CSR - Oktana

Empowering Women in Tech: Alexandra’s Journey at Oktana

Continuing our Empowering Women in Tech series, this time we’re excited to introduce Alexandra, a Quality Assurance (QA) Analyst who joined Oktana in 2020. Alexandra’s journey in tech showcases her dedication to ensuring every project meets the highest standards. As a QA professional, she plays a crucial role in maintaining the quality and reliability of our work. Her four Salesforce certifications highlight her commitment to continuous learning, always striving to grow and make a meaningful impact in every step of the development process.

In this interview, Alexandra shares her experiences in QA, the challenges she’s overcome, and her perspective on the evolving role of women in technology. Her story is yet another example of the diverse talents that make Oktana a dynamic and inclusive workplace.

What first sparked your interest in tech, and how did you decide that Quality Assurance was the right path for you?

Since I was in high school, I was very interested in everything related to technology. We did a bit of programming and we also focused on designs (logos, websites, etc.). I had an excellent teacher from whom I learned all that passion about the technological world. Then when I started working, I started as a developer with a bit of QA. When I had to do the tester part, I loved it. I am very detail-oriented, and I get very involved in the role of the user and their needs, that’s when I decided to go into the QA field.

As a woman working in tech, what challenges have you faced, and how have they shaped your perspective or approach in your role?

Thousands of challenges! I feel that one finishes university with certain knowledge but when you are already at work it is another world, you have to learn about what is on the market. For example, I didn’t know anything about the world of Salesforce, I learned here at Oktana, in the projects I was on and with the certifications I obtained. I feel that I have been able to grow both professionally and personally, also I have been able to meet people from different countries and origins that I can now call friends.

You’ve earned four certifications during your time at Oktana, an incredible achievement! What inspired you to pursue these, and how have they helped you grow both personally and professionally?

I won’t deny that some were very difficult to obtain, but I love challenges. They are all connected to my work, the applications I use, and the processes I test. They have helped me a lot to learn more about Salesforce. Now that I get a ticket related to them, I say, “I’ve seen this, and it works like this!” It’s incredible what I have learned. I am infinitely grateful to the people who trust me.

QA plays an important role in ensuring software excellence. What’s been the most rewarding project or moment for you where you felt your contributions truly made a difference?

I have always been the only woman QA on every project. Each project was a challenge for me, especially because they were totally different, from their processes to the applications they used for testing. I had to adapt, propose new things, and communicate with people who had more experience. I’m very grateful to each of the leaders I had and also to my teammates and friends. I learned from everyone!

What advice would you give to other women who are curious about a career in tech, especially in Quality Assurance?

If it is a path that they like, go for it! To work in QA requires meticulous details, which is an aspect that women have more than men. Trust your skills, I know technical skills are important but soft skills are too, have the power to communicate, be a leader, and be passionate about what you do. You will never get tired of learning, there is always something new, technology advances and now there are many more opportunities for us women.

In your opinion, what steps can the tech industry take to better support and empower women in roles like yours, ensuring they feel seen and valued?

The technology industry is crucial in creating an inclusive and equitable environment for women, especially in mine. They not only ensure that we feel seen and valued but also help eliminate structural barriers. For example, they can provide access to training programs such as test automation, promote female leadership in QA, create a culture of inclusive collaboration, and create recognition programs for QA teams. This helps to create a more fair and balanced environment that fosters innovation, collaboration, and talent, empowering women in the QA role.

Alexandra’s story reflects the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and a passion for continuous learning in the tech industry. Through her dedication to ensuring high-quality outcomes for our projects and her commitment to earning certifications, she not only plays a vital role in our team’s success but also inspires other women to pursue their own paths in technology. Her journey reminds us that diverse perspectives are essential to building innovative and inclusive solutions.

We hope Alexandra’s story inspires you to celebrate the contributions of women in tech. If you enjoyed this interview, don’t miss the rest of our Empowering Women in Tech series, featuring Romina, Iris, and Aracely. You can also learn more about our commitment to diversity and our continuous efforts on our CSR page.

Empowering Women in Tech: Aracely’s Journey at Oktana

Continuing our Empowering Women in Tech series, we’re excited to introduce Aracely, a talented UI designer who has been a valuable part of the Oktana team since 2020. Like many of her peers, Aracely’s journey in tech showcases her ability to merge creativity with technology, creating impactful user experiences and supporting the success of our projects. In this interview, she shares her experiences, the challenges she’s overcome, and the lessons she’s learned as a woman in a rapidly evolving industry. Her story is another example of how diverse talents at Oktana contribute to shaping a more inclusive tech environment.

What inspired you to pursue a career in UI design, and how did you get started in this field?

I studied graphic design, which focuses on creating and combining visual elements to communicate ideas, messages, and emotions. Although graphic design is broad, I have always been fascinated by how a brand interacts with its consumers. As more companies moved online, creating a seamless digital experience became crucial, especially as users increasingly expect to accomplish tasks via their phones—whether shopping, messaging, or accessing information.

Can you describe a project at Oktana that you're particularly proud of, and what role you played in it?

One of my first projects was a wellness app that suggested exercises or healthy habits for users. What I loved about this company was that it came with complete brand guidelines, so you only had to focus on how to capture that in the digital experience. Part of the brief was to add animations to exemplify the exercises or small illustrations for the topic of meals. Being able to use other skills like animation or illustrations to improve the user experience seemed great to me, because it gives you the freedom to think and create visual elements that help the user, in addition to giving more dynamism and movement to the app.

How has your role as a UI designer evolved since joining Oktana? Can you share some projects you've worked on that you found particularly exciting or challenging?

When I joined Oktana, I was at the beginning of my UI design career. It has been 4 years of learning that was difficult to deal with at first, but with the help of my team leaders and colleagues, it became possible. I had to study a lot and become familiar with a lot of technical terms, plus the experience with real clients, now I have the confidence to face any project.

One of the projects that I love and feel very proud of is one that I was involved in for a long time. It consists of designing the website for a major annual event. We were transitioning to Figma at the time, and establishing components and libraries was a challenge. Yet, this effort laid a solid foundation that we continue to build on each year.

What unique challenges have you faced as a woman in the design and tech space, and how have you overcome them?

I would say lack of female representation. While I’ve been lucky to work with supportive teams, being the only woman can be daunting. As I said, I had incredible teams that I could collaborate with and learn from, but being the only woman is always scary at first. To get through this, what I did was communicate a lot with my team, lose the fear of participating for fear of making mistakes, and learn from my mistakes. It’s important to believe that your contributions are valuable, which starts with self-confidence and extends to engaging your team.

In your experience, how does UI design contribute to the overall success of a tech project?

User interface design is important because it’s responsible for a product’s appearance, interactivity, usability, behavior, and overall feel. UI design can determine whether a user has a positive experience with a product or company.

User Interface (UI) Design is the link between users and your digital products ( apps, websites). It includes the basic design elements that need to be present in order for someone to navigate your site/ product and make decisions. It is the ever-evolving relationship between a person and the system that they are using. It includes the way that your website interacts with users, the overall design, and how information is presented.

What skills do you think are most important for someone entering the UI design field, especially in a tech-focused company?

Beyond technical knowledge in design concepts, usability, information architecture, and of course tools for prototypes I believe communication, curiosity, and adaptability are essential.

What advice would you give to other women aspiring to join the tech and design industries? Are there any lessons you've learned that you wish you had known when you started?

Being a woman is already difficult in almost all industries. I think there are still many things that have not changed completely, such as there being certain jobs for women or men, but if it is something that you are passionate about, follow your dreams. We all have to start believing that we deserve opportunities and jobs… start from within, believe it, and be proud of what you achieve. We came from generations in which our grandmothers could not even go to school or university, now we are working and we are financially independent, it’s wonderful. Although we still have certain biases in the labor part, the progress of women has been quite a lot, it’s up to us to continue fighting so that in the future, problems such as representation and inequality, no longer exist for women anymore.

Aracely’s experiences as a UI designer at Oktana are a testament to the power of creativity and diversity in technology. Her journey underscores the critical role of design in driving user engagement and overall project success. At Oktana, we remain dedicated to fostering a culture where all team members—regardless of background—are empowered to excel and innovate.

If you haven’t yet, make sure to check out Romina’s journey and Iris’ story to see more about how Oktana supports women in tech. You can also learn more about our commitment to diversity and our continuous efforts on our CSR page. We hope Aracely’s insights inspire more women to pursue careers in both design and technology, bringing their unique perspectives and creativity to the tech landscape.

Empowering Women in Tech: Romina’s Journey at Oktana

At Oktana, we are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity thrives, particularly when it comes to women in tech. While the technology industry has made progress in promoting gender equality, we recognize that there is still significant work to be done. We believe in creating opportunities for women to grow and succeed in technical roles, and we actively work to increase the representation of women across our teams.

This blog post marks the beginning of our “Empowering Women in Tech” interview series, where we’ll interview some of the incredible women in Oktana’s technical team. Through their stories, we hope to inspire more women to pursue careers in technology, showing them that there is space for them to innovate, lead, and thrive.

This first article focuses on Romina, a senior developer from Uruguay who has been with Oktana for nine years and has contributed immensely to our growth and success. Romina’s journey with Oktana is a testament to the value of persistence and expertise in the tech industry.

Get inspired by Romina’s journey and see how her passion has shaped her career at Oktana.

Romina, what inspired you to pursue a career in software development?

Ever since I was a child, I have been particularly interested in maths and problem-solving activities – it was fun! I enjoyed using computers and felt the software industry had a lot of potential. My first programming activity was in primary school, using Logo, a graphical interface application with a cute little turtle that you can program to make drawings.

How has your experience working at Oktana been for the past nine years? What keeps you motivated?

It’s been a journey! I learned a lot and I continue to do so. I grew professionally, having the opportunity to work with many people from different backgrounds and countries, learning from a handful of different mentors with different styles, and then having the chance to mentor others. On each project, I faced various challenges that pushed me to acquire new skills and find different solutions. I also had the opportunity to enjoy team-building activities both in my country and abroad, IRL and online, and I made friends worldwide.

I am lucky to enjoy what I do, solving problems for users and companies we partner with to make their lives easier and improve their products is a great source of motivation, learning new things mentoring others, and watching them grow too.

What challenges have you faced as a woman in the tech industry, and how have you overcome them?

When I was in high school, I heard some people say that engineering was for men, but I didn’t listen. At my university, everyone was welcoming, and I wasn’t alone, women were around 15% of students. At work, just stay focused on your tasks and any team will quickly see your value.

What advice would you give to young women who are considering a career in tech?

Follow your passion. Harsh words fall on deaf ears.

How do you think the tech industry has changed for women since you started your career?

As more women are joining in recent years, it’s not so eccentric to have one on your team anymore. I think the more diverse a team is, the more they can see and achieve.

Can you describe a project at Oktana that you’re particularly proud of, and what role you played in it?

On the project I’ve been on the longest so far when I started I was probably the youngest on the team, also one of the least experienced, and I was the only woman on the development team at the time. I was lucky enough to have great mentors, see the team grow from just over 10 people to over 100 including more women in the technical area, be in charge of responsible tasks, become a technical reference, and mentor several of our new colleagues.

Where do you see yourself in the next few years, and how do you hope to contribute to the tech industry?

I hope to continue growing and help others grow.

As we continue to grow, we remain committed to creating an environment where women can thrive and contribute to the tech industry at the highest levels. We are excited to share more stories of the talented women who are helping drive success at Oktana in our “Empowering Women in Tech” series. We hope these interviews inspire others to see that there is a place for them in the tech world.

Stay tuned for more insights and experiences from the women shaping our company’s future.

Embracing Responsibility: Oktana’s Commitment to CSR

At Oktana, we’ve built our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to reflect our dedication to diversity, environmental sustainability, and community engagement. As a leading software development company, we understand our responsibility to drive positive change and are committed to making a significant impact through our efforts.

In today’s landscape, CSR is not just a choice—it’s essential. We have made it our mission to integrate CSR into the pillars of our company, ensuring that our progress benefits not only our customers and employees, but also society and the environment. This article highlights the recent updates we’ve made to our CSR page and our vision for a more responsible and sustainable future.

Driving diversity and inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are core to Oktana’s identity. With a team predominantly based in Latin America, we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that mirrors the rich diversity of the Americas.

Our focus on Equal Opportunity Employment and our initiatives to increase female representation in the tech industry demonstrates our commitment to building a workforce where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Currently, 24% of our technical team are women, and 38% of senior team members are women. We are continuously working to improve this percentage to align with industry standards and foster more opportunities for women in tech.

Committing to environmental sustainability

Environmental conservation is a priority at Oktana. We have implemented various strategies to minimize our environmental footprint, such as eliminating single-use plastics in our offices and encouraging sustainable practices among our employees.

Our goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030 and our partnership with One Tree Planted, as part of 1t.org’s mission to plant 5,000 trees, demonstrate our commitment to preserving the environment for future generations.

Encouraging community engagement

Giving back to the community is a vital part of Oktana’s CSR strategy. We support a range of volunteer initiatives, empowering our employees to engage with causes they are passionate about from teaching kids to code, to 3D-printing PPE for healthcare workers during the pandemic.

Our involvement in the Pledge 1% initiative further reinforces our commitment to making a meaningful impact beyond our workplace.

Proud of our progress, excited for the future

We are proud of the efforts we have made in our CSR journey, but we recognize there is always more to be done. As we continue to grow, we are dedicated to expanding our initiatives and leading by example within the industry. By prioritizing social responsibility, we believe we can drive positive change both within Oktana and in the wider world.

We are also committed to improving how we calculate and monitor our carbon emissions, ensuring our environmental efforts are as impactful as possible. This includes expanding our sustainability measures and working toward better reporting and accountability for our environmental footprint.

To learn more about our ongoing efforts, visit our Social Responsibility page.