March is Women’s history month. It is a time where we can reflect on all the powerful women who have and continue to advocate for equality and change. At Planview, we believe women in tech are the future and Geetika Gagneja is a part of Planview’s past, present, and future.
For this month’s blog spotlight, we are going to travel to Bangalore and follow Geetika to spend a day in the life of a Software Development Engineer Test manager. I have asked her a series of questions to get to know her on a personal level. As a result, we will gain insights on how her teams collaborate, the Planview culture, and career advice for those seeking employment in the Product Development (PD) automation field. Here is what Geetika had to say:
Explain your role as a Software Development Engineer Test Manager and a few of your responsibilities.
I manage the Automation team in Bangalore where I direct a team of 7 members. Our team is responsible for End-to-End automation of the Planview Portfolios application and Platform services. In addition to this, I am a python developer and like hands-on experience on Test-Ops work.
What type of meetings do you prepare for? Who do you typically collaborate with?
Most of my meetings are internal collaborations. For example, I have meetings with Product Development teams in Austin and Bangalore on a regular basis. These meetings are based on automation strategy for the Portfolios product.
Outside of the PD teams I have regular one-on-ones, community meetings and leadership meetings. Also, I am associated with Planview’s Employee Resource Group (focused on the Diversity & Inclusion initiatives for our international group) and with the Women@Planview Lean In Circles in EMEA/APAC.
Tell us about working from home – what are your tips for success?
To be honest, I like working from home because in the last 2 years I have created a space for my professional life at home. Therefore, I enjoy waking up early, before sunrise, and doing workouts before I get to work. By logging in early, I have a chance to finish my tasks and prepare for my afternoon and evening meetings.
Tell us about your career journey to date.
I have close to 16 years of experience in software industry, and 6+ years with Planview. When I first started at Planview, I joined as an Automation engineer and in few months, I was offered the role of Software Development Engineer Test Manager in Bangalore.
It has been a memorable journey so far with Planview and the credit goes to the people around me. i.e. my team, my subordinates, and peers. Planview offers one of the most collaborative cultures I have experienced.
How is Planview different from other companies you have worked for?
To be honest, I haven’t worked in many companies prior to joining Planview. Planview is my 2nd company! But that does not take away the positives I experience here. There is excellent communication between management and staff, and we do not have much hierarchy. Plus, the innovative environment allows us to figure things out and gives employees the freedom to learn and grow.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as you’ve moved up in your career?
Believe in yourself and do not compare yourself to others.
How do you manage your work/life balance?
A tough question! Yes, it becomes difficult to manage the balance between personal and professional life, especially the days when I have late evening calls. As a result, on days where I have late nights, I take a deliberate break during the day. Slowly but surely, I am getting better in this.
As a Software Development Engineer Test Manager, how do you make time for your team?
Working from home has forced many managers around the world to adjust and learn new ways to collaborate with teams. When we were working in the office I would walk to a colleague’s desk for a quick talk. With the changing times, I have made sure that I am available for my team members when they need to talk. During these virtual meetings we meet on a regular basis, and I get to know everyone more on a personal front.
What makes your team so effective?
Above all, trust and transparency are the keys to having a good relationship within the team! Also, curating the environment of having mutual respect and patience makes the team successful.
Are there any current job openings on your team?
We do have openings on my team! Above all, we believe in hiring talent people who love to explore and have the urge to create good tools which help in optimizing the testing efforts of Planview applications. If you are in the Bangalore area you can apply on the Planview career page.
What advice do you give to anyone wanting to work in the PD automation field?
I have learned that if you want to grow in any field, including development or testing, there is no shortcut. Moreover, you cannot get far with shallow knowledge, and you must go in depth to understand what you are doing.
I am a firm believer that you need to love what you do or do what you love.
Best career advice you have received?
One of my mentors has advised me “Fear of failure is good.” This keeps me pushing myself, training hard, and being prepared for a contingency plan.
From your perspective, why is Planview a great place to work?
Planview, as a company, is growing. As an agile organization, our strategy is planned in the form of OKR’s, deliverables, detailed PI (Program Increment) sessions, and in other areas as well.
What I love about Planview is every individual can explore and produce an initiative to bring a change in the process or in the work they do.
For fun, how do you unwind when you are off the clock?
Firstly, I am a morning person, so that gives me enough of the day for “me time.” I practice Yoga and meditation daily and I occasionally go for long runs. To end my day, I like reading inspirational books. Apart from that, I love hiking and trekking. I am hoping to go trekking in the Himalayas sometime soon!
Become a Part of Planview
Thank you Geetika for sharing your life as a Software Development Engineer Test Manager and your advice for anyone interested in working in the Software Automation field at Planview. If you are interested in working on Geetika’s team, you can apply online.
Are you currently on the job hunt but are not a software engineer? Planview is seeking talented applicants across all departments. You can submit your application to the Planview careers page anytime.
