Happy International Women’s Day (coming up on March 8th!) and welcome to our Women’s History Month special edition! Today, we’re shining a spotlight on a few phenomenal women at Camunda who are redefining success in their fields. It’s an honor to celebrate, acknowledge, and uplift these incredible women—along with countless others making an impact at Camunda and around the world.
Andrea Davis, Director, DemandGen—USA
Tell us about your background: What experiences have shaped your career and led you to where you are today?
I began my marketing career in PR and media before transitioning into a B2C marketing role. When an opportunity arose to join a B2B tech company, I was initially hesitant—unsure about navigating a complex product and selling to IT professionals. However, I took the leap and am so grateful I did. It opened the door to invaluable experiences and relationships that eventually led me to Camunda. Along the way, I’ve deepened my expertise in demand generation, honed my analytical skills, explored new marketing technologies, and embraced new challenges.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
If you’re 80% there, don’t wait for the remaining 20%.
People come and go. Align yourself with a mission and values.
It’s ok to not have all the answers. It’s ok to start over.
I’ve also been fortunate to work with managers, peers, and direct reports who not only give advice but who demonstrate positive examples to follow through their actions and attitudes.
If you could go back and give advice to your younger self, what would you say?
Growth comes from discomfort. Challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone more often.
Sania Samad, Senior Manager, RevOps—UK
Tell us about your background: What experiences have shaped your career and led you to where you are today?
I started off my career as an apprentice at 18 years old in one of the largest companies in the world, Microsoft. Although I was wildly out of my depth, I quickly learnt that every uncomfortable situation is a learning opportunity that will help me improve if I put the effort in to recognize the potential for growth. From there I tried out a couple different roles and finally found my niche in Revenue Operations. I then spent 8+ years honing my skills and learning as much as possible about the function, getting specialized knowledge in Sales Ops, SDR Ops, Partner Ops and Strategy & Planning. I’m now lucky enough to be leading a high performing RevOps team at Camunda, the impact they make to the business every single day is amazing to see and be a part of.
Have you ever broken a stereotype or expectation in your career?
I am a BAME female Gen-Z Manager in Tech so I have had my fair share of stereotyping applied to me throughout my career. Every stereotype that got thrown my way was a barrier that needed to be broken, to prove to myself and others that we can achieve whatever we want to, if we want it enough. I’ve had some incredible mentors and support networks that I talk about my barriers with, hearing different views on how to tackle them has helped shaped me into who I am today.
What’s one meaningful way you advocate for gender equity at work?
I personally have been part of ‘Women in Tech’ groups before which helps women feel more confident about being in Tech and breaking down any negative misconceptions about being in this environment. Being part of multiple minorities myself, I always aim to provide and promote an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of gender, feels heard and supported.
Jennifer Kenyon, Chief Of Staff—UK
Tell us about your background: What experiences have shaped your career and led you to where you are today?
My career journey has been shaped by two key forces. First, a series of deliberate pivots across diverse business functions—sales, product and engineering, and strategy and ops—which has provided me with a holistic understanding of how core functions operate. These experiences, each building upon the last, are essential to my ability to navigate my current role.
Second, and perhaps even more importantly: these transitions, often undertaken with limited initial subject-matter depth, were only possible because of the sponsorship and calculated risks taken by leaders who believed in my potential and invested in me. The invaluable support of mentors and sponsors has been the true catalyst for my growth and the foundation of my career.
What’s something surprising about your job that people wouldn’t expect?
What surprises people most about being a Chief of Staff is the inherent vulnerability woven into the fabric of the role. It demands a delicate dance between profound empathy and necessary detachment—a challenging dichotomy that comes with the responsibility of orchestrating the intricate threads of an organization’s success.
In conjunction with that, the constant shift from high-level strategy to the tactical realities of execution inevitably creates a sense of perpetual imbalance. Learning to navigate that and to be comfortable with the fact that there’s always a different equation for where your focus could be, requires a continuous cycle of reflection, adaptation, and vulnerability that I think many wouldn’t anticipate.
What’s a misconception about supporting women in tech that you’d like to correct?
I often see “women in tech” or “gender diversity” treated as a siloed initiative—limited to hiring metrics or KPI reviews. But diversity is a strategic imperative for building stronger, more innovative businesses.
It should be embedded in how we operate. When key decisions are made, every leader should ask themselves: Whose voice is missing? Whether from a gender perspective, background, or otherwise. Diverse teams, reflective of the customers we serve, unlock untapped talent and perspectives, leading to better outcomes across the board.
From my own experience, I’ve seen how bringing multiple voices to the table fuels richer debates, more nuanced strategies, and ultimately greater success.
Marija Prolic, Interim Senior Manager, People Operations—Germany
Tell us about your background: What experiences have shaped your career and led you to where you are today?
I’m originally from Croatia and currently living in Berlin. After graduating from the Faculty of Economics and Business in Croatia, I started my career in People Teams, spending most of my journey in Talent Acquisition before pivoting in early 2024.
Talent Acquisition is often underrated (in my opinion), yet when structured well, it drives organizational success and individual growth. Working across departments gave me insight into business operations and helped shape my next steps. Collaborating with global teams and candidates also strengthened my stakeholder management skills—an invaluable asset in any role.
What’s one bold career move you made that changed everything?
Moving to Berlin from Croatia was a defining experience for me. From realizing it was what I wanted to making it happen in just a few weeks, everything moved fast!
Anyone who has made a similar leap knows it’s not an easy decision, but it’s incredibly rewarding. The growth—both personal and professional—is undeniable. At the end of the day, we don’t live two separate lives; growth in one area naturally reflects in all aspects of life.
What’s one thing you wish more women knew about working in tech?
A possibly controversial take: women already know enough about working in tech. Now, let’s focus on expanding that awareness to others. 🙂
One of the best career advice I received was: “At first, you’ll need to do more than your colleagues. But at some point, you’ll have proven yourself—then, it’s time to set boundaries.” This helped me navigate unconscious biases (acknowledging that all of us are not starting from the same point), but we do have control over our own path (set those boundaries).
The industry has made progress since I started, but there’s still work to be done. Creating an inclusive workspace is everyone’s responsibility—whether through allyship, leading by example, or simply pushing back on outdated norms. So if you’re constantly asked to “take the meeting notes,” stand up for yourself and say “no.”
Hüsna Uygur, Software Engineer—Germany
Tell us about your background: What experiences have shaped your career and led you to where you are today?
I started my career as a backend engineer but always had a strong curiosity for frontend development. That curiosity led me to explore React and TypeScript, and I quickly found that working with these technologies was both exciting and intuitive for me.
This experience ultimately opened the door to an opportunity at Camunda, a leader in process automation and orchestration—a role I was incredibly proud to take on. At Camunda, I had the privilege of working alongside a talented team and experienced colleagues who played a pivotal role in shaping my growth.
Who has been a role model or mentor in your career, and what impact did they have on you?
Rather than a single mentor, I’ve learned from many colleagues throughout my career. Their guidance, insights, and ways of approaching problems have shaped how I work and grow as an engineer. Seeing how they tackle challenges with confidence and adaptability has shaped my own problem-solving approach, helping me stay resilient and open to new perspectives.
What’s one career challenge you’ve faced as a woman in tech, and how did you overcome it?
At times, I felt that finding a job was more challenging for me than for my male colleagues. Some companies seemed to favor male candidates, though it was never explicitly stated. The lack of clear feedback after interviews made it difficult to understand the real reasons for rejection. I overcame this by focusing on strengthening my skills, seeking out companies that value diversity, and staying persistent in my job search.
Christina Ausley, Technical Writer—USA
Tell us about your background: What experiences have shaped your career and led you to where you are today?
Looking back, perhaps it all began when I was elected “class editor” in the fifth grade for volunteering to help my classmates with their essays. My teacher even had a whiteboard section for “Christina edits.” I’ve always loved writing and helping others share their stories.
After earning degrees in journalism and psychology, I became a journalist, covering local businesses, restaurants, and travel. While living in Seattle—home to Microsoft, Amazon, and Google—I became fascinated by the world of technology. Seeking a new challenge, I took a full-stack course, and suddenly, terms like “SaaS” and “rubber ducking” made sense!
Blending my writing and tech skills, I transitioned into technical writing, working on various projects at Microsoft before discovering Camunda—where I’ve been for nearly five years!
What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to young women entering tech?
I spent years feeling like I’d never be good enough or smart enough for what I do now—despite the incredible women in my life who believed in me and pushed me forward. Their encouragement gave me momentum, but true confidence only came when I decided to believe in myself. That’s when I could run the race myself for days, months, and years in this career.
Recognize your strengths, because coding isn’t the only skill that makes an amazing woman in tech. Lift others up, but above all, believe in yourself. And don’t be afraid to be confident—even if you have no idea what you’re doing. Truth is, we’re all winging it.
What’s a small but impactful way to support women in the workplace?
Recognize one another’ s great work and be loud about it—life is too short to be spent in the shadows. We are truly amazing human beings and the sooner we realize this and vocalize this for each other the better.
Start the discussion at forum.camunda.io