Welcome to our Meet the Team series, where we look at the lives of various Planit team members from across the company. We caught up with Andrea Okely, a consultant with our UK team since 2021, to find out about her skills and experience, what she loves about her team, and her interest in flying trapeze.

What is your career background?

After graduating with a Master of Science in Finance/Banking, I got my start in IT by working for the largest bank in the Slovak Republic, where I am from. Seven years ago, I decided to move on from the banking sector, joining IT teams across the pharma, retail, ecommerce, HR, and legal sectors.

What are your key areas of expertise?

I am a test manager with over 20 years of experience in testing, much of which was spent working with major banks in the Slovak Republic, Australia, and UK.

I draw upon my skills and experience in testing, test analysis, and test and defect management using different methodologies such as Agile, V-model, and Waterfall.

What do you love about your job?

I am results driven and a people person, so I enjoy the management side of my job. It allows me to build relationships with colleagues and teams, and then support them to deliver high quality products and services.

What makes you great at your job?

Testing requires you to take on the role of an investigator or puzzle solver, so it helps to have an inquisitive personality. It also requires constant learning about new technologies, systems, and tools used in the change delivery process.

What do you love about your team?

I currently work in a small change releases team, which is a fast-paced, lively, and flexible group that works quickly to deploy changes, upgrades, and fixes. We have a strong team spirit of supporting each other and being always ready to go the extra mile to deliver the desired results.

What do you love about working for Planit?

I like how Planit has a human-centred approach, and is genuinely interested, caring, and concerned about our growth, needs, and welfare. In all my communications, starting from my very first interview with the company, I was struck by how approachable and genuinely interested they were in me as a person and in my personal growth.

What tips would you give new starters?

When I first started with Planit there was already an interesting role waiting for me. I had to hit the ground running and learn fast to fulfill the needs of my role. To fast track my contribution to the team, I focused on self-study and sought support from the people around me. In addition to familiarising myself with the client’s projects and requirements, I relied on the people from my team who were happy to support me and answer any questions I had.

What have you been doing in your free time recently?

I run a dance group where I teach, rehearse, and perform traditional Slovak folk dances. I also have an interest in flying trapeze, which I pursue at the National Centre for Circus Arts in London.

I also love to go kite-surfing whenever travel opportunities and the weather allow it.

Interested in joining the Planit family? Visit our Careers page for a full listing of current opportunities across Australia, New Zealand, India, and the UK, and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram for the latest job updates.