Projects | Skills & Attitudes | Experience | Education
As an early career software engineer at Alfa Financial Software, I use Java to build industry-leading asset finance software for banks and automotive producers. I graduated from programming bootcamp Makers Academy where I have developed skills in Ruby, Python, and JavaScript. I am building on my research experience for international development, in Afghanistan and in multi-country settings, where I have been designing and conducting evaluations of aid and humanitarian projects. I provided actionable and human-centered insights for the implementers and clients. I am qualitative and quantitative research methods savvy with a background in anthropology, media, and economics.
I am passionate about learning new tools and technologies: developing in Java or pusuing small hardware projects with the use of Arduino in C/C++ dialect or Rasberry Pi.
| Title | Description | Development Timeframe | Technologies Used | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Programming Language | The final team project for Makers. A Python-based, forest-themed programming language. Great experience in building developers tools. | 2 weeks | Python - Language Development, Unittest - Testing Framework | Work in progress |
| Acebook | Group project. The Acebook platform is the outcome of the Ruby on Rails project mirroring Facebook functionalities. | 2 weeks | Ruby on Rails - Web Application Framework, PostgreSQL - Database, Rspec / Capybara - Testing Framework, Rubocop - Linter, Devise - User Authentication, RubyCritic - Code Quality Analyser, Travis - CI, Heroku - Cloud Hosting, Bulma-Rails - CSS & Styling, SimpleCov - Code Coverage | https://acebook-off-the-rails.herokuapp.com |
| Arduino speaks in Morse Code | Personal project. Programmed Arduino Uno to blink "hello world", following the rules of the Morse Code. This project reflects my curiosity about the hardware. | 1 evening | Arduino dialect of C/C++ | YouTube video presentation |
During my work as a monitoring and evaluation consultant, the essence of my tasks was asking the right questions in the simplest possible manner, and gaining insights - quickly.
I created designs of country-wide social studies, conducted data collections in challenging environments, analysed findings, and provided recommendations for donors and implementers of the aid and development projects.
I gladly transferred my approach from writing evaluation reports to writing code - the appreciation for a deep understanding of the tasks at hand, the ability to divide complex information landscapes into small and actionable chunks, and the focus on the well-planned solutions.
In 2013, I participated in the implementation of the USAID funded Kabul Innovation Lab, that brought together media outlets and software developers from across Afghanistan to build web and mobile applications within the tech-for-good approach. Observing the collaboration between programmers and media lead me to see coding as an exciting avenue to explore - with its creative aspects, and the potential to make a positive impact.
I participated in Warsaw's edition of women-in-tech Django Girls workshop learning basics of Python/Django, contributed to work of a London-based blockchain start-up focused on biometric identification helping to navigate their understanding of international aid and development in the context of prospective contracts, and finally joined Makers in May 2019. After graduation in August 2019, I focused on my own projects including the those in the realm of hardware with the use of Arduino Uno.
Since I started working as a Junior Software Engineer in Alfa Financial Software, I took every opportunity to learn new tech stack - Java 8 and Java 11 with Mockito during my everyday tasks, Spring Boot and basics of React for my innovation project - a glossary app for asset finance terminology, Docker, upskilling in SQL and more.
Curiosity, thirst for understanding, and a desire for intellectual growth are at the very core of what lead me to explore multiple disciplines the academic settings: anthropology, media, and economics. I applied my knowledge in practice through work as a researcher/monitoring and evaluation consultant - drawing from the skillset of anthropologist and economist, as well as in radio and print applying the tools of journalistic trade. I enjoyed the self-led curriculum at Makers Academy that allowed me to learn software development hands-on, solving new problems using industry best practices.
I thrive in teams. During my time at Makers, I have been a member of the self-organising teams following the agile principles. It was an opportunity to learn, to develop functioning applications and a programming language, and most importantly to create a great working culture. With my colleagues we captured the spirit of teamwork on the two vlog channels, Forest programming language development and the work on the Rails project.
While working as an evaluator subcontracting for the London-based Coffey International Development, I have been in charge of task-focused teams comprised of contractors working remotely and of the external parties. It allowed me to learn how to manage and collaborate across different time-zones and cultures without the comfort of developing relationships face to face. This ability became very useful during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Under the umbrella of Alfa’s CSR activities, I volunteered with Code Your Future, providing coaching for programming adepts from disadvantaged backgrounds – JavaScript, and conducting mock job interviews. In my work - and life - I am aiming at making a positive impact. After years of work in international aid and development, I especially cherish the opportunity that technology brings to level the playing field for the persons who experienced hardships.
During the 16 weeks of intensive bootcamp I gained experience in Test-Driven Development with the use:
- Ruby, RSpec, Rails, Capybara, Sinatra
- JavaScript, jQuery, Node.js, Jasmin
- Python, Unittest
- PostgreSQL
- Continuous Integration with Travis
- Version control through Git and GitHub
I acquired the ability and appreciation for pair programming. I am familiar with modeling along the MVC lines, and creating applications following the principles of object-oriented programming.
I worked in three self-organising teams leaning on the agile methodology principles.
All my efforts a Makers were guided by the Extreme Programming Values.
Diploma in Economics
- Specialisation in Banking and Finance
MA in Ethnology and Anthropology of Culture
Research and thesis focused on the labor market tactics undertaken by Polish immigrants in Stockholm. Fieldwork in Stockholm, Sweden.
Graudated with: 4.61/5.0
BA in Ethnology and Anthropology of Culture
- Research and thesis about the tension between post-Soviet Ukrainian identity and religion. 2,5 years long fieldwork in Ukraine, Bojkivshchyna, West Karpaty Mountains. Learnt Ukrainian during the research.
- Published results of the research in the joint book publication “ON THE BORDERLAND OF . POLISH – UKRAINIAN NEIGHBORHOOD”, Red. M. ZOWCZAK, Warsaw, 2010
Graduated wih 4.18/5.0
BA in Journalism and Social Communication
- Member of Laboratory of Reportage - specialisation in long-form journalism.
- Research and thesis focused on the migration discourse in contemporary Polish media. Desk research.
Graduated with 4.08/5.0
International Labour Migration: Economics, Politics and Ethics (Short Course)
Alfa Financial Software (Sep 2019 to Current) London, United Kingdom
Junior Software Engineer
Contributes to the development of the leading asset finance software as a member of the engineering team. Adds new features in line with clients’ requirements and product vision, and contributes to solving issues reported internally and by clients. Also, during the 5-month assignment in the Modularisation Team contributed to implementing the architectural solution to create a more modular codebase and developing CodeGraph software that allows for the maintenance of the modular approach. The tech stack includes Java 8 and Java 11, Groovy, Mockito, PostgreSQL, MySQL, ApacheMq, SoapUI, Git, SVN.
Leads the innovation team that works on the Alfa Glossary App, a web-app glossary of asset finance terms that will allow new-joiners to check the meaning of the industry-specific terminology. The easier access to definitions intends to speed up the onboarding process. I recognized the need for this tool during my first month at Alfa and organized a team of four to deliver it under the Alfa Innovation programme. Tech stack includes Java with Spring Boot for backend and JavaScript with React for frontend. We temporarily deployed the trial version on Heroku, but it will soon move to Alfa’s servers.
Leads the evaluation research for Alfa’s induction process. With consideration of my past experience, I have been entrusted to design and implement a feedback gathering mechanism for the 10-week induction program.
Delivered a talk at the company meeting presenting what it means to be “Thinking like an anthropologist” and showed the value of anthropological reflection within tech-enterprise.
Under the umbrella of Alfa’s CSR activities, volunteered with Code Your Future, providing coaching for programming adepts from disadvantaged backgrounds – JavaScript, and conducting mock job interviews.
🇬🇧Coffey, A TETRA TECH Company (Dec 2016 to Apr 2019) London, United Kingdom
External Consultant - Qualitative Research Specialist
Provided Qualitative Research Specialist services (Contractor) within evaluations and monitoring reviews for various international development interventions. The main areas of engagement involved coordination of the research processes: management of work of consultants and researchers for quality and timely delivery, as well as preparation of technical inputs: research designs including preparation of evaluation frameworks, research instruments – survey questionnaires, interview, focus group discussion, and observation guidelines, as well as fieldwork oversight, data analysis, reporting, and workshop facilitation.
The projects cover evaluation of the UK Department for International Development funded Comprehensive Agricultural and Rural Development Facility, and present recommendations for the implementers, monitoring of the international development interventions focused on business acceleration of enterprises that benefit girls in Africa and East Asia – SPRING, improvement of food security in Zimbabwe under The Zimbabwe Livelihoods and Food Security Programme, as well as the contribution to the set-up of the European Commission Partnership Instrument Monitoring System through reporting database development.
I trained enumerators in the research methods and the use of research tools including mobile-phone-based data collection via innovative COSMOS (Coffey Spatial Mobile Solution) system.
Also, I facilitated workshops with data analysts to train in the use of Dedoose qualitative data exploration tool
Wageningen UR, Centre for Development Innovation, ATVET (Jan 2014 - Aug 2016) Kabul, Afghanistan / Wageningen, Netherlands
Monitoring and Evaluation Adviser
Managed overall Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) activities on Improving Agricultural Education in Afghanistan (ATVET) project, funded by Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs and Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Planned, designed methodology and research tools, as well as managed the project baseline (2014) and mid-line (2015, 2016) studies: including oversight of the countrywide quantitative and qualitative research focused on the quality of education in Agricultural High Schools in Afghanistan - coordination of data collection for timely and quality of delivery, as well as hands-on involvement in National Agricultural Educational College mid-term evaluations: conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with College cadre, and participant observations of the teaching activities. Applied a participatory approach that involved the client in the process of methodology design and analysis of the findings. Facilitated workshops where programme implementers created research questions and distilled key findings into action plans.
Designed Project M&E Framework and M&E Plan for a complex intervention.
Established M&E Department within the organisational structure, as well as recruited, trained and mentored 7 national M&E staff - strengthened their ability and to perform M&E tasks independently.
Managed relations with M&E Unit of Deputy Ministry of Technical Vocational Education & Training, Ministry of Education.
🇳🇱 United Nations University MERIT Maastricht School of Governance (Dec 2014 - Mar 2015)
Migration Research Intern
As a supporting member of Migration and Development Research Team participated in data entry for GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit projects: Diaspora Engagement in Development: An Analysis of the Engagement of the Nigerian Diaspora in Germany and the Potentials for Cooperation, as well as Diaspora Engagement in Development: An Analysis of the Engagement of the Kenyan Diaspora in Germany, and the Potentials for Cooperation.
Participated in the literature review project focused on summarising maritime migration policy guidelines in Asia and Pacific, as well as on marking current migration trends in the region with emphasis on South-East Asia, Australia, and Pacific.
🇦🇫 Internews (Dec 2012 to Dec 2013) Kabul, Afghanistan
Programme Offcier / Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Supported project manager in the process of relations management with 4 local implementing partners for Innovative Tools to Enhance the Monitoring of Women’s Rights in Provincial Afghanistan program funded by DRL US Department of State. • Coordinated development of innovative mapping tools for a visual database of sexual and gender-based violence with use of Ushahidi, IVR and FrontlineSMS, working with 2 local women rights organisations; strengthened reporting capacity of the partners by close mentoring of their staff responsible for monitoring processes. • Designed M&E tools for digital security training sessions delivered to women’s rights organisation’s employees; was responsible for logistics and coordination of the workshop curriculum preparation. • Monitored production and quality of content broadcasted by partner radio station focused on violence against women in Afghanistan.
Responsible for monitoring and evaluation processes on Afghan Capacity for Media and Elections program funded by AusAID. • Trained and mentored 4 local implementing partner organisations on an effective use of the activities monitoring tools. • Tracked progress of the intervention and supported program manager in reporting to the donor. • Contributed to Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for over 30 months of activities. • Assisted in the preparation of research tools for needs assessment survey focused on reporting about the electoral process in 36 provinces of Afghanistan.
Managed process of participants’ recruitment and logistics for the second edition of USAID-funded Kabul Innovation Lab and Afghan ICT Industry Forum.
Contributed to preparation of Afghan Media Dialogue event in cooperation with BBC Media Action by coordinating participant’s attendance and website development.
🇦🇫 Rosenstock Legal Services (Apr 2012 to Dec 2012) Kabul, Afghanistan
Head of Finance and Administration
Coordinated office financial and administrative activities including client relations regarding invoicing and payments, managed tax payments and payroll. Created and implemented an efficient documentation system for the accounting activities.
🇦🇫 Radio Youth FM 97.5 (Dec 2011 to Apr 2012) Kabul, Afghanistan
Business Development Managager / Radio Host
The responsibilities covered building the client base, sales and marketing, organization of events and donor relationship management, as well as presenting a live radio show.
🇵🇱 CEBOS Public Opinion Research Centre (Mar 2011 to Dec 2011) Warsaw, Poland
Researcher / Enumerator
Participated in data collections of quantitative and qualitative data for non-commercial studies: election pools, citizen satisfaction surveys, and public opinion studies. Worked with Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing system (CAPI) conducting individual interviews.
🇵🇱 PASSA The Weekly Magazine (Mar 2011 to Dec 2011) Warsaw, Poland
Journalist
Collected material from sources and wrote articles for the Local Editorial Office covering on average of one story per issue on topics including political relations on the local level, culture, infrastructure and community problems.
🇵🇱 Press Club Poland (Nov 2009 to May 2010) Warsaw, Poland
Office Manager
Assisted in daily operations of the office, guest management, and the organization of events for the Club members, and the general public.
🇵🇱 Radio Kampus (Aug 2008 to Aug 2009) Warsaw, Poland
Newsroom reporter and reportage author
Delivered daily news live on-air. Created and recorded reportages covering areas of science and travel – interviewed Polish academics and explorers.
🏔️ I enjoy hiking - walked Camino de Santiago three times: the French Way, the Protugese Way and Camino Primitivo
⛵ I enjoy sailing - sailed on tallships across the Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean Sea, and on smaller vessels on the Baltic Sea.
🧗♀️I enjoy bouldering - as it supports focus and relaxation at the same time. I treat it as vertical yoga.
🧳 I enjoy travelling and staying in a place for longer - 5 years in Afghanistan is a good example.
📗I enjoy reading non-fiction books, reportages, analysis and anthropological monographs.