Women in Drupal 2024: Exclusive Interview with Award Winner Alla Petrovska from Our Team

It’s a great blessing to work alongside outstanding women and an enormous joy to see their efforts and contributions recognized. We had this opportunity at DrupalCon Barcelona 2024, where our HR & Operations Manager Alla Petrovska stepped onto the stage to receive the prestigious Women in Drupal award in the “Scale” category.

This award highlights Alla’s remarkable impact, both within our team and the broader Drupal community, where she’s shown exceptional leadership and dedication. As we celebrate her achievement, we’re reminded of women's vital role in shaping Drupal’s future. 

It’s inspiring to see the community’s continued strides in recognizing and empowering women in tech. Within our team, too, we are proud to support and uplift our talented women. Recently, another exceptional ImageXer, Carol, who you may remember from our post-DrupalCon Pittsburgh interview, was nominated for the Women in Tech Global Awards 2024 in the “Software Engineering Leader of the Year Award” category.We’re also excited to share that our company has been listed as a finalist in the “Best Remote Work Culture” category.

To further spotlight Alla’s achievements, we interviewed her, and it’s a must read.  We’ll discover Alla’s journey inclusive of the challenges and her inspirations, along with productivity tips, volunteering experiences, and we’ll even meet her adorable corgi, Belle.

Interview with Alla following her “Women in Drupal” award win

Nadine: First of all, congrats on your well-deserved “Women in Drupal” award, Alla! What did you feel when you heard your name announced?

Alla: Thank you! When I was going to the stage after my name was announced, my watch notified me about the high blood pressure :D 

That was definitely a very exciting moment. I felt grateful to the jury members, the Drupal community, which I’ve been a part of for 10 years now and have had the luck to work on great projects like DrupalCamps and other offline and online Drupal meet-ups, and, of course, our ImageX team, who has always supported my contributions to the Drupal project. 

Nadine: What does receiving the “Women in Drupal” award mean to you personally and professionally?

Alla: I think of this award as the recognition of not just my work but also of the Ukrainian Drupal Community's efforts and commitment to the project as we have always been striving to unite more people around it. 

Nadine: Who have been your biggest inspirations within the Drupal community, and why?

Alla: There are a lot of talented people in the community who inspire me. Still, I’m most inspired by our local community (and Anyforsoft and DevBranch teams are great examples here) — even in the darkest times they find motivation, resources, and desire to unite people around Drupal and share support and knowledge to keep scaling the community in Ukraine.

Nadine: What are you guided by in your day to day work life? 

Alla: Actually it is one of our company values — “Succeeding Together.” I deeply believe that collaboration and knowledge-sharing empower people to achieve remarkable results.  “Effective Communication” is another one — being a part of a global team with different cultures, languages, and time zones, it is crucial to communicate effectively and transparently. 

Nadine: One of the areas shared in your win was your approach to organization, including having helped create DrupalCamp Kyiv. Do you have any productivity secrets you can share?

Alla: Those secrets are not secret anymore :D 

Simple things like prioritizing tasks by time required vs importance, keeping my calendar up to date, and blocking ”focus” time in it as well as regular breaks. 

• Setting clear goals and converting them into a breakdown of tasks helps stay productive, be on track, and bring the results you are aiming for.  
• And last but not least, sticking to the regular daily routine — sometimes we forget it is actually a real privilege, which supports mental health and long-term productivity.  

Nadine: What inspires you to keep going at hard moments?

Alla: In all times, and in hard moments especially, my inner self is committed to contributing. Finding ways to bring positive change and value helps me to move forward and produce energy to spread to others. For almost three years now volunteering has been one of those ways.

Nadine: Something more personal, I’ve heard you're the proud owner of a cute corgi. How is Belle changing your life?

Alla: Belle is such a joy to be with. She became a part of that “daily routine” that I mentioned previously bringing her portion of joy and balance to my life, reminding me to enjoy the moment and embrace the unconditional love that dogs give us (NB: sometimes conditional on having received a tasty treat :D)

Nadine: As mentioned, you’re the co-organizer of DrupalCamp Kyiv — one of the biggest Drupal events in Europe, currently suspended because of the war. How did the idea of organizing it initially come about?

Alla: DrupalCamp Kyiv has been taking place for 7 years when the previous org team decided it’s time to have a change and started to look for people to transfer the project to. I was one of those few who accepted this new challenge and proceeded with extending the project to the next years. DrupalCamps Kyiv 2018 and 2019 were a blast!

Nadine: Can you tell us about your volunteering experience outside of the Drupal community?

Alla: I’ve been volunteering for the Ukrainian Armed Forces as well as helping people who lost or were forced to leave their homes as the territory was occupied. This has been one of the most meaningful experiences in my life so far. The war has impacted countless lives and it is our duty to help where we can. It also brings the feeling of unity, the strength of our community, and the power of collective action. 

Nadine: Can you share a memorable moment or experience from your journey in Drupal?

Alla: My Drupal journey has been great so far. I remember my first experience joining an IT company 10 years ago, where I was asked to install Drupal and PHP5. It was the first time I heard those words :D Drupal tutorials, Google, and good people around me helped me figure out the way, and the next day I had my first simple website set up!

I also remember those moments after organizing big community events like DrupalCamp in Kyiv in 2019. There were over 400 people from Ukraine, all over Europe, and even the US, two days of sessions, afterparty, and code sprint. Two long but unique days of knowledge sharing, contributions, and fun. It is so satisfying to see how all the half-year efforts of organizers and volunteers come together as pieces of a puzzle to one big beautiful picture. Looking forward to hosting DrupalCon Ukraine next time when Ukraine will be liberated!

Nadine: What advice would you give to other women who are considering entering or starting a career in Drupal or tech?

Alla: Go for it, lady! Find a supportive community, never be afraid to ask questions, and explore diverse roles as Drupal is not only about coding — you may choose to be a designer, a site builder, a copywriter… Find where you belong, and what is your fuel to move, and one day you’ll get your very own “Women in Drupal” award. 

What other team members say about Alla

Alla’s impact is widespread in the ImageX team, and feedback about Alla from other team members usually resembles Valentine Day’s cards in its warmth and positivity. We were inundated with raving reviews, but here are a few messages from the team:

“I can't find other words to describe Alla's contribution to the company except “amazing, perfect, engaging, motivating, and responsible.” Everyone just adores her! We all feel her care and attention to our needs. Also, I think that when Danish people were inventing the word “Hygge,” they were thinking about Alla. 

Alla is the heart and soul of the Ukrainian team, playing a central role in its success. She goes above and beyond to support the team outside Ukraine, assisting them with any challenges they face. She effectively represents the team at both Ukrainian and European events, enhancing its visibility and reputation. 

Alla demonstrates exceptional competence in handling various aspects of HR, finance, legal, and administration, ensuring smooth operations. The communication with all our vendors, partners, and consultants is at the highest level. She consistently participates in all company initiatives, demonstrating her commitment to the organization's goals. 

When it comes to tough decisions, Alla provides valuable insights and different perspectives, helping us make the right choices. Also, Alla keeps calm in all stressful situations and supports me in these situations when needed.

- Alexander Kolesnikov, Software Development Director

“Alla has been a cornerstone of the Ukrainian Drupal community since 2017, playing a pivotal role in organizing DrupalCamp Kyiv — the largest camp in Europe — and promoting local Drupal events, even amidst an ongoing invasion.

Throughout the war, Alla has provided unwavering support to both her team and community, organizing fundraisers to assist displaced colleagues, securing alternative housing for those affected by missile strikes, arranging relocations to safer regions, and ensuring continuous operations with backup power and satellite internet. She also set up online payment solutions and cash reserves for emergencies, coordinated DrupalCon Europe trips to inspire team members, and organized co-working events at their Kyiv office to foster morale.

Her team highlights her relentless positivity, meticulous attention to detail, and unparalleled time management, emphasizing her ability to tackle HR, finance, and technical challenges with expertise. Known for her reliability, warmth, and problem-solving skills, Alla’s capacity to balance multiple tasks with precision and care makes her an irreplaceable leader. Colleagues admire her availability and effectiveness, jokingly comparing her to a robot for how swiftly she resolves any issue, all while maintaining a friendly, optimistic demeanor that lifts everyone around her.”

- Glenn Hilton, Chief Executive Officer/ Founder

“Alla has exceptional qualities. She is very warm and friendly, cheerful and motivating, responsible and reliable. Alla is a person who motivates those around her to strive for excellence and achieve great results by leading by example.

There is no small task for Alla; she approaches every task with equal attention and responsibility. Alla proudly represents all the 5 core values of ImageX, which is fascinating and inspiring. This is just a brief list of Alla’s strengths; otherwise, it would have been a lo-o-o-ong message! :)”

- Iryna Voitsekhovska, Operations Manager

Final thoughts

We’d like to emphasize once again how proud we are that one of the most impactful Women in Drupal — and now it’s official — works with us at ImageX.  Let the words from Alla’s final reply “Go for it, lady!” be the driving force for all wonderful women in our community. Keep rocking Alla, and enjoy even more achievements in the future!