Charu Upadhyay: A journey from Network Engineer to Cloud Architect

Charu started her career in the IT industry in her native country India, starting off as a network support engineer.

She’s not the type to be content with the status quo and has moved on – both in roles, industries and countries.

- I think it’s important to be curious and seek opportunities. You should let people know that you’re eager to learn and develop your skills.

She started at Tietoevry’s Stockholm office in 2022 as a Cloud Consultant and now, two years later, she’s a Cloud Architect.

- The promotion wasn’t just handed to me, I reached out and asked for the opportunity. I’m not shy when it comes to expressing what I want, and I think my career has benefitted from that. It has taken many good turns.

A changing banking industry

Charu currently works with customers in the banking industry, where Tietoevry delivers several tech solutions.

- Banking is exciting because of the significance of the industry to society, and the rapid development within fintech. I have worked with customers in the banking industry for several years, and the changes in those years have been monumental. It’s fun to play a part in this development.

Another positive side is Tietoevry’s standing in the Nordic banking market.

- We are a dominant player, giving us opportunities to work with the biggest and most demanding customers. It’s positively challenging.

A varied day

Charu’s days are never the same, and given her eagerness to learn new things, it comes as no surprise that variety is something she cherishes.

- As a Cloud Architect I don’t only work with cloud technology, but also alongside business stakeholders and the customers. I must understand their requirements and how we can integrate them into cloud-based solutions.

The tech stack is also broad.

- One day I can work on trying to figure out solutions to a specific technology like Kubernetes, and the next day a solution related to compliance of cloud providers. It’s interesting and helps me grow and increase my understanding of both the technology and the domain.

Developing others

Charu is not only eager to develop her own skills, but also the skills of her colleagues. She is currently the core member of the Tietoevry Young Professionals Network, where employees across the company have regular meetups.

- There are several professional and social communities at the company, where we get to know each other, share experiences and discuss. We can invite speakers – both internal and external. We also have purely social gatherings, around Christmas and Halloween for example.

Charu’s responsibility as a core member of this network is to organize and host the sessions.

- I’m happy to contribute. I get to meet so many interesting people and extend my network across the company. It’s definitely worth the extra effort.

Good reasons to join

When asked on what basis she would recommend others to join Tietoevry, Charu has no shortage of arguments.

- Where do I start? One thing is that we have a culture where you can voice your opinion and speak freely. We have very open discussions, which I believe is great for the development of the company.

Another positive side is the Nordic culture.

- Employee well-being and work life balanced is a priority, and we’re given great flexibility. For many teams, it's okay if you want to practice your hobby in the daytime now and then and rather catch up on work in the evening, that’ perfectly fine. Not only are the managers cool with that; they actively support it. And I must mention all the opportunities that are yours for the taking. What’s not to love with a culture like that?