One of Valtech’s recent new talents is system developer Gunilla Ericsson. Her objective is to become really good at developing in .net and strengthen her competence within project management.
How did you end up at Valtech?
I was working as a consultant at another IT consultancy firm when a manager from a previous position, who had joined Valtech, asked me if I felt like doing the same.
Why did you accept the offer?
Valtech has a very good reputation among clients and among us who are working in this branch of trade. The consultants are considered to be very competent and professional. I also had heard that Valtech had a pleasant working environment and a good staff policy. The company has been voted as the best workplace for women *, which of course attracted me.
Do the staff policies live up to your expectations?
Definitely! In my previous positions as consultant I have often felt like just a cog in the machinery. No one has been interested of how I feel, the only thing that counts are debited hours. Here at Valtech there is a totally different atmosphere! I feel like the company cares for me as a person. Furthermore we also do a lot of fun things together.
What kind of fun things do you do?
Yesterday the whole Microsoft group had dinner together. Two weeks ago the entire office went to Malta for a conference. We also have Monday breakfast, Wednesday coffee break and Friday candy.
Can you tell me about your first day at Valtech!
We were two consultants beginning at the same day. Together with a group of consultants who had started the week before, we had an introduction course the first day. Everything was very good and structured. People from different company functions held presentations for us, to give an insight in how Valtech is runned. Everything was well-prepared. The computer and the telephone were installed, there was even a flower standing on the desk.
What are you working on now?
At the moment I’m working at five projects. Three of the projects are about maintaining the editing tool EpiServer at existing web places. These three projects are rather small, so I can manage them myself. The other two projects are feasibility studies – one is for a public authority and the other one is for a logistics company. For the feasibility studies we are two consultants, me and a senior consultant.
When is your job most inspiring?
– When I’m deep into a technical problem. I know that I will solve the problem, but not how. When I finally solve the problem I’m filled with an incredible feeling. This feeling and making a customer happy is very hard to beat.
What is your objective now when you are working at Valtech?
To become really good at .net development! I also would like to improve my project management skills.
*In 2002 Valtech Sweden was voted best workplace for women. The competition was arranged by the confederation of Swedish enterprises and the magazines Entreprenör and Amelia. The award was based on among other things that Valtech managers are ending their days at reasonable times and therefore can pick up their children from kindergarten.
Name: Gunilla Ericsson
Position: System developer within the Microsoft group
Year of birth: 1971
Employed since: 2005
Education: Computer Engineer, KTH, Graduated 2000