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We Introduce You To: Tina Nakova

As a Senior Software Developer, Tina is responsible for designing, implementing and testing solutions for the payment platform of Paymenttools.

by Celina von der Linden, 2023-04-12
3 min

Every day you run into people at the office, Google Meet or on LinkedIn and you think: Who the heck is that? That's not the only reason why we introduce the people who make Paymenttools what it is: a start-up with soul.

Seven questions to Tina Nakova, Senior Software Developer at Paymenttools

Since when do you work at Paymenttools and why?

I’ve been at Paymenttools for the last eight months. I have six years of experience in the tech world and I like working in an exciting and innovative environment to keep things interesting for me. Paymenttools is a company where you’re free to use cutting edge technologies and take advantage of broad learning opportunities in different areas that interest you. I can also really see that my work has an impact here and it is great to know that you can make a difference towards the company’s success.

What area fascinates/inspires you the most about engineering?

I’ve always had a passion for design, which led me to doing web development. It allows me to bring design ideas to life. For me it is very rewarding to create things that are visually attractive. But web development is not just about creating a beautiful design, it is also about creating an intuitive and engaging user experience that makes it easy for users to interact with your application and making it accessible for everybody is an interesting challenge too. This is a field that is constantly evolving, with new technologies and frameworks emerging all the time, which makes it interesting on the technical side as well.

When you look at your professional career, where did you really go wrong?

Two things come to my mind. The first is being impatient - the truth is that building quality software takes time. The same goes for building solid knowledge and skills. It doesn’t happen overnight and you need to be persistent. Another thing is how essential time management skills are, especially now that remote working has become so popular. For me personally it’s very important to have a consistent routine, but also to have clear boundaries. When working remotely, it can be challenging to separate work from personal time and I had to learn to stick to those boundaries in order to remain productive during the work day.

What do you like the most about your team?

I really like how close and collaborative the environment is. I work in a relatively small team - every voice gets heard and everyone has an impact. It’s common to do things like pair programming, where two developers work together on a single task, which helps build your technical skills and improves the code quality.

What are some preconceptions that female engineers face?

Firstly - that it’s not possible for female engineers to fit in with the team, when it is male-dominated. This might lead to feelings of isolation or exclusion and can really hinder an engineer’s career growth. Another one is lack of technical skills. This is a very hurtful preconceived notion that can make female engineers be underestimated or overlooked. I think education is an important step to overcoming these biases, we need to know about it, to recognize it and to challenge it.

What advice would you give to other young women interested in engineering? What engineering skills should they pursue?

You should pursue your passion! Believe in yourself and don’t let yourself be discouraged only because of your gender. Choose a field of engineering that you are most excited about - It's easier to excel at something you enjoy. Gain knowledge, look for mentorship and support from professionals around you. Don’t be afraid of new challenges and you will be successful.

What gadgets do you need to survive on the job? Let's have a look what’s in your bag

That's what it looks like inside Tina's bag.

Multiple monitors and headphones are a must!

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