Welcome to our “Women in tech” blog series, where we celebrate the brilliant women on our teams who are driving innovation in the tech industry. In this space, we explore a wide range of topics and share the inspiring stories of the remarkable women at Pwrteams. We will showcase their proudest achievements, the challenges they’ve faced and the unique skills they bring to the table.
Today, we’re excited to introduce you to Desislava Nikolova, Senior Agile Project Manager at the News UK Tech dedicated team at Pwrteams Bulgaria. Read on to discover what she shared with us about her career journey, the challenges she’s overcome and her excitements at the workplace.
Hi Desislava, could you briefly introduce yourself?
Hello! My name is Desislava. I am a Senior Agile Project Manager for News UK Tech’s team at Pwrteams Bulgaria. I am from Sofia, and I love music, travelling and reading.
What was your previous educational & professional background?
Unlike some people, I have studied exactly what I am currently working today. I hold a double bachelor’s degree – one in Business Administration and one in Economics, and later I completed a master’s in Business Information Management at Erasmus University in Rotterdam. Along the way, I learned how to understand the business and its needs, and later, how to translate these business needs into IT requirements.
My first full-time job was as a Junior Product Manager, followed by a mid-level position. Alongside that, I’ve gained some experience as a Business Analyst.
I’ve been an Agile Project Manager at News UK Tech for two and a half years already, and so far, this has been the best role for me.
Tell us more about the News UK Tech team at Pwrteams. What is it like working there?
I feel great being part of this team because it’s very youthful, enthusiastic, outgoing and friendly. Honestly, that’s exactly how I’ve envisioned my workplace. I believe that people perform at their best when they enjoy what they’re doing, when they are having fun and when they are placed in a supportive atmosphere. Moreover, I deeply enjoy my role as an Agile Project Manager in particular, and the fact that I can learn and grow within it.
Having Pwrteams looking after us is another thing I really appreciate. The company puts a clear focus on the well-being of employees, and communication is always very smooth. For example, whenever I need help with administrative matters, I receive quick and efficient support.
In terms of activities organised for us, we have great parties, "Beer Thursdays" (after working hours) and lots of ice cream during summer. There are annual Christmas and summer parties with cocktails and a DJ for all Pwrteams team members. There are also various events on tech subjects, other non-tech events like food and drink tasting sessions, as well as office massage days.
What does your typical workday as a Senior Agile Project Manager look like?
First, I check my calendar and prepare for any meetings that are scheduled for the day. Next, I check my to-do list and, as the day progresses, I update it with new tasks that arise. Then the general work follows - updates on the delivery progress, removing blockers for the team, improving any processes if needed and monitoring if we are on track with our delivery roadmap. I also make sure our vendors support us in a timely manner and lead some of the communication with them. Another part of my role involves check-ins with members of our team or external ones with a coaching orientation. This aspect is starting to become my most favourite part of the role.
What are the top three skills every Agile Project Manager should master, and how have they helped you in your career?
The top three are communication skills, attention to detail and processes and emotional intelligence.
I consider myself very approachable, which has helped me build motivation and trust within the team I am part of. My love for processes, efficiency and the attention to detail allows me to notice areas of improvement in our day-to-day work continuously.
Emotional intelligence is essential for people who are more inclined towards the humanitarian, psychological and coaching side of the role, as I am. Connecting to others in a sincere way requires authenticity and the ability to recognise and define not only your own emotions, but also those of the person you are speaking to.
How do you manage and prioritise tasks in a high-demand work environment?
Just like in Agile software development, it’s always about prioritisation. Doing a lot of work that doesn’t contribute to the highest-value initiatives is counterproductive. In the same manner, I have a list of tasks (just like in a backlog) and I update their priorities daily, placing the most important items on top. Thus, when I tackle them top to bottom, I am always working on the high-priority ones. Of course, I also align my task list with any upcoming meetings to ensure everything is properly synchronised.
What do you consider your biggest work achievement?
My biggest achievement is that I manage to get work delivered well without bringing unnecessary stress to my team. Empowering them with decision-making, support and trust has resulted in accountability, individual motivation and camaraderie between teammates. All of those have become the fuel for delivering value.
Have you faced any gender-related biases or challenges? And if yes, how did you overcome them, and what helped you stay resilient?
To be honest, I haven’t faced such biases at all. In fact, working in tech while being a woman actually has more advantages because this field needs the emotional intelligence, care, inspiration, softness and creativity that many women naturally possess. Those qualities might seem to lie on the other side of the IT spectrum, but they bring the balance to this fast-paced environment, which everyone subconsciously needs.
How do you see the role of an Agile Project Manager in the next 5 years?
With the rise of AI, the role will inevitably change. However, rather than falling into the trap of fearing how AI can replace us, we should be thinking about how to use it so that it empowers us.
One way is to focus on the humanitarian side of the role, such as coaching, facilitating, inspiring and motivating others to grow while using AI for the more mundane and repetitive tasks such as reporting, information gathering, data analysis, etc.
What resources, communities or habits do you recommend for women who want to grow in the Agile/project management space?
Having the eagerness to attend IT forums, conferences and events would help get oneself exposed to the latest trends and will also facilitate networking.
Cautiously reserving time in one's calendar for continuous learning through workshops, courses, podcasts and turning this into a habit ensures continuous curiosity and learning within the selected trajectory of our role.
Eager to work alongside amazing professionals like Desislava? Check out our vacancies and make sure to apply.
