Karolina Kocalevski
Head of Marketing
2 Years at Orion
“The biggest piece of advice I’d give to women in technology roles, and in any role, is to be visible. Get out of the shadows. To be heard, you need to speak, and to be noticed, you need to proudly share your accomplishments. Do not leave any meeting without speaking up and adding value. If speaking up is not your comfort zone, then dig deep and push yourself, until it becomes second nature – because it will get easier.”
What do you love most about working at Orion?
The thing I love most about Orion is the camaraderie and respect shown to fellow colleagues. We work hard and play hard – and it really does feel like one team, one family. We have a lot of fun.
What advice would you give to other women in technology roles?
The biggest piece of advice I’d give women in technology roles, and in any role, is to be visible. Get out of the shadows. To be heard, you need to speak, and to be noticed, you need to proudly share your accomplishments. Do not leave any meeting without speaking up and adding value. If speaking up is not your comfort zone, then dig deep and push yourself, until it becomes second nature – because it will get easier.
What is the secret to your success?
I’ve made some big bets in life and in work, even when the risks were frightening. When it comes to marketing, the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward – just make sure to follow through with meticulous planning and execution. It always works out.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve overcome?
The biggest challenge I’ve overcome is the fear of being in the spotlight. I have learned that every skill is learnable. I’ve had to push myself to embrace speaking opportunities – and I’m now enjoying them a lot more.
Who are some of your female role models or women you look up to?
My mom (mum) has always been my hero. She (and my dad) had a strong moral compass and instilled that in their children. My mum constantly shared stories of lessons learned. She showed her three daughters and son what an equal partnership in a 57 year marriage looked like. As an immigrant from Macedonia, education was the top priority. She pined for her own higher education and supported us every way she could so we could excel in our studies. She personally took me to my first job interview, navigating subways and a big city. She always believed in me and was ambitious for me to reach my potential, despite having no experience in the corporate world, and regardless of the distance it would put between us. I’m forever grateful to my parents for their help and sacrifices.
Meet more of our Women in Tech here.