations, disadvantaged people, intercultural, ethnic, religious and racial inclusion.

How do you get along with men in your company? Do they treat you differently?

They perceive me as an equal colleague, I have never felt different.

Do women’s vision and charm help you be successful in a professional way?

I think that communication is facilitated when people are positive and smiling, regardless of their gender.

How do you balance your work with your personal life? Are there any rules that you follow?

Sometimes it is challenging, especially with two small children at home.

Which sources would you recommend to us? (podcasts, web pages, influencers, YouTubers, etc.)

I urge your audience to consider the goals of the United Nations and, if they wish, to support one of them: Sustainable Development Goals

Favourite clothes?

Something black.

High heels or flat shoes?

High heels.

Which is THE thing you never go out without?

Wet wipes.

Favourite lipstick colour?

Something nude.

Which is the feminine quality/duty that you don’t possess?

Gossip.

Which cause are you currently supporting?

I am buying products with a cause from www.darpazar.bg.

If You Want to Read More Inspiring Stories for Success and Professional Growth Join the DevStyleR #Tech Influencers Community and Get Access to our Special Editions here.