Where do you work and your role title?
BBC Global News – Senior Software Engineer
Get To Know Me
Favourite ice-cream flavour: Stracciatella
Wrap up in the shortest sentence possible what your role means.
Maintaining and adding new functionality on the main BBC Global News features websites such as bbc.com/worklife, bbc.com/future, bbc.com/culture.
What is the interesting / challenging part of your work?
Having a good communication with all members of the teams and clarifying requirements with stakeholders like product managers and UX/UI designers.
What attracted you to choose a STEM field? How do you find navigating your career path in tech?
I initially chose a career in STEM in hope that it will provide for a reliable and successful career and financial life. I soon discovered that I really enjoy being able to create applications that are useful for myself and others and that through programming and STEM fields one can have a great impact on society at a very large scale.
I cannot say it has been more difficult for me to create a career in tech because I’m a woman. I have nevertheless noticed a minority of women in tech among my coworkers and had the occasional clash with the bro culture that naturally occurs when there are only male developers in a team.
What is your biggest achievement that you are most proud of? How do you track and express your achievements in the workplace and beyond?
I am proud to have grown in my career as a developer and to be able to currently work as a Senior Software Engineer for a great company like the BBC Global News.
To track my achievements, I regularly do monthly and yearly reviews. At the workplace we use special tools to set and track objectives. In my day to day life I use oneNote to organise and keep track of all that I consider important both professionally and personally.
To share my achievements with others I often tweet or post on LinkedIn about them or if I’d love to share more about something, I usually write articles on Medium.
Who are your mentors or role models that helped you either directly or indirectly?
- My twin sister who is also a Software Engineer
- Managers throughout my career
- My professors and colleagues at university
How do you think women can be game-changers in time of crisis?
“I believe women and men are equally important in a time of crisis and each of them have their own valuable input to contribute”
I like to see things in terms of feminine and masculine energy as both can be expressed equally by both men and women.
I see feminine energy as being more caring, empathic and supportive as well as I believe it can better encourage collaboration, active listening and provide space for others to be their best.
While masculine energy usually likes to take charge and command, which has its own role in a time of crisis, but can sometimes feel constricting and inhibit innovation and creative solution exploration.
What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader? Are there any technology resources that you would recommend?
I enjoy reading books about coaching and team collaboration. I recently started reading ‘The Advice Trap‘ by Michael Bungay Stanier, which I find a very beautiful celebration of the role of the feminine energy in leadership.
In terms of technology, I do my best to keep my skills sharp and up to date with recent development by taking classes on websites like –
I also regularly read newsletters about latest development from industry leaders like Google, Amazon and Facebook and take part in conferences like the Web Summit and Collision to connect with people from the broader tech industry.
It’s your day off. What do you do to relax?
I enjoy spending time with my family and my pet cats 😻, going for bike rides 🚴♀️, reading 📚, watching series 📺 and playing video games 🎮.
What advice would you give to your 21 year old self?
Your life circumstances do not have to dictate your life outcome, as long as you never stop walking towards your dreams you can achieve everything you set your mind to.
“Think long term and don’t let short term drawbacks discourage you from building the life you want to live”
Often what looks like a bad situation can put you on the right path towards fulfilling your life purpose, never lose hope!
What makes you RARE?
“There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty.”
Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience
Want to know more about Veronica? Connect with her on LinkedIn
SHEisRARE 