Spotlight on BWBW Success: In conversation with Lena Oliveira

In this edition of “Spotlight on BWBW Success” we are delighted to share the story of Lena Oliveira and her role with Accenture Poland .

Originally from Poland, Lena has lived in 11 countries, enjoyed a diverse and successful career in various industries, and ran her own businesses before reskilling with the Bring Women Back to Work (BWBW) program in 2023.

You can discover more about Lena’s story here.

BWBW: Lena, tell us about your early life and your career before you joined the BWBW program?

Lena Oliveira (LO): I was born in Olsztyn, a city in the northern part of Poland known for its beautiful nature, thousands of lakes and endless forests. Growing up, I had the freedom to run and play until nightfall in the neighborhood woods with other children. These are among my most cherished childhood memories.?

My father, a veterinarian, was from a family of Ukrainian-Russian post-war immigrants, and my mother, a preschool teacher, had family roots that trace back to our ancestor Kazimierz Pulaski, on her father’s side, and a noble family on her mother’s side. This diverse heritage sparked lively discussions and debates at our family gatherings where stories took unexpected turns, exploring secret topics, which were eagerly overheard from behind the door by us children.

Growing up we lived next to the animal hospital where my father worked. This gave me the incredible experience of assisting in therapies and surgeries for domestic and wild animals in need. Without question it helped me develop a strong bond with animals, and through it, I learned the valuable lessons in empathy and responsibility.

Despite this pretty idyllic upbringing, I always felt a deep hunger to discover the world. By the end of high school, I was recruited by an international fashion agency and participated in fashion shows in Italy and France. This opened the world to me for the first time and reinforced my irresistible desire to travel. My work allowed me to become very independent at an early age enabling me to pay my own way, pay for my studies and buy my first apartment.

After high school, I studied in Poland with a few breaks due to travel and work abroad. I gained experience in various countries along the way, living in 11 different countries. I graduated from the Poznań University of Medical Sciences with a master's degree in public health, specializing in health promotion. At the time, I was working for Qatar Airways and was based in Doha.

Subsequently, my career provided me with a wide variety of experiences across different companies and industries (FMCG, automotive, aviation, banking, healthcare, event management, education, and business administration). I also ran my own businesses, including my own event agency, a company providing Polish language workshops for children in Barcelona, Spain, and various social volunteering projects. All these experiences reflect my great ability to balance responsibilities, education, international work experience, and travel, which had begun for me long before travel became more accessible, and before Erasmus was widely available to all students in Poland.

I am now happily married to a fantastic Portuguese man, my ideal companion and partner in life's adventures and challenges. Together with Nuno, I am raising our two wonderful boys, Antonio and Martin, who bring us immense joy and are our number one priority. As part of our family life, I transitioned to managing the complex logistics of our relocations from one country to another. Along the way, I continued to gain a deep understanding and appreciation of various cultures and built significant resilience throughout the many periods of my life. These experiences also fostered adaptability and enhanced my language skills in each of the countries I lived in. I was consistently proactive, establishing my businesses to stay professionally active regardless of location.

BW: Lena, you were part of the first cohort of BWBW in Central & Eastern Europe (CEE), can you tell us why you applied for the program?

LO: At the end of 2019, our family moved from Barcelona to Warsaw, and with that, I had to leave my business behind as it was not suited to remote work. The COVID-19 pandemic and the ill health of one of my sons meant that I had to take a step back from my career briefly.?

Before the move back to Poland, I had begun exploring new technology opportunities and subjects, following cloud and UX design trends. I started to consider reskilling myself to gain hard, transferable skills that I could use regardless of our family’s location. As soon as my family situation allowed, I successfully applied for an internship related to training on cloud computing, Linux operations and VM creation. The experience was pivotal for me. It solidified my interest in technology-related topics and I began my search for a technology that would capture my heart.

When I found a LinkedIn post from Salesforce Switzerland about the BWBW program, designed for women returning to work and looking to reskill in Salesforce technology, I knew instantly that it was my call. The program was tailored precisely for someone like me, offering a user-friendly technology that is present in all aspects of business and providing incredible support during the reskilling journey. That same night, I spent hours perfecting my application and submitted it.?

I also discovered an interview by ?ukasz Buj?o for the "Coffee & Force" podcast featuring Magdalena Warecka , who had benefited from one of the first BWBW editions in Switzerland, which only confirmed my choice. I couldn't have been happier when I was selected for the first cohort in CEE.?

In a funny twist, the story came full circle; from being a listener, I soon became a podcaster, too! ?ukasz Buj?o reached out to me, inviting me to be a guest on one of his episodes on Salesforce stories. I had the honor of sharing my insights and tips for future reskillers with the "Coffee & Force" audience.

BW: Tell us about your experiences on the program and how it helped you in your return to work.

LO: My BWBW journey was incredibly intense. When I joined the program, I committed to an in-depth dive into the technology I had only read about in high-level articles on global business and its solutions. This required days and nights of learning, watching online tutorials and spending hours in Trailhead sandboxes. The program is packed with sessions, workshops and meetings, some of which I attended while driving or waiting for my children in front of the school. It felt like a constant marathon, but I earned my first certification faster than expected. I became a certified Salesforce Administrator less than two months after opening Trailhead for the first time. By the end of the fourth month of my reskilling journey, I was certified three times: Salesforce Associate, Salesforce Administrator and Salesforce Platform App Builder. I recently added Salesforce Business Analyst certification to this list.

As well as acquiring these hard skills, I also learnt a great deal about myself. I discovered my ability to quickly adapt and master new skills and I proved that hard work, dedication and perseverance remain my core strengths capable of driving me wherever I want to go.?

The program also highlighted my ability to connect with and learn from diverse individuals. I became part of a unique, supportive international community of women in tech who became my companions and friends and I also expanded my professional network across the Salesforce community.?

As a result of the program, I had the opportunity to speak on a panel at my first Salesforce World Tour Essentials in Warsaw as a newcomer to the ecosystem. I also had the unique experience of participating in “CharITy Hackathon”, an initiative of the Trailblazer Community in Wroc?aw, Poland, where we set up a nonprofit Salesforce solution for the Polish animal protection charity, EKOSTRA?. A subject which is, of course, close to my heart. All these experiences restored my confidence, helping me to overcome shyness and the challenges associated with a career break. It proved that I could achieve anything I set my mind to and more. I now enjoy giving back by inspiring and supporting others on their reskilling journeys.

BW: Lena, our participants benefit from one on one mentoring and coaching as part of the program. How was your experience of mentoring?

I landed my first Salesforce role with OLX after six months in the program, so I missed most of the coaching sessions scheduled in the second part of the year. However, I was fortunate to be paired with a great mentor who was pivotal in my reskilling journey.

Ma?gorzata Bocian was the perfect combination of coach and mentor. She helped me understand the technology business and challenged me with the tasks I would encounter in a consultancy role. Her feedback, advice and patience in listening to my dilemmas were invaluable during those critical first months. Ma?gorzata continues to mentor me in my current professional role and I could not be luckier in having her support.

BWBW: Lena, you now work for Accenture as a Business Architecture Analyst. Can you tell us more about your role?

LO: I now work for Accenture Poland , a BWBW hiring partner, marking my first entry into the consultancy world. My project is related to Salesforce and all my colleagues are Salesforce certified.

As a Senior Business Architecture Analyst & Loyalty Consultant, I drive our clients' deployment and adoption of a Learning Management System (LMS) and loyalty solutions. My responsibilities span strategic, analytical and creative tasks. I ensure the meticulous planning, execution and optimization of each project's deployment phase. I am leveraging my growing expertise in business architecture and loyalty consulting to deliver solutions that enhance client satisfaction and loyalty program success.

I enjoy the dynamic nature of my role, which allows me to engage in a variety of tasks from strategic planning to system deep dives and creative problem solving. This role gives the opportunity to implement solutions that significantly impact client satisfaction and business outcomes. On top of that, the everyday business environment at Accenture offers me the opportunity to collaborate with talented professionals, learning from their experience and expertise which is of course crucial to me as I have recently entered this field.

From the very beginning, beyond the initial scope of my role, I was challenged to run technical training sessions to onboard client markets before deployment. I have recently been offered the opportunity to join Accenture’s team of Salesforce trainers, running internal training to help other employees obtain Salesforce Business Analyst Certification. So far, I constantly feel like I am learning, growing and thriving in my professional experience with Accenture.?

BWBW: Lena, you have achieved great success with the BWBW program. Do you have any final words of wisdom for our participants or for those thinking about reskilling and returning to work after a break?

LO: For every woman who wants to reskill, I wish them the courage to take that first step and the perseverance to see it through. This is crucial for embarking on a reskilling journey. Embrace all the challenges confidently, knowing every obstacle is an opportunity to grow. Be reassured that you are not alone on this journey. Surround yourself with a supportive community and don’t be afraid to ask for help. We have all walked the same path. Believe in your potential and always celebrate your progress. We all have the power to become the best version of ourselves.

Remember, you are not just capable, but also destined for amazing things. Your efforts will transform your career and inspire and uplift those around you. Go for it with confidence!?

Congratulations, Lena, on your incredible success with the Bring Women Back to Work program. Your achievements are a testament to your hard work, dedication and perseverance. You are a true inspiration to our community and we wish you continued success in your role with Accenture.

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