Introducing Vic Gawlik, Copywriter at Wise
What is your role and current job?
I’m a Copywriter at Wise (formerly Transferwise)
How did you get into tech?
I fell into tech as a very happy accident as a fresh English lit grad. At school I’d enjoyed all subjects — sciences and humanities — but was always told going into STEM meant I’d have to be able to build bridges or work in a lab, which didn’t appeal to me. The first job I got out of uni was as a marketer at a Fintech that did small business lending. I had a basic understanding of how the business worked, but had no idea about the tech that fuelled the product. My world quickly changed (really!). I learned about UX, UI, user-first design, research, viral loops, nudge theory — all that good stuff. I can’t imagine working in any other industry now.
What have the biggest challenges been as a woman or non-binary person in tech?
I’m a woman in a creative role in tech, so sometimes it feels like I’m doubly looked down on. Some people assume that non-engineering or product roles in tech are easier or less important, when in reality all these roles are necessary for the business to succeed. Tech also has the reputation for being full of brash, bullish people. It’s not full of these people, but I’ve learned to be more confident in how I present ideas and defend myself. There’s no reason why your idea can’t be the strongest in the room.
Have you overcome any of these issues? If so, how?
I’ve learned to ground as much of my work in customer insights as possible. You can’t rely on hunches or assumptions, or saying “I just think so”. (No one should, but men don’t seem to get questioned as much when they say that…). People really listen when you have the data or insights to back up your choices and plans — you need to make sure you’re creating products for real people, and then framing the product with the problem it solves in mind.
What advice would you give others in a similar position?
Tech is a fantastic space to be a creative in. You don’t have to be ashamed that you’re not the one manipulating the data or writing the code. Loving words is just fine. The problems we’re solving are very real — you can tell some powerful stories. I’m lucky to work for a large international company, where my ideas are seen by hundreds of thousands of people every day. It gives us the space to test new concepts, new ways of framing things, with deep insights into who our customers are. Just because you’re not working on lifestyle brands doesn’t mean the things we’re building don’t deeply impact the way people live their lives. Give it a shot.
Are there any resources you recommend sharing?
Anything from the Nielson Norman Group. They’re at the heart of human-first design, and everything I know about inclusive, accessible design comes from them.
When did you first hear about Triangirls?
Through a good friend who also works in the tech space. Keeping close to the people you meet is so important — you make connections that last over many jobs.
What have you learnt about yourself in the past year?
I’ve learned to be more honest — with my team and with myself. Obviously the pandemic has impacted people in different ways, and sometimes there are just times where your brain feels like slush and you’re not working at 100%. That’s okay. Before I’d power through, and not admit if I was overwhelmed. But it’s fine to just breathe, take a step back and get some perspective.
You can connect with Vic on LinkedIn here.
