Employee Spotlight: Anna Romanowicz

In this ongoing blog series, we speak with WP Engine employees around the globe to learn more about their roles, what they love about the cities they work in, and what they like most about working at WP Engine. 

In this interview, we speak with Anna Romanowicz, a software engineer at our newest office in Kraków, Poland, which opened in May 2020.

Hi Anna, let’s start at the beginning. How did you discover WP Engine?

Hi! I used to work with Zygmunt Dyras, who is now the Director of Engineering at WP Engine Kraków. I have only good memories of working with him—he is a born leader. He invited me to a WP Engine Meetup in Kraków and that is how it started.

Can you tell us more about your current role? 

I’m a software engineer, and I’m working on an exciting new product that highlights the next generation of web development. More to come soon!

What is your favorite thing about working at WP Engine?

WP Engine cares about its employees—about their career development, evolvement, and overall comfort. If you want to develop your skills, WP Engine is nothing but supportive. Also, I was really surprised that every now and then we have an extra day off just to get some rest.

How would you describe the culture of the Kraków office?

When I met the guys from the WP Engine Kraków office, they made a very good impression on me, you could tell that they love their jobs. I immediately felt good among the people who work here, they are competent, fun, and I felt I could chat with them about anything, not just work-related topics. I would say we have a lot of great, strong personalities here.

How do you contribute to the success of WP Engine?

I just give my best in my daily work and constantly develop my skills. I believe this is the best contribution one can make.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

I have always believed that developing skills you are good at is the best approach in life. But skills that you’re not naturally gifted with are also often useful, and developing them is sometimes challenging for me.

What is a good lesson you’ve learned in your career?

I have learned not to overwhelm myself with work. I have learned to relax and that I only do best at work when I have a life outside of work.

What’s your favorite part of the workday?

Every time I merge a pull request with my code, I’m the achiever type so I like those moments.

What is one of the coolest projects you’ve worked on while at WP Engine?

Well, I’ve only worked on one so the answer is obvious, but there are currently two projects we’re working on in Kraków and the second project is also super cool!

Which one of WP Engine’s values speaks to you the most?

Design Matters—It matters a lot not only in business but in every aspect of life.

What are some of your favorite things about working and living in Kraków?

Kraków was the capital of Poland once and it’s one of the largest, oldest cities that was not destroyed in World War II. I just felt that I was in the right place when I moved here 12 years ago. Also, the Wawel Dragon once lived here!

But recently, due to the reality of Covid-19, I was looking for more peace and moved to the Bieszczady Mountains for a while. I currently live in a small village surrounded by nature.

What are some hobbies you enjoy outside of work?

I used to spend a lot of time training CrossFit. Now that I live away from CrossFit boxes, I spend more time reading. I just read Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning.” The author was a psychiatrist and neurologist, he was a prisoner of the Nazi concentration camps during World War II. He wrote a book in which he describes everyday life in a concentration camp from a psychological point of view. It’s very interesting. I would recommend this book to everyone.

Favorite TV show of all time?

The X-Files. I used to watch it when I was a girl and Dana Scully was my role model. She was brilliant, tough, skeptical, intense, beautiful, she had a dog, and was abducted by aliens 🙂

Current addiction?

Some time ago, I accidentally heard on the radio a piece of the audiobook Żmijowisko by Polish author Wojciech Chmielarz and I liked it very much.

It was at that time my addiction to the voice of actor Mariusz Bonaszewski (who was the narrator) started. I needed more so I listened to every book he recorded. I listened to many crime novels by Norwegian writer Jo Nesbo, Swedish writer Stefan Anhem, and many others. Now I’m in withdrawal, there are no more books with this actor’s narration. This is a difficult time for me.

What would you recommend others do if they’re interested in WP Engine Kraków or engineering in Europe?

Well, I don’t know what to recommend to those interested in Engineering in Europe, but I know what to recommend to those interested in WP Engine Kraków! You can see our openings on our careers site or you can write directly to our Talent Advisor Paulina Habuda on LinkedIn. 

Thank you, Anna!

Want to find out more about what it’s like to work at WP Engine? Visit our careers site to see the roles we currently have open and check out our blog for more information about all the great people who work here!