Multitasking, an unfailing helping hand and humour!

 Insights spoke to several FSS team members, who all spoke of her in glowing terms! 

 Next, we talked to Kasia herself.

Tell us something about yourself, Kasia.

I studied electronics and telecommunications, specialising in microprocessor systems, and I did my master’s in computing in Great Britain. So, to be honest, I never supposed for a moment that I’d become a manager. Although, when I think about it, I often got involved in organising various activities… I don’t know how to live without contact with other people and I don’t want to… so maybe the role was assigned to me from the beginning?

After I graduated, I stayed in Britain, where I worked for Telent, creating support tools for engineers, but I started getting homesick for Poland quite quickly. Two years later, I came back and began working for a telecommunications company as a technical writer, a go-between for developers and engineers configuring telecom networks. Soon after that, I was informally leading a team. Then I became a formal team leader and project manager. Maybe it was partly because I was continually getting involved in various company initiatives and projects that someone told me that one of the business areas was looking for a manager and suggested that it might be worth applying. And that’s what happened. After an internal recruitment process that was certainly no piece of cake, I was given the role.

Is managing a team of programmers difficult? What are the challenges?

Every job has its challenges. In this role, one thing’s certain; every day is different, bringing new problems, but also new success. We’re all different. We all have our own expectations and keeping everyone happy isn’t easy. I think what might be the most difficult is working with people in a way that includes both their enthusiasms and business requirements. Like it or not, we’re not working for charity and satisfied clients are also vital.

What do you like most about your work?

Could there be an easier question?! Contact with people, for sure… and that’s something I’ve missed enormously over the past eighteen months. So many topics, large and small, that beg to be discussed over a coffee or sketched out on a whiteboard, but now, sadly, most of that happens over Teams instead.

What do you do after work? Do you have any particular hobbies?

I love skiing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. It’s a bit tough that they’re seasonal and can only be done by going to a suitable spot, but I manage. Apart from that, I really enjoy travelling, having a glimpse of other cultures and, in particular, exploring different cuisines. And I spend a lot of time with my children, of course. I’m slowly infecting them with my passions. And, last but not least, meeting up with friends gives me shot of energy for daily life.

Now all that remains for me to do is recommend that you try working with Kasia yourselves! Check out our job offers!