Tell us about your background
I'm nearly 30 (who's counting, right?), originally from Moscow, Russia, and made Aliyah to Israel 8 years ago, where I met my husband. We're proud parents to our wonderful daughter - Michaella.
My educational journey includes graduating from the Moscow School of Arts and earning a bachelor's degree in Marketing. Thinking about combining my skills from these two very different paths has led me to a long journey of becoming a product designer. I gained experience in complex cloud security systems and advanced my knowledge through UX design studies at The Technion, in Tel Aviv.
Why did you choose to work at Sentra, and when did you join?
I joined Sentra in May 2022. I wasn’t looking for a career change, but after being introduced to Sentra’s team, I immediately fell in love with the people and the culture of the company. During the hiring process, I found out that I was pregnant and prepared myself mentally that this wasn't the right time or opportunity. When I received an official offer, I was happy and nervous at the same time, I even refused at first.
However, when I shared the news about my pregnancy, Sentra’s team simply said, "Congratulations, great news, when can you start?" and assured me that it wouldn't change the offer. Since then, Sentra has been like a family to me, offering support and belief in my abilities for over two years. Every day reaffirms that joining this team was the best decision for me.
What is your role and what are your responsibilities?
As a senior product designer, I oversee the entire user experience design process, focusing on complex use cases and evolving user needs.
I collaborate closely with diverse teams - product managers, engineers, and other team members to ensure our product stands out in the market by prioritizing users at every stage. My responsibilities include conducting comprehensive user research to uncover insights into user needs, behaviors, and preferences. Throughout the entire UX process, I advocate for the importance of UX, ensuring that design decisions are guided by user-centric principles to deliver exceptional user experiences.
What advice do you have for people getting started in your field?
Never stop reading and researching. Don’t just use products — take notes. Think big, then scale back. Ask questions early and often. Look at every opportunity as a chance to learn and grow. Networking, design communities, and meetups are very important and keep you informed about industry trends, as they are constantly evolving. In addition, developing soft skills is also essential - good communication, empathy, and collaboration skills are crucial for designers, as part of the job is often to work with cross-functional teams and to convey ideas effectively.
What’s the best thing about working at Sentra?
People, it's all about the people! Sentra’s employees have a combination of being very professional, talented, and highly intelligent, leaving the “ego” outside of the office and working together for the same goal.
Can you tell me something surprising you discovered while working at Sentra?
I was surprised by the wide range of hobbies that Sentra employees pursue. It's fascinating to see how each person brings their unique interests and passions into the workplace.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I can't decide on a particular location, but likely it would be somewhere in Europe. The continent is deep in history, diverse cultures, and close access to various countries and traditions are highly attractive to me.
What's on your professional 'bucket list' that you'd like to accomplish in the next 5-10 years?
I want to continue learning and improving my skills to stay updated with industry trends and be capable of leveraging the latest methodologies and technologies to drive impactful design solutions. In addition, at some point in my career, I would like to mentor junior designers, and guide and support them as they start their careers.
