An inspiring journey in Tech
Meet Nadezhda, a software developer at Van Lanschot Kempen, whose passion for technology led her to pursue a career in software development. She started as an intern in 2023, became a junior developer a few months later, and in 2025 was promoted to a senior developer. In this article, Nadezhda shares her evolving perspective on tech, the lessons learned as she has grown into her role, and the value she’s found in Van Lanschot Kempen’s supportive, growth-focused culture.
What sparked your interest in tech, and how did you decide to pursue it as a career?
I was always fascinated by the potential of technologies and how they simplify people's lives. Seeing the growing influence and impact of technology only intensified my desire to pursue a career in the tech industry. The wide range of career opportunities available in tech also attracted me, as I wanted to contribute to ongoing advancements and be part of creating solutions that have a positive impact on society.
What do you love about your role and working at Van Lanschot Kempen? How has your perspective changed since you joined?
I love that my job challenges me to problem-solve and stay updated with new technologies daily. When I started out as a junior, I saw code as just code – programming seemed the same everywhere. But as I’ve gained more experience, I’ve come to appreciate how important domain knowledge and a genuine interest in the specific product area truly are. Understanding the users and the business context is essential to building solutions that are not just technically sound, but also meaningful and scalable.
How has your role and responsibilities evolved since you joined Van Lanschot Kempen? What new tasks or challenges have you taken on?
With experience comes greater confidence to make decisions about the products, and I’m now more involved in shaping both the functional direction and the technical architecture. My role has evolved from primarily executing tasks to also challenging and improving our current ways of working. I am more comfortable now putting forward new ideas, suggesting optimizations, and leading discussions that focus on quality rather than just quantity of code. This increased ownership not only makes the job more fun, but also more impactful.
What do you look for in a potential colleague, and what experience of interviewing future colleagues has taught you?
The skills I look for in candidates have changed as technology has evolved, especially with the rise of AI. Deeply memorized language syntax is no longer the key differentiator. Now I focus on how candidates approach problem-solving and structure their thinking. In our team, analytical ability and clear reasoning are valued highly and often trump pure technical skills. Of course, relevant experience matters as it can show one’s level of engagement and learning pace in previous roles. The great thing at Van Lanschot Kempen is that there are plenty of opportunities and support for people to keep developing, both technically and professionally.
What recent projects or achievements are you proud of, and what impact did they have on your development?
I’m particularly proud of the projects I’ve worked on with my current team, Client Center. We invest a lot of effort in deep analysis to ensure we truly meet user expectations. One aspect I’ve come to appreciate is the challenge of resolving bugs. I’ve realized that the maturity and quality of an application isn’t just reflected in new features, but in its robustness and reliability. Working on bugs provides insight into the real user experience and lets us test whether our initial assumptions were right. It’s also a great opportunity to learn and adapt our development approach for future features, making the application stronger and more user-friendly over time.
Looking back over the past years, in what areas do you feel you’ve grown the most, professionally or personally?Professionally, I’ve gained more confidence in making technical and product-related decisions and in explaining complex ideas to both technical and non-technical colleagues. Personally, I’ve become more proactive in seeking out learning opportunities and more comfortable with uncertainty, trusting in my ability to adapt and learn as I go.
What advice would you give to junior developers who want to progress to a senior role in tech?
Be curious about the business side of your work, learn as much as you can about the products you’re building and the people who use them. Focus on communication and problem-solving skills alongside your technical abilities. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, suggest improvements, and seek feedback. Most importantly, remember that learning doesn’t stop when you’re no longer a junior - keep challenging yourself and embrace change.
