Stanislava is a go-getter. She challenges herself to become better, stay up to date with IT trends and always finds the best solutions to the most challenging requirements.  

She has built the first Sitecore teams in Endava, Sofia. After working on e-comm and finance projects, she was courageous enough to take on a challenging task for an NGO, which provided a total paradigm shift.   

Read more about how she sees a tech career in IT and how she leads as a software architect in Sofia, now after 30 years of experience in tech. 


How do you define technical excellence? 

Ideally, I would define technical excellence as combining the perfect solution with an ideal implementation that achieves the customer's goals and provides the desired results.  

The challenge is to achieve technical perfection or at least to get close to it. The whole team must be persistent and consistent in providing high-quality, efficient, professional solutions. Therefore, continuous learning and improvement and quality monitoring are essential. 

Nonetheless, meeting deadlines and requirements is a must. Otherwise, technical excellence doesn't matter.  

Apart from a great solution and a brilliant implementation, I feel great satisfaction when the project is in production and gives good results for the business. 


Why did you choose Endava? 

I have over 30 years of experience in tech. 

I started at Endava in 2018 as a senior development consultant. My Sitecore knowledge was valuable as we were preparing to set up the first Sitecore teams in Sofia and prepare them for new projects. So, I was fortunate to start the foundations of the first Sitecore teams in our Delivery Unit and develop these skills further in the region. 

In 2020, I was promoted to Software Architect. 

But even now, I remember why I chose Endava - the open, friendly and supportive culture made me leave my 18-year employer. 


What are the main differences between building a technical career path and a leadership one?  

Simply put, technicians are more involved in the creative part of the development process, and leaders are responsible for the logistics and management of processes and people. 

Due to the difference in their responsibilities, technicians need to build their technical expertise, and leaders need to develop their management and people skills. 

The definition above is a significant simplification; things are in the middle. 

As technicians grow in their position, responsibilities also increase. They must work with people, not only with technology; they must develop a certain level of business expertise and soft skills.  

On the other hand, leaders must have an excellent technical knowledge base to support their leadership and authority. 


What would you recommend to those who want to build a technical career path? 

 People who want to build a technical career need to develop a solid technical foundation, so: 

■ Don't stop learning 
■ Stay on top of the technologies 
■ Don't let questions that remain unanswered in your work 
■ Learn from experience –these lessons are priceless 

Embrace all the opportunities Endava provides to help you build your technical career – attend Pass It On sessions, Discipline Weeks, read materials, attend courses from Endava University, etc. 


Do you focus on a certain industry vertical in your work?  

Before Endava, I worked in the e-commerce and financial field. But my latest project was for an NGO - something utterly different from my previous experience. 

Because NGOs rely mainly on donors and have diverse funding sources, you have to shift your whole mindset. 

For example, most services relate to products and money for for-profit organisations. On the other hand, one of the essential services we developed for NGOs was delivering information. 

Another difference is that the target audience is practically everyone. Although the mission targets a specific group, anyone can participate in fundraising and volunteering. 

Therefore the services must be widely available, accessible, easily understandable, and delivered through different channels. 

Finally, working for a good cause always brings satisfaction and a good reputation. 

What are some of the tools/ technologies you master? 

I started my career with mainframes and went through desktop programming, web programming, service-oriented solutions, distributed systems, and cloud solutions. 

I have worked mainly with Microsoft technologies. Before the release of .NET, I worked with VB Script for web programming and C ++ for services and component development. 

When .NET was launched, I was one of the world's first 2,000 certified .NET 1.0 developers. 

I have worked with various business platforms based on Microsoft technologies; some are already retired. 

I am currently working with Sitecore and Azure Cloud. 

My knowledge is not limited to Microsoft technologies. I keep up to date with the latest technologies and trends. 
 

What are the traits to build a solid technical background?  

Everyone needs to find their motivation to drive professional development. 

A rewarding feeling comes with solving challenging technical problems, a desire to learn new things, and intolerance when something is unclear to me. 

I believe that work should be a joy, not a pain, so find the area that excites you and immerse yourself in it.  

Besides your technical area of expertise, what are your passions outside work? 

I am interested in art. I like to go to concerts, exhibitions, and performances. At home, I read books, listen to music, and paint. During the holidays I travel with my family.