Mentors & Experts

Mentoring is best described as an educational process when mentors share knowledge with the purpose of surfacing potential in their protégés.

  • Mentor in the Spotlight: Inga Ežerskienė

    Meet Inga, a seasoned product owner and product ownership mentor here at Women Go Tech, blending business acumen with technical expertise. With over 15 years in industries like Sales, Telecommunications, […]

    Meet Inga, a seasoned product owner and product ownership mentor here at Women Go Tech, blending business acumen with technical expertise. With over 15 years in industries like Sales, Telecommunications, Logistics, and Banking, she’s guided teams through a wide range of complex projects.

    Her journey began at Kaunas University of Technology, where she developed a deep understanding of systems and processes, which naturally led her to the world of product ownership. Today, as a Senior Business & Systems Analyst at Accenture, Inga excels at bridging business needs with technical solutions. We’re excited to have her share insights about her career, mentorship, and more with you today.

    Can you briefly introduce yourself and share how your professional journey has evolved from your studies to your current role?

    An ambitious, goal-oriented person with 15+ years of versatile experience in Sales, Telecommunications, Logistics, and Banking.

    After finishing school, I started my bachelor’s in Computer Science at Kaunas University of Technology. Later, I pursued two master’s degrees—one in Enterprise and Organizational Systems, and another in Human Resources Management. During my studies, I worked in various positions in sales and purchasing, which shaped my understanding of business processes and operations.

    You transitioned from a sales and purchase background into tech. What motivated this career change, and how did you navigate the shift?

    What motivated me was the desire for more analytical work and a closer connection to systems that support business operations. One of my friends, who was a mentor in the Women Go Tech Acceleration Program, recommended it to me. He warned me about the strict selection process, but I was fortunate to be selected, which provided me with invaluable insights, lectures, workshops, and much more.

    Transitioning from sales and purchasing to a Business Analyst (BA) role was fairly smooth since both careers focus on understanding business processes and optimizing operations. Many skills I developed were directly transferable.

    • Communication: Essential for gathering requirements and explaining findings.
    • Negotiation & Relationship Building: Useful for managing stakeholders and aligning project goals.
    • Problem-Solving: A critical skill for identifying inefficiencies and suggesting solutions.
    • Analytical Mindset: Crucial in both roles for analyzing data and driving insights.

    I also had to upskill in areas like:

    • Requirements Gathering: Learning new techniques such as BRDs (Business Requirements Documents) and user stories in Agile.
    • Project Management: Gaining basic knowledge in Agile and Scrum.
    • Process Modeling: Learning how to map business processes using various tools.

    Relevant certifications helped me bridge the gap.

    What are your key responsibilities as a Senior Business & Systems Analyst at Accenture, and what challenges do you face?

    In my current role, I’m responsible for bridging business needs with technology solutions. A large part of my job is gathering requirements from stakeholders through interviews, workshops, and surveys. I then translate these into technical language for development teams.

    Other key tasks include:

    • Analyzing business processes: Identifying inefficiencies and designing workflows for optimization.
    • Collaborating with solution architects and developers: Ensuring system designs meet scalability, security, and performance needs.
    • Testing & Quality Assurance: Creating test cases and working closely with QA teams during user acceptance testing.
    • Change Management: Helping organizations with training materials and smooth transitions during system go-lives.

    Some challenges include:

    • Changing requirements: Stakeholders often change their minds, which can throw off timelines. Defining a clear scope and strong change management is crucial.
    • Balancing business and technical needs: I act as a mediator to align business value with technical constraints.
    • System integration: Especially with legacy systems, where compatibility can be a challenge.
    • Managing stakeholder expectations: Transparency and realistic timelines help maintain trust.

    To ensure successful project delivery, I focus on clear communication, iterative development (Agile), early risk identification, and thorough documentation using tools like JIRA and Confluence.

    You were a mentee in the Women Go Tech program before becoming a mentor. What were your key takeaways as a mentee, and how did they impact your career?

    Being a mentee in Women Go Tech was transformative. The key lessons I learned were:

    • Confidence: Having a voice in meetings and promoting your ideas is crucial, especially in tech.
    • Networking: Building genuine connections is invaluable for learning and sharing knowledge.
    • Continuous Learning: The program encouraged me to keep expanding my skill set, which I now prioritize in my career.

    These lessons accelerated my growth, and now, as a mentor, I pass them on to others.

    What inspired you to become a mentor, and how do you guide others?

    I was inspired by the impact my own mentor had on my career. The guidance and encouragement I received boosted my confidence, and I wanted to offer the same support to others.

    As a mentor, I help mentees find their confidence, step out of their comfort zones, and embrace challenges. I also emphasize the importance of networking and personal development alongside technical skills. My goal is to help mentees realize their potential and shape their careers with purpose.

    What skills are essential for someone transitioning into tech, and how do you support mentees in developing them?

    Key skills for transitioning into tech from a non-tech background include:

    • Adaptability: The tech world evolves rapidly, so the ability to learn new tools and frameworks is crucial.
    • Problem-solving: Breaking down problems and finding solutions is a transferable skill from many non-tech roles.
    • Curiosity: A strong drive to understand how things work helps build expertise.

    I create personalized learning plans for my mentees, offer relevant resources, and focus on building their confidence by highlighting how their previous experiences can be leveraged in tech.

    How do you stay updated with tech trends, and how do you incorporate this knowledge into mentoring?

    I make it a daily habit to stay updated by following industry blogs, podcasts, webinars, and books. I bring this knowledge into my mentoring by offering relevant, real-world examples and helping mentees see how these trends can impact their work and the industry as a whole.

    Can you share a book, podcast, or resource that has positively impacted your growth?

    Recently, I read Atomic Habits by James Clear, which had a significant impact on both my personal and professional life. The principles of building small, consistent habits resonated with me, especially in the fast-paced tech world. I’ve applied this mindset to my work and mentoring, encouraging my mentees to build small habits for long-term success.

    Find more mentor stories here.

  • women in tech blog

    We’re thrilled to shine the spotlight on Julija Varneckienė, the Chief Operations Officer at CapitalBox and a Product Ownership track mentor. In this interview, Julija shares her journey into mentorship, […]

    We’re thrilled to shine the spotlight on Julija Varneckienė, the Chief Operations Officer at CapitalBox and a Product Ownership track mentor.

    In this interview, Julija shares her journey into mentorship, the valuable lessons she has learned along the way, and the profound impact of guiding others. With a rich background in system development and organizational change, Julija’s insights provide a thoughtful look at the essence of mentorship and its lasting rewards.

    women in tech blog

    What drove you to become a mentor?

    Throughout my career, I have been responsible for system development, training, and managing organizational changes toward automation and process implementation. These experiences have helped me guide people in their daily duties and manage personal changes effectively. When a former colleague saw a mentorship opportunity, she suggested I should give it a try, thinking it would be a great fit. So, I did. And here I am. ~15 mentees in 5 years.

    What are the top three things you learned from mentoring?

    1.  Listen more, speak less. Through mentorship, you recognize that it’s not always about showing people the exact direction, but more about listening to where they want to go and supporting and encouraging them to take steps forward. Most people are very smart but often biased by uncertainty and underestimation of their own abilities.

    2.  People seeking mentorship aren’t always ready to be mentored. Some people view mentorship as a process where you do the work, and they just “attend.” It’s important to identify these individuals early and manage your time effectively.

    3.  The importance of continuous learning. Mentoring is a two-way street. While you guide and support others, you also learn a lot about yourself, your strengths, and areas for improvement. Mentoring helped me to become a better leader for my team and get additional knowledge.

    What surprised you most, and what was your favorite mentorship moment?

    The most surprising thing is realizing how just a few sessions can profoundly impact someone’s life. My favorite moments are seeing the joy on my mentees’ faces as they achieve their goals and witnessing them return after a few years seeking further guidance. It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that our time together has had a lasting effect.  

    What advice would you give to new mentors?

    Set very clear expectations and be personal. It might take a few sessions to figure out mutual expectations and understandings, so take your time. Don’t be too theoretical; share your experiences, mistakes, drivers, and insights. People look for connection and real-life examples—things they can’t get from reading theoretical books alone.

    Can you share a mentee success story, and how did it make you feel seeing that success?

    My very first mentee approached me after taking some online coding school classes with a couple of questions: “What’s next?” and “Is this the right path?” We began by exploring and clarifying different possibilities in business and IT. We identified his strengths and areas of disinterest.

    Then, we worked on a sample business case to provide practical guidelines and crystallize his areas of interest. Step by step, he delved deeper into the subject. After a few years, he is now the most valuable community leader in Lithuania for the platform I introduced him to. With a lot of passion and hard work, he transitioned from being a musician to an IT admin and developer, discovering his path and realizing the value he could create, all while enjoying the journey. I am incredibly proud of him. This transformation was 100% his effort to change his life.

    Another story involves an incredibly talented woman who lost belief in her abilities after trying to return to work following maternity leave. After a few sessions, it was clear she was regaining her self-confidence and control. We identified her strongest skills, prepared for job interviews, and she landed a job. I felt incredibly proud of her. The most rewarding moment is seeing others achieve their goals. They did it all themselves; I just helped light the path for them and supported them through the journey.rd work and proactive attitude truly paid off. It’s so inspiring!

  • Dominyka Ragauskaitė. Product Management Lead. Vinted

  • women in engineering lina-praskeviciute

    Lina Praškevičiūtė. Leading Product Manager .Vinted

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    Justina Andrijauskaitė-Karpovičė. Director, Product Management Operations. Adform

  • Lina Leonavičienė. Head of B2B department. Mediafon group

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    Diana Gold. CIO. Telia

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    Erika Maslauskaitė. Chief Commercial Officer. Nikulipe

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    Adas Bradauskas. Product Manager. Wix

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    Aliona Sosunova. Director of Engineering. Vinted

  • Veranika Salabai. Product Owner. Western Union

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    Skaistė Kiaušaitė. Technical Product Owner. Zedge

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    Karolis Strumskis. Sr Director of Product. Omnisend

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    Kristina Velijevaitė. Product Manager. StrongPoint

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    Nerilė Mažeikienė. Sales and Customer Service Department Manager. Ignitis

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    Morta Ribokaitė. Swedbank. Product owner

  • Miglė Butkevičė. Product Manager. Vinted

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    Kristina Trijonė. Product Owner. Juvare

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    Vytautas Jakštys. Chief Product Officer. Eskimi DSP

  • Gintarė Kvasaitė. Product Owner. MobilePay

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    Monika Valatkevičienė. Team Manager, Product Management Operations. Adform

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    Lina Armonienė. Senior product manager. Adform

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    Kęstutis Gardžiulis. Founder & Chief Innovation Officer. Etronika

  • Baran Ozkan. Co-founder & CEO. Flagright