Our Meet the Hiring Manager series allows you to get to know the people who grow teams at VMware Bulgaria. You will learn about our hiring managers’ career paths and what they look for in candidates during the interview experience.
This week, meet Velichka, Manager at VMware Open Source Engineering team to learn how VMware Open Source Program Office has established presence and influence in leading-edge open source projects (e.g. Kubernetes, EdgeX, Linux), making meaningful contributions for the community.
Tell us about your career journey to date?
A 15-year industry veteran, I’ve spent 13 years working for a large international financial institution where I rose from a junior .NET engineer to the head of the software development department. Having a support function, my team created and maintained the in-house software systems & tools supporting the business processes.
My business colleagues were my customers – they used the software to do sales, risk analysis, marketing, accounting, and other activities. I was close to them, designing and implementing their business requirements, constantly striving to improve their user experience and help them perform better. I loved doing that but after more than a decade I needed a change, I had to overcome the emotional connection and challenge myself with something different. I owed that to my personal growth.
So on 25th November 2019 I joined VMware in my new role of Open Source Engineering Manager. Open source is a totally different software development methodology with totally different concepts and a way of working. And I am glad I did it!
How is VMware different to any other tech company you have worked for?
Not only VMware is powering the apps, services and experiences transforming the world, but VMware believes in technology as a force for good and strives that its operations, products, and people have positive impact on the world.
It really feels great to be part of a caring community and be the change you want to see around you.
What has been the biggest lesson you have learned as you moved upwards in your career?
There is no technology, technical area, project or problem too hard for you to understand and deal with as long as you’ve truly decided to succeed and are willing to patiently and consistently put your heart, time and efforts into it.
Your team is hiring. Can you tell us more about your organization’s charter?
Nowadays open source technologies are widely understood to be one of the keys for speeding innovation for large and small businesses. The open source communities allow enterprises to take advantage of the collective power of individuals, partners, and global development communities.
Open source is a critical element of VMware strategy as well. VMware’s Open Source Program Office (OSPO) is the strategic approach to engage with open source and Open Source Technology Center (OSTC) is its engineering arm.
The OSTC engineering team has established presence and influence in leading-edge open source projects (e.g. Kubernetes, EdgeX, Linux), making meaningful contributions for the good of the industry, promoting VMware standards for best practices in open source engagement with external communities and establishing VMware as an open source good citizen.
If you would like to be part of a vibrant and collaborative community, if you would like to be part of meaningful and innovative contributions that benefit everyone, be a part of OSTC!
If someone reading this was coming to interview with you tomorrow for a role in your org, what interview tips would you give them?
Be yourself. We value diversity and are highly inclusive to individual differences.
Stay calm and feel at home. We invited you to that interview because we would like you to become part of our family.
Ask anything about the role and the org. We will share both the roses and the thorns because this is what we do with our family.
