In our latest interview, we sat down with Valentyna Chycha, Senior Software Test Engineer at Paylocity, who shared an inspiring look into her career journey - from a surprising start in software testing during her studies in Ukraine to a leadership role in a fast-paced U.S. tech environment. Valentyna reflects on the power of resilience, mentorship, and self-advocacy in navigating challenges such as micromanagement and underrepresentation. Her thoughtful insights highlight how continuous learning, clear communication, and inner confidence can shape a successful and fulfilling career in tech.
Did you know that every workplace has its own rules of the game? You probably understood it once you were already employed, as you were trying to get the most out of your position or climb the career ladder. Before we get into tips and tricks on how to win the workplace game, let's check what definitely should be avoided.
Do you tend to over-apologize at work? Does your work email, message, or talk always include "Sorry" in the sentence? Although it's considered respectful to recognize your mistake and apologize, in most cases, we say "Sorry" too often and when our colleagues don't wait for our apology at all.
Last year about one in three executives said Diversity, Equity, Inclusion was their top five business priority (by McKinsey). However, even before the pandemic, its progress in the workplace as a whole had been slow down and most of the companies reported they had a struggle to implement their initiatives.
