Ina Uzunova is Senior R&D Manager in the Cloud Management organization at VMware Bulgaria and manages a team of 15 engineers and managers. She’s been leading the innovations and patents initiatives in her team for the past three years and within this period the team has patented more than 20 ideas. As a result of her and her teams’ success, Ina is now leading the global innovation efforts in the Cloud Management Business Unit.
What does it take for a woman to succeed in the tech business?
Everyone defines success differently. For me success is not the end point, but the learning journey.
I’ve identified a few skills that successful people have mastered: strategic thinking, knowing what not to do, and laser focus on the priorities of the company and the team. Ability to stay focused on what’s important and coming back to it quickly after you are led astray is critical – it is what brings strong results and happy clients.
Managers need to be aware of their own constraints, which makes acknowledging their mistakes easier when needed. It also makes them more approachable and ultimately helps building a stronger connection with the team.
Managers also need to know the strengths of the team and limitations of the organization they work at. This is key to setting the correct expectations and helping the team overcome challenges.
Talking specifically about women, I think it is important for us to learn how to be more assertive, to actively search for opportunities and take more risks.
What do you love most about your work?
Creating innovation in everything we do – the product, the processes, the way we deliver our service and the way we learn and grow.
Coming up with innovative ideas and turning them into patents has become business as usual in our team. Thirteen ideas were approved for patents in 2022 and twenty nine in 2023. Innovation is part of the DNA of VMware and truly at the heart of our team culture. I think we are a great example of how the company’s values are reflected in the work of its employees. VMware, as a company, is investing a lot of resources in helping employees patent the ideas and you can see the results.
What are the innovations for you?
Innovations take many shapes. It is not just creating a product. Innovation could be creating demand, coming up with а new way of delivering products or services, a more flexible licensing model could be innovation too. Innovative factors can be modularity, the way the clients interact with the product. The possibilities are endless.
Innovations happen by intend, not by accident. They are the results of excellent preparation, deep understanding of your customers’ needs, ability to act fast and excellent product strategy.
What inspires you to do your best work?
I’m a practical person and I don’t rely on inspiration. My driver is the results we achieve with the team. Earlier in my career as a manager I was very proud of the precision and quality of our work, as well as the innovations we brought to life and for which we received multiple patents. Today there is something else on top I appreciate deeply – the experience we gained and the relationships we built in the team.
I’m always strict about meeting our deadlines and going the extra mile to delight our clients. However, I often catch myself saying that the true product of our work is the better version of ourselves we are constantly building. The engineers and the managers in my team are extraordinary! I love working with them and watching the growth of the people who’ll build new companies, who will innovate and lead others. I trust they will pass forward everything they’ve learned.
Did you face certain challenges on your career path due to the fact that you are a woman?
The stereotypes and the prejudices pose challenges not only for women, but for the business as well. I’m glad that this topic is discussed more openly.
In the beginning of my career I have been underestimated. This taught me to work hard and be more creative in the search of opportunities. This experience conditioned me to always add more value than expected. Which is great for the team and the clients, but requires a lot of energy on my side.
Today, as a manager I chose to deal with prejudices by investing in knowledge, skills and contacts, I work with the team to create an environment that offers equal opportunities for everyone and respects the right of everyone to define her professional path and rhythm.
VMware is very much invested in the Diversity, Inclusion and Equity program. Its goal is to allow people to bring their authentic and different self to work and encourages using these differences as an asset to the business.
How do you see the future of women in the industry?
The IT industry is open for everyone. It’s important to note that the IT roles are not limited to writing code. The development of software products needs Product managers, Technical writers, sales and marketing experts, UX and UI designers. The work is challenging and exciting.
One of the products we develop right now in the Cloud Management Business Unit is certified to work for people with vision and hearing impairment. How do we test this functionality? How are the users going to use the product? These discussions are part of the everyday work in the team.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Many years ago one of the women leaders in my organization told me: “Listen, you can’t be everything for everyone.” I didn’t appreciate it immediately because I interpreted it as a lack of acknowledgement of my efforts and achievements. “And that is OK,” she added. And then she shared the hardships she has faced in her personal and professional life. This has really stuck with me. I continue to develop myself, but I carefully chose where I invest my time. I often talk with my fellow women colleagues that they should not expect themselves to be perfect.
Do you have a role model?
Sheryl Sandberg and Ivet Lalova.
