Part 2: Real career paths in tech at Unit4
A few weeks ago, we shared the stories of three inspiring women from our community, each working in distinctly different tech-related roles. They shared valuable insights about their backgrounds, what a typical workday looks like, and their unique career paths. This month, we’re taking a deeper dive into the specifics of their roles, with targeted questions tailored to each of them. Let’s jump into the second part of their amazing stories!
As all of them have different tech related roles, we would like to deep dive into some role specific insights, therefore we would like to start with Paulina Rothermel, Senior Documentation Developer.
Technical writing seems like such a balancing act. How do you make sure your documentation is technically accurate while still being friendly and accessible to different kinds of users?
Paulina Rothermel: I can always rely on my team to help me explain the technical aspects that I need to first understand myself before making them clear to others. Once I understand what the new functionality does, I can describe it accurately, in the simplest terms I can think of. One thing I always focus on is that most of our users are not looking to be wowed with the language of our documentation, they are simply looking to quickly understand how our products work, and my job is to make it easy for them.
What skills have helped you succeed in documentation that might surprise someone considering this career path?
Paulina Rothermel: More than skills, I believe that what helped me succeed in becoming a technical writer is a true passion for technology and a drive to understand how things work. However, what may surprise someone who wants to pursue technical writing is the fact that it’s more technical than writing😊 If you are not comfortable learning new tools, you definitely need to overcome this obstacle as you will spend a lot of time doing just that. And, last but not least, you will work independently but it’s the collaboration with your team, your Product Owners, your peers, Subject Matter Experts, managers and everyone else who will make you successful and happy in this line of work.
Next, we will learn more about the role of a Test Analyst with Monika Jaguś, which often requires such a creative mindset.
What are your favorite approaches to finding those tricky issues that might otherwise slip through the cracks?
Monika Jaguś: Of course! I agree that testing requires creative thinking. The longer I work as a tester, the more I notice this. I love finding bugs, and to do this, I first ensure that the application covers all the required test cases. It's crucial that the requirements are 100% met. Then it's time to find the elusive bugs that often hide in edge cases and unexpected user behavior. At this stage, I no longer follow strict requirements but explore the application as an end user would - clicking, trying strange combinations and pushing the boundaries. This relaxed approach often reveals usability problems and hidden bugs. I often use boundary value analysis in my work. Bugs love to hide at the edges - whether it's minimum/maximum input lengths, date ranges or quantity limits. I focus tests on these boundaries to catch logical errors. In my opinion, it is important to think like a “malicious” user. I deliberately input incorrect, unexpected or distorted data to see how the system handles it. Thanks to my experience with the application, I can predict potential error-prone areas and focus my testing on those, e.g. particularly where issues have frequently occurred or where users commonly make mistakes.
How has your role changed as Unit4 has adopted more agile ways of working? Has this shifted how you collaborate with the rest of the team?
Monika Jaguś: As our company has adopted more agile working methods, my role as a tester has evolved significantly. Now testing is important at every stage of the development process, so testing is not just the final stage, but is now a continuous activity. This means that I am involved from the beginning as a tester in the process, for example, I attend sprint planning meetings to understand upcoming features and prepare test cases accordingly. I work closely with the developers. Daily meetings and regular retrospectives ensure constant communication and quick problem solving. So, if a developer encounters a bug, we can discuss it immediately and find a solution together, rather than waiting until the end of the development cycle. Of course, in agile, automation has become key, and this is the direction I would like to develop as a tester.
Our last set of questions will be directed to Marta Szafraniec-Szpak, our Senior UX Designer.
The research behind good design is fascinating. How do you gather insights about users and incorporate them into your design process here at Unit4?
Marta Szafraniec-Szpak: User research is an important part of my work. At Unit4, we often work with customers and internal stakeholders to understand real user needs, especially as business software needs to support a wide range of roles and workflows. I use a mix of methods - interviews, feedback sessions, user testing and sometimes data analysis - to gain insight. What's important to me is not just gathering input, but translating it into clear, actionable design decisions. I also make sure that the research is visible to the whole team, so that everyone stays connected to the user perspective throughout the design process.
Enterprise software can be quite complex, What are some of the unique challenges you face when designing interfaces that need to handle complicated processes while still being user-friendly?
Marta Szafraniec-Szpak: One of the biggest challenges is that even if the interface looks simply, the information users need to process or act on can be incredibly complex. For example, I've recently been working on a virtual assistant for Unit4. While the interface is intentionally minimal and conversational, the real challenge lies in helping users access and understand the right information at the right time – without overwhelming them. It's about guiding users through complex tasks or decisions in a way that feels natural and supportive, not demanding. This requires deep knowledge of users, their context and the systems they work in, so that we can design smart interactions that reduce cognitive load and build trust.
Each of us brings our own lens to problem-solving. What unique perspectives or approaches do you feel you contribute to your team based on your experiences?
Marta Szafraniec-Szpak: Problem solving has always come naturally to me – especially the kind that seems messy or unclear at first. I like to take a step back to understand the bigger picture, then break things down and make them more manageable. I try to bring structure where it's needed but also remain flexible when things change. My background in sociology helps me to see different angles and user perspectives, and I am very interested in how people work together. I enjoy creating space for collaboration and helping others connect ideas. I think the combination of curiosity, clarity and empathy is something I consistently bring to the team.
What advice or encouragement would you share with young women considering a path similar to yours?
Marta Szafraniec-Szpak: Be patient with yourself and give yourself space to grow into the role. There's no way you'll know everything at the start - just keep an open mind, ask questions and try things out. Also, try to find people you can learn with or from. For me, connecting with others early on - through university projects or UX communities - made a big difference. It's not just about building skills; it's about building confidence and seeing that your voice matters. And remember, everyone brings something different to the table. What makes you unique - how you think, how you work with others - can be a real strength in this field.
A big thank you to Marta, Monika and Paulina for sharing their experiences and insights with us. It’s important to highlight the meaningful impact women are making in technology—both through their day-to-day work and within their specialised roles. We hope you enjoyed finding out more about the diverse talents that contribute to Unit4’s success.
