We often state that growth is a big part of our culture, so we offer our Centricians the means and methods to improve their skills constantly. Sabina started in Centric as an intern, continued her path in software development, and is now an experienced Product Owner. Find out how she grew with Centric in the story below.
#GrowWithCentric: From intern to Product Owner
Product Owner
Sabina Craus
How did you start in Centric?
I started in Centric as an intern more than eight years ago. I came to the interview more out of curiosity because I already had another job offer. Then I thought about giving the path of Centric .NET Developer a try for three months...and apparently, I liked it because here I am :).
What is your position today?
I am a Product Owner in two teams and a Discipline Coordinator in the PO and BA areas.
What was the drive that got you from intern to PO?
I think my curiosity and the fact that I never feared trying new things and new roles to find those that suit me.
What motivates you to learn?
The possibility to try new things. To do that, you need to have the necessary knowledge. This motivates me to read & learn certain things or follow specific communities and people.
How do you make time for learning?
Accepting new challenges that require me to learn new things. This gives me the push I need because there will always be a lot of tasks that need my attention, and it's hard to allocate the time to learn. But if you know you will have to practice/ apply a particular skill, it becomes a priority.
What was your biggest failure, and what did you learn from it?
I don't remember any significant failures, but there are moments in time when you realize after the fact that you could have done things better, and you try to improve the next time around.
What is your favorite success story?
I think we all perceive differently what it means to be a successful person. But for me, a true success story that I like - from the tech world - is the one of AIRBNB that started so small, from a few friends wanting to make some extra money by renting an inflatable mattress. One of the best feelings for me it's to see a product we worked on being released. It is very satisfying to see your work help other people.
What kinds of learning and growth practices do you have?
For me, "learning by doing" works the best. Just reading or watching a course isn't enough. I need to apply it. What helped me a lot was getting involved in projects like School of Centric and teaching others. I think that is one of the best ways of really learning something and a chance to find out new information from the people around you who share their different perspectives.
Who has been the most inspirational person in your career, and why?
Many well-known people in the industry inspire and trigger you to learn new things. But I think the most impactful are our colleagues, the people you work with every day. I feel very lucky and grateful to have worked with them so far.
What would you say to somebody that just started a career in IT?
Just Start! It is important to start, even if you are not 100% sure if it is the right direction for you. In time, you will realize if you are in the right place and be able to change things if you want to, but you cannot know until you act upon it. Also, it's essential to stay curious and always think about ways how you could improve.
