Leading by example: Alexandra’s journey from Romania to motherhood and tech leadership at bol

Alexandra had never set foot in Utrecht before relocating with her husband from Romania. When she applied for the role of Software Engineer at bol, her expectations didn’t quite match with reality. She laughs when she recalls: “Honestly, I didn’t know much about bol at that time. I even thought the office would be located in a small, one-story building. Obviously, it turned out to be much larger than I had imagined.”

Apart from the company’s size, Alexandra encountered more unexpected surprises. “Even back then, the teams included a considerable amount of women and international colleagues, which was a pleasant surprise. My colleagues also welcomed me with open arms from day one and helped me with all kinds of stuff – from adapting to the work pace to filling out Dutch tax forms. Their support made the transition to a new country and company much smoother for me.”

Over the years, Alexandra’s path at bol evolved from Software Engineer to Senior and eventually Product Tech Lead. But the journey didn’t end there. A little over a year ago Alexandra accepted the role of Principal Tech Lead. She shares: “It’s it bit of an unusual story. I was on maternity leave following the birth of my daughter, when I received around five or six messages from different colleagues, all informing me about this job opening. They didn’t want to disrupt my leave, but they didn’t want me to miss this opportunity either, as they saw me as a perfect fit. It was such a reflection of the supportive and heartwarming bol work culture; everyone genuinely roots for each other’s successes. So, while still on leave, I applied for the job and secured it shortly after.”

Did becoming a mother change things for Alexandra? “The birth of my daughter made me reflect on the kind of mother I want to be. I realized that I have a true passion for technology and that I want to hold on to that part of me. It’s who I am and I want to show my daughter that side of me too. Is it always easy to balance my work with motherhood? No, it’s definitely a challenge. Being a mother is a full-time job on its own. But I prioritize my time and I make sure that I’m fully present – whether I’m at work or with my daughter. I truly believe that I’m setting an example for her by focusing on my aspirations and staying true to my passions.”

As a Principal Tech Lead, Alexandra now oversees various initiatives across the entire bol IT landscape. She reflects: “I had to get used to my new role at first, as it’s quite different to where I came from. As a Software Engineer, I would develop new features on a daily basis and saw results quickly. Now, things move slower and the projects I handle are long-term. The plus side is that I can really make an impact on lasting decisions that shape the company’s tech vision.”

Alexandra’s eyes light up when she concludes: “Besides my love for tech, I’m deeply inspired by my colleagues and the passion they put into their work every single day. Most importantly, I am in awe of the amount of incredibly talented women that I see at bol. We need more of that! Don’t get me wrong, I love working with my team of five men and myself, but I also want to see more Sabrina’s, more Linda’s, more Elinor’s, more Dagmara’s, and more Pratishtha’s. These women are all so passionate and inspiring, and they bring a unique and important perspective to the table. I can never get enough of that.”