Avanade Poland’s Post

After nearly 14 years, it’s time to say goodbye to Avanade and hello to my next adventure! It’s been an incredible journey, filled with strategic programs, re-orgs, and countless memories. Though I’m a bit sad to leave, I’m beyond excited for what the future holds—and grateful for everything I’ve learned along the way. It all kicked off back in 2011, just before I was headed to the Microsoft MVP summit in Seattle. Conversations with Sally Draper and Andy Hutchins got the ball rolling, and soon I was being interviewed by Andy Hutchins , Julian Tomison, and finally Pamela Maynard. Pam would later play a mentor role for me. Before I knew it, I was part of the Collaboration Service line as a Group Manager. I still remember travelling to Barcelona in my first week, and meeting people like Thomas Krofta, Fabio Chiodini, Steve Paxman and a few others. Great start ! Some highlights of my career: - Leading a massive program for a global energy company, where I built an amazing team, starting with the fantastic Mark McKay and Annie Kalfayan - Part of pilot for new Client Account Leads, leading UK Utilities client, working with Douglas Wood, Ross Kelly, Pavandeep Bansal others - Europe Digital Employee Experience lead, working with Florin Rotar - Working closely with Laura Malcolm, Stanley Louw, Bernardine Mason and David Maffei on a big bid, and winning ! - Working in the Partner Ecosystem with Lisa McIntosh, leading to a strategic minority investment into a partner. A first for Avanade. - Being part of the Global Modern Workplace Centre of Excellence, working with Jason Versluys - Working closely with Richard Gregory to shape our Frontline Worker proposition - Strategic joint GTM with Microsoft and Accenture, working closely with Richard Gregory, Veit Siegenheim, Gülay Vural, Lara Caldirola - Strategic partnership with HP Inc, working closely with Keith Hudgell, Patrick Daniel Husistein, Horia Domocos and Joe Findley - Integrated Go-To-Market working in the Future of Work Line of Business, working closely with Veit Siegenheim, Richard Gregory, Nicole Koelsch - Building an awesome community, working closely with Zoe Wilson, Kevin McDonnell and countless others To my career advisors—Andy Hutchins, Florin Rotar, Jason Versluys, and Paul Beaumont—thank you for your wisdom, support, and guidance. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you. A special shoutout to Richard Gregory. Whether we were working together or not, our Monday calls were a highlight, even when we started by disagreeing and ended with alignment (usually!). You’ve earned the upgrade from colleague to friend! And to everyone else who’s been a part of my Avanade journey—whether we worked closely or crossed paths briefly—thank you! You’ve all left an impact on my career and my life. There are literally thousands of people I could tag, but there is a character limit on LinedIn posts 😀 🙌 Onwards and upwards to the next challenge! 🚀 More on that shortly. #AvanadeProud

My journey has proven that diverse experiences aren’t just welcomed in tech—they’re essential for driving innovation Coming from an E-Commerce background, I was always fascinated by the world of consulting. My opportunity to make the leap came through Avanade's Female Academy—a program designed to bring women from non-IT backgrounds into tech through an immersive traineeship. Alongside 13 remarkable women from diverse professional fields, I immersed myself in the fundamentals of IT, learning the ropes while applying my own expertise. A question I often hear: "Can someone with a different background thrive in an IT consulting firm?" My answer: Absolutely! The support I received from colleagues who valued my insights from day one made all the difference. Lukas Keil guided me in creating impactful workshops, Oliver Völz taught me human-centered design, and Julia Stumkat empowered me to leverage my strengths and background knowledge. Now, 2.5 years later, I've truly found my place at Avanade. As a joint venture between Microsoft and Accenture, Avanade has provided the perfect platform to blend diverse experiences and drive innovation in tech. 💡 #WorkAtAvanade #AvanadeAmbassador

Today, I celebrate my 6th year anniversary at @Skillsoft. Time truly flies! Acknowledging this significant #milestone, I reflect on my journey, celebrate #achievements, and anticipate future #growth. Here are 5 ("P") reasons why my time at Skillsoft has been truly memorable: - #People: The camaraderie and support from colleagues have been invaluable in celebrating wins and overcoming challenges. - #Partners: Grateful for the unwavering support from all partners throughout these 6 years. - #Product: Skillsoft's commitment to innovation and continuous improvement of e-learning content and the Percipio platform has kept me engaged in perpetual learning. - #Proposition: The value proposition of Skillsoft to create a future-ready workforce excites me and fuels my passion for sharing this vision. - #Passion: My enthusiasm for digital learning and the belief in continuous knowledge enhancement for all individuals anywhere, anytime, is a driving force. Here's to the past 6 years and the anticipation of many more years to come! 🎉 #WorkAnniversary #CareerJourney

Today, I celebrate my 6th year anniversary at @Skillsoft. Time truly flies! Acknowledging this significant #milestone, I reflect on my journey, celebrate #achievements, and anticipate future #growth. Here are 5 ("P") reasons why my time at Skillsoft has been truly memorable: - #People: The camaraderie and support from colleagues have been invaluable in celebrating wins and overcoming challenges. - #Partners: Grateful for the unwavering support from all partners throughout these 6 years. - #Product: Skillsoft's commitment to innovation and continuous improvement of e-learning content and the Percipio platform has kept me engaged in perpetual learning. - #Proposition: The value proposition of Skillsoft to create a future-ready workforce excites me and fuels my passion for sharing this vision. - #Passion: My enthusiasm for digital learning and the belief in continuous knowledge enhancement for all individuals anywhere, anytime, is a driving force. Here's to the past 6 years and the anticipation of many more years to come! 🎉 #WorkAnniversary #CareerJourney

As I approach my third anniversary with Avanade on Friday, it is nice to take a moment to reflect, as you often get caught up in the whirlwind that is Microsoft Consulting. I had many reservations about leaving the recruitment agency world, which I had been successful in prior and going "in-house" but can honestly say it has been an incredible journey, that has definitely made me a much better recruiter. In my three years year at Avanade, we have hired over 2,000 people in Business Applications across Europe, maintaining a diverse hiring percentile of 40% covering all levels. I have personally hired Consultants to Executives, supported recruitment in many countries including as far-afield from me as Japan and Malaysia, worked on integrations of amazing organisations like Blue Horseshoe to become our SCM Hub, managed the recruitment for one of our first European wide ERP academies (37 new people brought into the channel), travelled to Germany and Norway, helped maintain and support many of our consulting team and building personal relationships and friendships with many of those people, that will last forever. There are genuinely too many amazing things to mention individually. For me, the most rewarding part of doing recruitment (particularly in-house (with less financial reward for success)) is genuinely wanting to hire people that you think will a) make the company better and b) give the individual the career path they are really aiming for. Whether it is the consultant at the start of their career, or the Director - Executive who is delivering what they always dreamed of, I have enjoyed every minute of it. I have stayed in touch with most people i have hired here, followed their careers intently and genuinely rooted for them when they are going for promotions, and equally cared when they have gone through tough times. I have also really loved working with certain people in my team and many of my stakeholders have made this journey truly amazing. Whether that's the Head of Biz Apps for Europe, or CRM or ERP or anyone of the PL's, you know who you are. Those who are still here and those who are not. You never know how many anniversaries you have left, so sometimes it is worth appreciating the year's you've had. It's been a great journey so far! #3years #avanadeproud #avanadedowhatmatters

Today, I celebrate my 6th year anniversary at @Skillsoft. Time truly flies! Acknowledging this significant #milestone, I reflect on my journey, celebrate #achievements, and anticipate future #growth. Here are 5 ("P") reasons why my time at Skillsoft has been truly memorable: - #People: The camaraderie and support from colleagues have been invaluable in celebrating wins and overcoming challenges. - #Partners: Grateful for the unwavering support from all partners throughout these 6 years. - #Product: Skillsoft's commitment to innovation and continuous improvement of e-learning content and the Percipio platform has kept me engaged in perpetual learning. - #Proposition: The value proposition of Skillsoft to create a future-ready workforce excites me and fuels my passion for sharing this vision. - #Passion: My enthusiasm for digital learning and the belief in continuous knowledge enhancement for all individuals anywhere, anytime, is a driving force. Here's to the past 6 years and the anticipation of many more years to come! 🎉 #WorkAnniversary #CareerJourney

🎉 A year ago today - 28/11/2023 🎉 I made a decision that changed everything. I gave up something that had supported my lifestyle for so long—something that many people take years to move away from. I gave up my FINANCIAL DEPENDENCY. I took the first step towards self-reliance. As someone who had never lived away from home or studied in a new city, moving to a completely different state with no one I knew was a leap of faith. The past year has been a whirlwind of highs and lows, shaking up my routine in more ways than one. But in every moment—both challenging and rewarding—I learned invaluable lessons, both professionally and personally. Here are just a few: I learned independence I learned when to speak up and when to listen I mastered the art of prioritization I learned how to survive month-ends (we all know the struggle 😅) Most importantly, I learned how to become a better version of myself. It’s only been 366 days, but looking back, it feels like so much more. And that makes me even more excited about what the future holds. 🚀 I’m incredibly grateful for the experiences, the people I've met, and the growth I've achieved. Here’s to many more Work Anniversaries and all the adventures that come with them! ✨ 👉 If you're also reflecting on your journey and would love to share insights or tips, drop a comment below or DM me—let’s connect and celebrate growth together! #Accenture #workanniversary #1yearago #pune #experience

🌟 "From staring at skyscrapers in awe to stepping into one as an Accenture employee – here's my journey!" 🌟 Growing up in a small town, visiting Gurugram felt like entering a different world. I’d look up at those shiny office towers, wondering what it would be like to work in one. Back then, it was just a dream. Fast forward to today, that dream is real. 🎉 I’m so excited to share that I’ve joined Accenture as a Packaged App Development Associate! 🎊 It still feels surreal – the same kid who used to stand on the streets of Gurugram, wide-eyed, is now stepping into one of those buildings as an employee. 🙌 But I won’t sugarcoat it – the road here wasn’t easy. There were countless challenges, setbacks, and moments of doubt. Sometimes, the distance between my small town and my dream felt impossible to close. But every time I thought of giving up, I remembered that kid, filled with wonder and ambition, dreaming of something bigger. I knew I had to keep going. 🚀 For anyone reading this, especially if you’re from a smaller town like me, remember: Your dreams are valid. It doesn’t matter where you start – if you’re willing to put in the hard work and stay focused, what feels like a distant dream today can be your reality tomorrow. ✨ I’m so grateful for the support of my family, friends, and mentors who helped me get here, and of course, the team at Accenture for believing in me. This is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter, and I can’t wait to see what’s next! 🚀 If any part of my story resonates with you or if you’re on your own journey, let’s connect. We all have stories to share, and I’d love to hear yours! #AccentureJourney #CareerGrowth #FromDreamsToReality #TechCareers #ChaseYourDreams #NewBeginnings #CareerMilestones #Inspiration

🌟 Task Completion 🌟 🚀 Thrilled to share insights from a recent task requirement during my participation in the Developer and Technology Job Simulation Programme at Accenture! 🌐💼 👩💻 Dispelling Myths: In the tech world, there are often misconceptions surrounding careers. From the fear of burnout to the gender disparity myth, let's debunk these together! 🛠️💡 🔍 Diverse Roles: Did you know there's more to tech than coding? From software development to project management, the tech landscape offers a wide array of opportunities for both techies and non-techies alike! 🤖💻 💰 Benefits Galore: A career in tech means more than just a paycheck. Competitive salaries, continuous learning, and impactful work are just a few perks awaiting tech enthusiasts! 💰📚 🤝 Fostering Inclusivity: Embracing diversity is not just a goal; it's a necessity. From diverse hiring practices to supportive work environments, let's work together to make tech more inclusive for all! 🌈🤝 💬 Join the Conversation: Let's break barriers and pave the way for a more inclusive and innovative tech industry. Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! 👩💼👨💻 #TechCareers #InclusivityInTech #CareerDevelopment #Accenture #DeveloperProgramme #FutureOfWork 💼✨

As my 40s draw to a close, I've been reflecting a lot on how our career journeys evolve through the decades - in my case…   Last day of my 20s: Working for Accenture, living the classic consulting life - working crazy hours, living out of a hotel room Monday-Friday. Recently married, very focused on that next promotion to Senior Manager.   Last day of my 30s: Just completed my first quarter as COO of Avanade UK, three young boys (2, 6, 7), juggling multiple hats to build my case for executive promotion the following year - I was also working part-time hours (80%) and planning an imminent house move - they were definitely crazy times!   Last day of my 40s: So excited to be at the start of a journey with my own venture, three growing boys (12, 16, 17) who will be on their own way into adulthood and work life in the coming years, and feeling genuinely excited about where this next decade will take us all.   The constant theme? Change, growth, learning and finding ways to blend career ambitions with life's evolving seasons. Each decade has brought some very new and different challenges but also opened up a host of new possibilities.   As you look back over the decades, what has remained constant, and what has changed?   Have you noticed any recurring patterns or themes?   Anything that might help you think differently about your own career journey ahead?   #CareerJourney #WomenInSTEM #CareerGrowth