Courage and support are crucial in every field, not just in IT. With the right determination and support, every woman has the strength to achieve outstanding results in the field she chooses – emphasized Karolina Gałka, referring to her challenging and triumphant career in IT, during the fifth international edition of Women in IT Day 2023, organized by Future Collars.
Watch: I did it! Success in IT is my achieved goal!
In an interview for Future Collars, Karolina Gałka, a Controlling Specialist and PowerBI Advisor at Norian Accounting Sp. z o.o., shared her thoughts on changing industries as a process of developing personal competencies and self-discovery. Sharing her experiences, she talked about the challenges and difficulties she had to overcome.
“I was bored in my previous job, I wanted a change. I came across Future Collars school because it offered care and mentoring at every stage of career change. Thanks to it, I smoothly transitioned to a new environment. Completing the four-month course was challenging on its own. However, through the problems, I discovered inner stubbornness in myself and achieved my goal.”
Future Collars: What are your main duties and professional specializations?
Karolina Gałka: I currently serve as a controlling specialist and Power BI advisor. As part of my professional duties, together with the team, I am involved in implementing Power BI reports, as well as performing various tasks related to controlling and finance in our organization.
FC: Is controlling more of a technical task requiring technical skills, or is it more associated with numbers and accounting?
KG: Controlling is a task that combines both of these areas. On one hand, it requires technical skills for setting up reports and analyzing data, and on the other hand, strong financial foundations are also needed to interpret this information and make appropriate decisions. So, it can be said that controlling is a combination of both technical and financial skills.
FC: Was your first role in the company in the digitization department, or did you start working in the international accounting department immediately?
KG: I started in the digitization department, where we dealt with invoice verification. Later, I moved to international accounting, where I spent most of my time. After returning from my second maternity leave, I felt the need for a change. I decided to take a Future Collar course, hoping for new professional opportunities. When I announced my plans on LinkedIn, unexpectedly, I met my current boss in the hallway. He offered me to participate in the implementation of Power BI reports as a new initiative in the company. It was unexpected because I previously had no idea about it. Changing roles in the company was more about the need for development than thinking about changing employers.
FC: What did the process of moving to a new department look like?
KG: This process lasted half a year and focused mainly on transforming my duties from the previous department to the controlling department. Even before the formal change, I went through a course preparing me for new tasks. During those months, I mainly focused on handing over duties in the previous team and gradually entering new responsibilities. This allowed me to smoothly transition to the new department and effectively use the acquired knowledge and skills.
FC: What factors inspired you to take a course related to IT?
KG: Before deciding on the course, I listened to various podcasts where I came across inspiring stories of women in different fields. One of them was a podcast with Joanna Pruszyńska-Witkowska, who talked about her experience in the IT world. Her story inspired me a lot and made me decide to take a further step towards learning this field. This shows that adding courage and supporting women not only in IT but also in other areas is of great importance.
FC: How did Future Collars contribute to improving your situation? What are your plans for the future in the context of your current professional role?
KG: Future Collars appeared at the right moment for me. Mainly, I received support in terms of family life, as the course I undertook was quite intensive. I had to organize my time very carefully to be able to learn effectively and simultaneously take care of my children.
As for my future plans, I definitely want to remain in my current role. Work in this field is very dynamic and fascinating – there’s never a dull moment, there’s always something new to discover. Every report we work on is different, which makes daily work very interesting. Additionally, now we also have external clients, which adds a new dimension and motivates me even more to develop in this role.
