Always Evolving: Interview with First-Time DrupalCamp Speaker, Mariia
Drupal conferences are always rich with technical insights for building exceptional digital experiences. But there's another side — the non-technical topics that are just as essential. These themes resonate deeply with anyone working in tech (and beyond), because without them, even the best technical skills aren't enough to build truly great websites. Just as importantly, they help us navigate life’s complexities, stay resilient, and maintain a sense of balance.
This was the heart of the session presented by our Senior Researcher, Mariia Voloshyna. As a first-time speaker at Drupal Camp Poland 2025, she shared her insights on preventing burnout at work. We’re pretty sure her audience walked away not only informed, but also recharged, ready to boost their productivity and pursue results with a sense of joy.
In this interview, Mariia reflects on the key themes from her talk and shares what it was like to speak at a Drupal event for the first time. Who knows — it might just be the nudge you’ve been waiting for to take the stage yourself.
Our team’s journey is full of moments to be proud of: delivering client success, reuniting in person, and celebrating personal milestones. Mariia’s session is one of those standout moments, perfectly reflecting one of the ImageXour core values: “Always Evolving.” It takes courage to grow beyond your comfort zone — and then comes that unforgettable moment when you step into the spotlight.
Now, let’s turn it over to Mariia and hear more of her inspiring story.
Congrats, Mariia, on this exciting milestone — from attending Drupal events to taking the stage as a speaker! How did it feel to present for the first time?
This was my first time presenting in Poland, in English, and on the topic of wellness, so it was entirely outside of my comfort zone, yet deeply connected to a subject I am truly interested in. That helped me stay consistent and committed throughout the preparation process.
I want to extend a sincere thank you to the ImageX team for their support at every stage, and to DrupalCamp Poland for the invitation.
Were there any secrets that helped you stay confident during your session?
I kept my end goal in mind: to share global research and practical insights on how we can actively improve our well-being. If at least one person in the audience walked away with the thought that they could make their life 10% more fulfilling, then I believe my goal was accomplished.
How did the audience respond to your session? Did anything in their feedback surprise or inspire you?
I noticed some people in the audience taking notes — and that was truly inspiring for me. I hope it meant the information was engaging, new to them, and interesting.
Was there anything unexpected that you learned about yourself through the process of preparing and delivering your session?
I’ve learned quite a few things. First — how much easier and better things go when you have support. Thanks to the support from my company and my manager, I was able to make the session more structured and interesting. And I also realized how important it is to be open to accepting help.
Second — that a lot becomes possible when you set a clear goal and move toward it step by step. I wanted to share a session with the Drupal community, and that happened simply because I set it as a goal and followed through.
So overall, I learned that support and small, clear steps really do make a difference.
Your session focused on a critical topic — preventing burnout. How did your own research, courses, and workshops shape the insights you shared?
I began exploring this topic several years ago, as I am a highly sensitive person. According to research by psychologist Elaine Aron, approximately 15–20% of the global population is considered highly sensitive. These individuals tend to be deeply empathetic, often internalizing others’ problems as their own. They are attentive listeners and tend to process both positive and negative experiences with great depth. Because of this, I had to learn how to stay resilient — initially just to get through university exams, and later, to adapt to the constant changes of life and the world around me. These tools helped me perform well academically, restore my energy, and continue working toward my goals even during uncertain times.
After years of studying behavioral psychology and ontopsychology, I eventually discovered positive psychology. Founded by Martin Seligman, former president of the American Psychological Association, this field offers tools that not only help people cope with loss, adversity, and depression, but also foster a sense of purpose, personal growth, and results achieved with a sense of joy.
Through this journey, I found effective strategies to prevent burnout and to live with a deeper sense of gratitude and awe.
How does your interest in psychology support your work as a Senior Researcher?
What’s most visible is that in research, we often use psychological tools — including quantitative, qualitative, and applied methods — along with the ability to uncover insights that usually tend to hide.
What’s less visible, but equally important, is how this helps with communication, understanding end goals more clearly, and supporting others along the way.
If you could sum up your experience at DrupalCamp Poland in just three words, what would they be — and why?
Support — I received huge support from both my team and the Drupal community. That made a real difference and helped me stay confident throughout the process.
Exploring — Stepping into something completely new allowed me to explore different areas of the industry and see things from a broader perspective.
Tension — Of course, there was discomfort. Presenting to an audience on a topic that isn’t widely discussed — and sharing personal insights — felt like a major life exam. From the outside, it might look easy, but in reality, it takes a lot of courage.
What advice would you give to someone who’s considering speaking at an event for the first time but feels unsure or intimidated?
As our VP of Human Resources, Celeste told me: Be brave.
Do things even if you’re not 100% ready. All perfect things are unreal — and all real things are imperfect.
That doesn’t mean doing things carelessly or leaving them unfinished. It means doing your best work, asking for feedback from people you trust, doing your research, giving it your full effort before the deadline — and then letting it go.
How many things in life do we hold back on, simply because they’re not “perfect enough”?
At Imagex, our team lives by values such as “Always Evolving,” “Succeeding Together,” “Authentic Optimism,” “Quality Obsessed,” and “Effective Communication.” How do these principles support your work — and help prevent burnout?
I’d put it this way — the people around you influence you more than you might expect. When I first joined the team, I shared only two of the company’s values. Now, almost six years later, I find myself naturally living by all of them — not because I was told to, but because they’ve become part of how I think and act.
A twin study by Lykken & Tellegen suggests that well-being is shaped by:
- 50% genetics (our baseline mood),
- 10% life circumstances and the people around us,
- 40% daily thoughts and actions.
Imagine the impact of that 10% — when you spend years in a certain work environment. It adds up in ways we often don’t even realize.
You clearly embodied “Always Evolving” by stepping into the spotlight and sharing your knowledge. What’s next — maybe taking this topic to DrupalCon? Finally, if someone is passionate about both tech and personal growth like you are — why should they consider joining our team?
At ImageX, we have an education fund that supports all kinds of learning — whether it’s related to your role or simply something you’re passionate about. There’s also strong support from the company, along with regular sessions on mental well-being, inclusion, and equality. We host internal talks as well as open sessions — many of which you can find on our LinkedIn page.
So come join us — and explore what’s possible :)
