Part 1: Real career paths in tech at Unit4
We're proud to showcase the talented women making an impact across our organization. From design and data to product and strategy, these stories highlight the many ways to build a successful career in tech. Paulina Rothermel, Senior Documentation Developer, Monika Jaguś, Test Analyst, and Marta Szafraniec-Szpak, Senior UX Designer, shared with us their unique journeys, daily challenges, and the diverse skills they bring to the technology landscape at Unit4.
Marta Szafraniec-Szpak
Senior UX
Hello, I am Marta, and I am a senior UX designer at Unit4 with a background in sociology. I've always been curious about how people interact with technology, which led me naturally to UX. It's a field where I can combine empathy, psychology and innovation, thinking about the big picture and the detail. I'm particularly interested in how AI can support and enhance the user experience. I'm passionate about knowledge sharing and team building and believe that we grow professionally by supporting and learning from each other.
Outside of work, I enjoy long walks with my dog, exploring new recipes in the kitchen, and finding inspiration in nature, art, and city life.
Monika Jaguś
Test Analyst
Hello, I am Monika, and I work as a Test Analyst. My story is quite funny. My interests, besides testing, are medicine and law. There was even a time when I was studying at medical school. However, I finally decided to study law. I'm currently completing my thesis in the final year of law school and preparing for my exam. I work during the week and dedicate my weekends to studying.
My journey into software testing began alongside my law studies— I attended a tester course and really enjoyed it. I decided that I would really like to work as a tester. I liked it so much that I have been working at Unit4 for five years now. My role involves ensuring the quality and reliability of our software products through rigorous testing and analysis. I work closely with the development team to identify and resolve the issues, ensuring that our solutions meet the highest standards and deliver exceptional value to our clients.
In my free time I love to travel. My favorite trip was to South Korea. In the future, I’d love to see Japan.
Paulina Rothermel
Senior Documentation Developer
Hello, I’m Paulina and I am a Senior Documentation Developer in the Finance domain at Unit4. Privately, a mother, dog owner, and a cooking enthusiast. I joined Unit4 almost four years ago after working as a Technical Translator and, previously, a Property Manager. My educational background is in communication and linguistics, but I've always been intrigued by technology and programming.
My position at Unit4 allows me to combine all my past experiences and interests to create documentation our users refer to when using our products.
Walk us through what a typical day looks like for you at Unit4? Tell us about those daily routines that give a glimpse into your world.
Marta Szafraniec-Szpak: Sure! My days usually start with checking in on our design goals and syncing up with the product and development teams. I spend a lot of time either collaborating with others – in workshops, ideation sessions, or feedback rounds – or diving into UX tasks like structuring complex user journeys or exploring how AI can simplify user interactions. I also really enjoy mentoring and running sessions with the team where we share ideas and approaches. I try to keep space each day for both focused UX work and team connection - it’s a balance that keeps me energised.
Monika Jaguś: My day usually starts with a daily meeting with my team, where we discuss our goals for the day and any challenges we might face. This is a great way to align our efforts and ensure that everyone is on the same page. I won't describe all our meetings here, such as planning, retrospectives, and sprint reviews, but I attend all these meetings, and I discuss aspects related to testing. Then I spend time testing the application and writing test procedures. In these procedures, I describe all the test cases that need to be executed to ensure the application meets all functional and non-functional requirements.
As for the testing itself, I use various test techniques and tools to ensure that everything is working properly in the application without any bugs. But I love finding them! My team knows that I have a favourite GIF for bugs, and as soon as it appears in our chat, it means the developers have something to fix!
Paulina Rothermel: I usually start my workday from logging into the Daily Standup meeting to keep up to date on my colleagues’ progress and make sure that I stay in the loop on what needs to be documented. After that, I join various meetings, some related to my team’s work, others focused on documentation practices. I also have one-on-one catch-ups with my manager or our Product Owner, whom I work closely with and consider my main Subject Matter Expert.
I take advantage of the time between and after the meetings to focus on the work at hand. That’s when I gather information, learn about the functionalities I need to describe, prepare drafts, consult with my colleagues, and finally, publish the content for our users.
About your journey to your current role, was it a straightforward path, or did your career take some unexpected and interesting turns along the way?
Marta Szafraniec-Szpak: "My path was quite straightforward. I knew early on that I wanted to work in a technology-related field, and while studying sociology I discovered UX – which felt like a perfect fit. It brought together my interest in people and psychology with my fascination for digital tools and systems. I was so inspired that I co-founded a UX club at my university to connect with others and learn more. At first, I wanted to focus on UX research, but over time I realised that being a UX designer would give me more opportunities to shape the whole experience - from understanding user needs to creating solutions that meet them. This has helped me become a more versatile designer."
Paulina Rothermel: "My career was definitely full of some interesting turns! My first ‘real’ job was in marketing, then I got into property management for a few years. Then, upon getting my Master’s in Technical Translation, I worked for different corporations as a translator and a Business English trainer.
It wasn’t until the COVID era that I realised true fulfilment in my professional life comes from having the opportunity to continuously grow in a stimulating environment. So, I embarked on a transition journey to enter the world of software technology and was extremely lucky to be offered a position at Unit4 where I found all I’ve been looking for."
We are proud of the different backgrounds people bring to Unit4. What previous skills or experiences have turned out to be helpful in your current role?
Marta Szafraniec-Szpak: "My background in sociology has taught me how to observe, listen, and ask the right questions – skills that are incredibly valuable in UX research and design I also studied Electronic Data Processing, which gave me a solid foundation in how digital systems work—an asset that helps me communicate effectively with developers. Interestingly, the skill that proves most valuable in my day-to-day work is my passion for simplifying complex ideas – organising and making them easier to understand turns out to be a big part of designing good user experiences."
Monika Jaguś: "I have always been attentive to detail and accuracy, traits that have proven invaluable in my current role as a tester, where I apply these skills daily."
Paulina Rothermel: "Because of my past experiences, I learned that there is no progress without change, so I welcome and embrace it."
What’s a common misconception people have about your role?
Marta Szafraniec-Szpak: "What's UX? This is the most common question I get at social events, especially from non-IT people, so I usually start with a brief definition of what I'm doing at work."
In IT, a lot of people assume that UX design is just about making things look nice, but it's so much more than that. I usually explain that it's about understanding people's needs and making technology work for them, not the other way around. It's part research, part problem solving, and part storytelling. And while design tools are involved, a lot of the work is about thinking, asking the right questions, and helping teams focus on what really matters to users.
Monika Jaguś: "I had a situation where someone asked me what I do for work, and when I replied that I’m a tester, they asked if I work at a supermarket stand giving customers products to taste and test."
Paulina Rothermel: "I usually say that I am a translator from Developese (the language developers use, not neccessarily understandable to all mortals😊) into human language."
A big thank you to Marta, Monika and Paulina for sharing their stories — this is just the beginning! In next month’s article, we’ll take a closer look at their roles and responsibilities, exploring the skills required and the impact they have across the tech industry.
Stay tuned for Part Two of this insightful series!
