Women in tech: Mariana Horban, Back-End Engineer

Welcome to our “Women in Tech” blog series, where we celebrate the inspiring women on our teams who are driving innovation in technology. In this series, we dive into their career journeys, highlight their achievements, and explore the skills, habits and mindset that help them thrive in a fast-evolving industry.

Today, we’re excited to introduce you to Mariana Horban, Back-End Engineer in the TUI dedicated team at Pwrteams. In our conversation, she shared details about her journey into tech, what drives her as a developer and how collaboration and continuous learning help her succeed.

Read on to discover her insights, experiences and advice for anyone aspiring to make an impact in software development.

Hi Mariana! Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey into tech? 

I'm currently a Software Engineer in one of the TUI teams at Pwrteams, working across different parts of the stack - including back-end development, front-end development, and even DevOps and infrastructure tasks. I enjoy being involved in various areas because it helps me better understand the whole system, not just one part of it.

My path into tech started long before my first job. I studied Applied Mathematics at the Lviv Polytechnic University, and before that I was in a physics-math focused school programme. Math has been a big part of my life since childhood - I loved problem-solving and logical thinking, so choosing engineering felt like a natural step. It’s a field where curiosity, continuous learning and structured thinking truly pay off, and that’s exactly what I enjoy.

What sparked your interest in back-end development, and how did you get started in this field? 

As I mentioned, I’ve always loved math, and that naturally led me to engineering. The idea of building logic, solving complex problems and creating real systems that work behind the scenes was very inspiring for me. I also love that technology moves fast. You constantly learn, grow and adapt - I enjoy that pace.

Another big part is the people. In tech, you meet incredibly smart, curious, creative individuals who think differently and always challenge you to become better. This environment motivates me a lot.

Can you describe what it’s like working in the TUI team at Pwrteams? 

For me, it’s truly an amazing team. First of all - the people. Everyone is kind, supportive, talented and inspiring. You feel like you’re part of a team that truly cares - not only about the project, but about each other.

I also really appreciate that we have many opportunities to learn, experiment and try new things, especially now, when AI is transforming tech so quickly. Having the freedom to explore and grow makes a huge difference.

How do your typical workdays look like, and which tasks do you enjoy the most? 

Right now, I’m in a very small team - there are just two of us actively developing the core features of one of TUI’s products, while still being part of a bigger group. My typical day includes daily calls, development tasks, code reviews and refinement discussions.

I really enjoy being part of the wider initiatives at TUI. Recently, together with my colleague, I helped run an internal AI training where we showed useful AI tools, productivity tricks and ways AI can help developers work more efficiently. Contributing to knowledge-sharing and helping others evolve in AI is something I truly enjoy.

Which technical skills or personal qualities have helped you thrive as a Back-End Engineer? 

I believe several things helped me thrive:

• Self-discipline & consistency. Motivation comes and goes, but discipline keeps you moving. Tech requires steady growth and constant learning.
• Strong mathematical foundation. Math taught me how to think logically and structurally. It helps not only in writing code, but in understanding how systems work under the hood.
• Curiosity & willingness to explore. Technology evolves fast, and being open to new tools, approaches and ideas is essential.
• Communication skills. Even though we work with machines, we also work with people, and communication is key. I really enjoy collaborating and sharing knowledge.
• Adaptability. Switching between back-end, front-end and infrastructure tasks gave me a broad perspective and flexibility, which is extremely valuable nowadays.

Looking back, what achievements are you most proud of in your IT career so far? 

I’m proud of not being afraid to take on challenges. In tech, you constantly face problems you’ve never seen before, and I learned to trust that with time, discipline and effort, you always figure it out. There’s no “impossible” task in engineering, only the ones that require more learning and patience.

I’m also proud of how much knowledge and expertise I’ve built over the years. I genuinely enjoy learning, and even after years in tech, I still wake up curious and motivated to grow. That passion hasn’t faded, and that’s something I value deeply.

Have you encountered any challenges as a woman in tech? How have you navigated them? 

At times, yes. Sometimes people see you first as a woman, and only then as a professional, and it shouldn’t be that way.

And honestly, sometimes the challenges come not from men, but from other women. I don’t know why it happens, but I really want to encourage the opposite energy.

To all women reading this – we are on the same side. Be kinder to each other, support each other, celebrate each other. Let’s build sisterhood, not competition. We rise higher when we rise together.

How do you see the back-end development role changing in the coming years, and how are you preparing for it?

I constantly invest in my learning and skills:

• I take courses and pursue certifications. Recently, I have earned my AWS Solutions Architect certification.
• I actively explore AI and how it changes software engineering.
• I read a lot, including technical books and research.
• I practice consistently, experiment and try new tools.

Are there any communities, resources or habits you’d recommend for aspiring back-end engineers looking to grow in their career? 

These technical books shaped how I understand systems and engineering fundamentals. They teach you to think like an engineer, not just write code:

• Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software - a brilliant foundation for understanding how computers really work.
• Designing Data-Intensive Applications - a masterpiece on scalable, reliable system design.
• Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces - makes OS concepts practical and clear.
• Database Internals - a deep dive into distributed systems and data engines.

These are the platforms I personally use to strengthen my skills and explore new technologies:

• Udemy - great practical courses.
• Coursera - strong academic-level programs.
• Local live courses & tech communities - great for networking and deeper learning.

Here are the daily habits that help me grow and stay consistent as a back-end developer:

• Build small side projects and practice beats theory.
• Read documentation, it's a real superpower.
• Ask questions. Never be afraid to not know something.
• Reviewing others’ code is an incredible way to grow.
• Stay curious & consistent - even small steps daily make a huge difference.

I also make it a point to engage with communities that inspire me and support my growth. These can be LinkedIn tech groups, local meetups or internal knowledge-sharing sessions where ideas and experience are exchanged.

Everyone starts somewhere - just keep going.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in software development today? 

Go for it - don’t hesitate and don’t let doubt stop you. Tech needs you, your ideas, your perspective.

• Be patient with yourself - learning takes time.
• Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s.
• Build strong fundamentals, they will carry you far.
• Surround yourself with supportive, inspiring people.
• See challenges as opportunities to grow, not barriers.
• Keep learning - consistently, not perfectly.

Feeling inspired by Mariana’s journey? Discover our current vacancies and take the next step in your career with Pwrteams.