Iryna Volnytska’s Post

7 tips for making it in Estonia (to celebrate my 7 years here). 1. Connect, connect, connect. Two weeks after my arrival, I landed my first internship in Estonia. I'm forever thankful to Anna Maria Ranczakowska and the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre for giving me my first opportunity here. I used every event in that role to network, and one day, I managed to give my business card to Tina Lokk, head of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival | PÖFF . This led to seven years as a social media team coordinator for the festival. 2. Open a business It took me two years to open my own business, and I still kick myself about it. Opening a business in Estonia is affordable and easy! It also gives you the flexibility to take on side projects to give you more financial security. As an immigrant, I've survived a pandemic and several job changes while still building my retirement fund. 3. Leverage the freebies Estonia has for you. Go to the free language classes. Take the free transport. Attend the free museum day. Estonia is an extremely generous country, and it has made my life easier. My PhD tuition cost was ZERO euros (no student loans here!), and it opened the doors to my future career as a researcher at Tallinn University. 4. Take Vitamin D Estonia is a winter wonderland, which means that you must balance the dark nights with a healthy daily dose of Vitamin D. 5. Pick up a hobby Many newcomers (and even locals!) feel lonely in Estonia. I must say this was my case until I learned that every happy person I met in Tallinn had a cool hobby that usually involved groups. After trying different things, what worked for me was doing stand-up comedy, which has led me to do charity work for NGOs and even go on a cruise for free! 6. Learning Estonian is hard, but not impossible This has been the biggest challenge for me, and I wish I had started sooner. Learning Estonian is learning a new way to build sentences in a language with no future or gender. While I have not achieved my goal of fluently talking in Estonian, the support that I find when I try is super welcoming. 7. Be open to change Estonia has achieved many major milestones in just four decades. One thing I learned about a country so new as Estonia (it is younger than me!) is that big wins require big changes. I did not know it when I arrived with less than 500 euros in my bank account, but (7 years, a marriage, two pets, and many jobs later) I know now. #StudyinEstonia Work in Estonia #eesti #estonia

Forget just dumplings and mountains. Georgia's got brainpower on its slopes!🇬🇪 This stunning Eastern European country offers a dynamic and promising tech environment for entrepreneurs, investors, and tech professionals. Its affordability, talent pool, and government support make it a place to watch in the coming years. 🌐 Here's why you should reconsider your recruitment map: ▪ Coding ninjas: Top universities and various mentoring programs churn out tech-savvy graduates hungry to innovate. ▪ Cost-effective paradise: Attract world-class talent at a fraction of Western prices. Your wallet and team will thank you. ▪ Multilingual magic: Georgian, English, Russian, and even some exotic gems, these polyglots tackle global projects with ease. ▪ Time zone bridge: Work seamlessly across continents with flexible schedules and smooth collaboration. ▪ Thriving startup hub: Tbilisi has blossomed into a buzzing tech ecosystem, fostering innovation and growth for companies of all sizes. 🚀 Ready to tap into Georgia's untapped talent pool? Share your thoughts and questions below! #georgiatech #easterneuropeantech #futureofwork #tbilisitech #recruitment #techrecruitment

What better way to start a new week than with some good news!😁 Africa has been projected to create millions of tech talents that would serve the global market by 2030, But the big question remains, who would drive the front of empowering and supporting these tech talents to become the best the world could ever have In a bid to answer this question, together Newton Academy I've worked quite hard over the past week to launch a community where newbie and experienced tech talents can come together to share learnings, support each other, get access to information, growth resources and peer mentoring. How far would this go? I don't know. But all I know is that, we would have contributed our bit to that future we're all anticipating. So if you're doing anything related to tech and you're ready to grow on your tech career with friends and support? You should join us here; https://lnkd.in/dP7w6Z2m Together, we'll build the great Africa we've always anticipated See you in there😁 #tech #community #newtonacademy #prosperityolorunfemi

📑 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿? It's packed full of good stuff, as this week we touched upon: • The importance of learning German after moving to Germany while also asking for the government to do a better job of helping foreigners adjust and settle in.  • We polled our community, and it turns out most people really love or like their jobs—to be honest, we expected the sentiment to be more negative. • Very few women make it to the executive level in Germany - we share a couple of graphics and stats that, while depressing, just make you even more determined to shatter that glass ceiling.  • Germany's pension system ranks lower than other countries. We also share companies hiring right now, startups that recently got funded who are also hiring, news about Germany and the world of work, and so much more. 💪 𝘉𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 - 𝘚𝘜𝘉𝘚𝘊𝘙𝘐𝘉𝘌. https://lnkd.in/ei2pfnTm

People over complicate tech. Listen, if you are a novice in tech. A few years back, I had the opportunity to join the University of Glamorgan (currently known as the University of South Wales) to study Ethical Hacking and Security Systems Design. I backed out and instead chose to join the University of Nairobi to study Bachelor of Arts (Sociology and Psychology). Why did I back out? Technology for me looked alien. I was not confident in my abilities to excel in the course and paid too much attention to the naysayers who made me believe that this was a complex course and it needed someone who wasn't me, I mean math, physics et al. weren't really my forte. Oh, and not forgetting, the fear of failure. A few years down the road, I made the decision to jump out of my comfort zone and here I am celebrating one year in learning tech. What I have learned from my mistakes, what to avoid, and how to go around them. Avoid: Rushing your learning journey, and the need to know everything at one go; this creates an information overload. Silo mentality: No one person can do it alone in tech. Instead : Look for and identify a technical mentor who will act as your sounding board every now and then. You will need this person to guide you in your journey. Be patient with yourself. Learning about tech takes time and effort. Do not expect to become an expert overnight! Just keep at it and you will eventually reach your goal. Embrace change: Have the ability to adapt and learn new things (tech is ever changing, embracing change is inevitable). Finally, find a community. Every tech person needs a team. You need people who are like-minded, people who will connect with you in building, learning, growing, and bringing solutions to the world. As Ratan Tata puts it, "If you want to walk fast, walk alone, but if you want to walk far, walk together." #mytechjourney #shareyourstorywithmuthoni #globallinkedinbootcampwithmuthoni

If you struggle with networking Read this You're not alone. But have you ever asked yourself if by chance you’re overthinking it? Or maybe you’ve thought about the worst-case scenario. (I used to do this a lot) But here’s my hack. HAVE FUN. Be you, and if you love to prepare, then do so. But don't make it come off like a script or a very robotic conversation. If you want to get better at networking, attend events to practice or you can practice virtually. Some of you get new connections and you don't even follow up or have check-ins. Yet you wonder why you don't have a “rich” network. It’s because you are neglecting your current network. And to be clear, your network virtually are also HUMANS. Invest in them. On a much lighter note, I can’t believe we have over 70 people following Tech And Techies 😭🤍 I’m yet to even start marketing. Thank you for your support so far! Being a student in the heat of exams, I can’t wait to be back and unveil Tech And Techies officially🤍 —————————- Hi there! I’m Ivy. A girl with a mission. Check out my profile for more Join me as I am on a journey to cross the 10,000 people milestone 🤍 #tech #community #africa #topvoice #womenintech #womeninweb3 #founder

It's my first post on LinkedIn, and I feel compelled to share my story before introducing you to my work. Due to character limits, I'll present it in two parts. My lifelong ambition has been to be among the best, associated with the elite professionals and be the force behind positive change. Pursuing this goal led me to enroll in the best available business program in Europe in 2018: International Business Administration at Erasmus University Rotterdam School of Management. Reflecting on it now, the first university year was the most challenging of my life, marked by cultural shock, climate adjustments, and the intensity of studies. However, these experiences shaped my strong mentality and work ethic, attributes I carry with me today. I successfully completed the three-year program, excelling in Marketing, Organisational Dynamics and Behaviour, and International Business Strategy. My motivation? I aimed to receive the best education to return to my home country, Ukraine, and contribute to its business landscape. When COVID-19 began, I seized the opportunity to start at Vaillant Group Ukraine (VGU), my first experience in a multinational corporation. Working with the German subsidiary in Ukraine, I played a role in developing a B2B bonus system, still in operation, which increased sales by 7%. After half a year at VGU, craving for more creativity, I took a bold step. With a couple of friends, I started a full-circle production that transformed from a side job into my full-time business, managing a team of 13 at the age of 21. In the EU, this might seem like a miracle, but that's the beauty of Ukraine – If you are extraordinary and have great ideas, you will get your chance. So, I did and never missed it. My company, Golden Gate Agency, gained over 1,000,000 EUR in sales over a 10-month pre-war period, collaborating with major players like Tvoya Shina, Luxoptica, Durex, Silpo, and Kyivstar. Unfortunately, since February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been part of a big geopolitical game called war, negatively impacting its economy. I won't delve into politics, but the situation took a toll on businesses, including mine. In response, I dedicated over a year to assisting charity funds in raising money and ammunition for the Ukrainian army. However, personal principles led me to prioritize my career, prompting me to seek a job where my skills and knowledge could foster both professional and personal growth. More to the introduction story in PART TWO.

Age is just a number when pursuing a career in tech! Check out this insightful article on entering the IT industry later in life and how you can leverage your experience and skills to successfully transition. Whether you're a seasoned professional looking for a change or starting from scratch, it's never too late to follow your passion and achieve your goals. #womenintech #careergoals #ITcareer #lifelonglearning

We educate young people on tech skills, especially those that will be relevant to the industrial revolution. It is a Monday morning, we encourage you to learn those skills with a smile and determination. Set your goals, show up for each task and put yourself out there. Our aim is to put young Africans at the center of global innovations. Learn a tech skill, and never stop showing up 🆙⬆️💯. #techup #techtour #techskills

What’s Next for Tech in Botswana? Here's my 5 Predictions you can read about!