The idea of leaving everything you know behind and starting fresh in a totally new country can be a daunting one.Leandro Quibem Magnabosco recently took the leap – upping sticks from Amsterdam to Vilnius to take on an exciting career challenge as our Group Security Lead at Vinted.From finding your feet in a new workplace to settling into everyday life in a new culture, moving abroad for work can come with its fair share of challenges. That’s why we have a dedicated relocation programme to make the transition as smooth as possible for people joining us from overseas.Who better to share their experience of relocating to Lithuania than someone who’s just done it? We caught up with Leandro to find out more about his recent move to Vilnius, our capital. From taking on new strategic challenges in a different culture, to navigating an unknown city and language barriers, we found out what it’s really like to start a new chapter with Vinted.<h2>Deciding to make the leap</h2>So, why Lithuania? For Leandro, the decision to move to Vilnius came down to three things:<ul><li>A rare working culture: Leandro was drawn to our down-to-earth approach to work, and our mission to make a tangible impact on the world. It was a culture he could see himself being part of.</li><li>A strategic challenge: Group security is the solid foundation that enables our growth. Taking on this role was an irresistible opportunity for Leandro to tackle a complex challenge and do what he loves on a massive scale.</li><li>An unexpected city: Although Vilnius wasn’t initially on Leandro’s relocation radar, the more he discovered about Lithuania’s capital, the thriving tech scene in particular, the more he was drawn to it.</li></ul><h2>The biggest surprises of relocating to Vinted</h2>Having led security for some of the world’s biggest retail platforms before Vinted, Leandro thought he knew what massive scale looked like. When he arrived, he was surprised to discover the hidden complexity under the hood of our operations.Many people think of us as a marketplace used by millions of users, but we’re also a payments company and a logistics company. For Leandro, securing that intersection of services is a fascinating challenge that requires a very close, intimate understanding of the business.Leandro was also pleased to discover that the workplace culture that first attracted him to Vinted is more than just words; it's reflected in the way we work every day."Beyond the architecture, what really stands out is the engineering DNA. There is a deep pragmatism and a true mentality of excellence here."Our engineers are empowered to make the right architectural decisions, even if it takes more work or a longer route. Seeing that commitment firsthand during his initial 30 days here has given him a massive appreciation for what it takes to build and secure a platform at this level.<h2>Setting the security vision as a new leader</h2>As a new leader, Leandro’s priority was shaping a security vision that aligned with Vinted’s Sustainable Speed approach. Moving too fast on the engineering side can often leave organisations open to increased security risks. Our slower, more measured approach is designed to avoid creating technical debt and security bugs, which inevitably slow you down in the long run.To foster our culture of ownership and co-creation, group security is embedded into our operations from the beginning, rather than acting as a gatekeeper right before a release.The way Leandro sees it, his team co-creates the guardrails and paved roads that make the secure way the easiest way. That mutual respect is exactly how we balance high developer velocity with the uncompromising safety of our platform.

<h2>A future of exciting, unsolved challenges</h2>Group security’s 12–18 month roadmap is focused on two major engineering challenges:<ul><li>Zero Trust at a unicorn scale: As Vinted expands its global footprint across our marketplace, payments, and logistics ecosystems, the traditional concept of a trusted network perimeter is no longer enough. The team is architecting an environment where every request, user, and microservice is continuously authenticated and authorised, in a way that remains entirely seamless to our operations.</li><li>Transforming security into Security as a Service (XaaS): The team is working cross-functionally with the marketplace, payments, and logistics teams to make security an integrated, scalable service that enables teams to build securely without adding unnecessary friction.</li></ul>Autonomy is exceptionally high, anchored in our "Take Ownership" value."We don’t micromanage the ‘How’. If an engineer identifies a vulnerability or a bottleneck, they aren’t just expected to report it; they have the mandate to architect and build the tool that solves it. If a proposed solution aligns with our philosophy of 'Sustainable Speed', meaning it secures the platform without breaking developer velocity, they have the runway to build it from day one."

<h2>How the LATAM experience helped Leandro navigate the security landscape at Vinted</h2>Brazil, where Leandro is originally from, is known for having a high-pressure, sophisticated fintech and anti-fraud ecosystem. Leandro found his cultural background and expertise to be a perfect match with the security landscape at Vinted:"The Brazilian fintech and retail landscape is an absolute crucible for security leaders. What you are up against isn't a lone hacker in a basement; you are fighting highly organised, well-funded operations that treat fraud as a highly scalable service. Surviving in that environment completely rewires your mental model. It teaches you that static, reactive security is a losing battle. You have to operate in real-time, analysing the entire behavioural chain of an actor rather than just building a wall around a login page."When you combine that level of organisation with hyper-adopted instant payment ecosystems (like Pix), the lifecycle of a threat, from the initial social engineering hook to a cashed-out account, happens in seconds.As a massive customer-to-customer marketplace integrated with a payments and logistics engine, Vinted enables millions of users to constantly interact. Leandro’s background helps him anticipate how organised actors attempt to weaponise human trust through social engineering. This allows his team to build real-time, behavioural defences that protect our community from highly motivated threats, without adding friction to the seamless experience our genuine users expect.<h2>Relocation reality check: The first month in Vilnius</h2>Coming from the other side of the world, Leandro admittedly didn’t know much about Lithuania until recently:"My very first surprise was realising just how incredibly advanced this country is. It’s a highly developed, true first-world nation on par with anything you’ll find in Western Europe, complete with a booming tech ecosystem."Braced for a major transition, Leandro found the relocation experience much easier than expected. He enjoys the walkability of our capital and feels safe enough to stroll anywhere at any hour without a second thought. He has also been making the most of the country’s natural landscape, from pristine lakes to dense, wild forests. Being able to step outside and be so close to nature has been a massive bonus to his overall quality of life.<h2>A cultural match made in heaven</h2>The best, most unexpected part of Leandro’s move has been the social dynamic. On paper, a Brazilian moving to the Baltics sounds like a massive culture shock, but it actually works perfectly. Lithuanians are inherently reserved; they rarely make the first move. Brazilians, on the other hand, are actively social and naturally equipped to initiate contact. Because he is happy to take that first step and start the conversation, the supposed cultural barrier simply disappears.

<h2>How Vinted supported the relocation process</h2>Let’s be honest, when you’re starting a new job, the last thing you want to do is fight with migration paperwork. We provide a dedicated agency that handles all the heavy lifting, from navigating the complex migration forms to helping new movers secure housing. Removing the bureaucracy meant Leandro could step into his new leadership role and focus fully on his team and the business.But what truly made those first few weeks feel so smooth for Leandro was the combination of the people and the environment. His colleagues were highly supportive and friendly, which made onboarding very easy. And with Vilnius being so easy to navigate on foot, he didn't have to spend his first month just figuring out how to live here."What impressed me most was that Vinted applied that same pragmatic, frictionless culture to the relocation process itself."<h2>Addressing language barriers in a new country</h2>Despite not speaking any Lithuanian, Leandro, who speaks Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, and English, hasn’t found the language barrier an issue:"In my first 30 days, doing all the heavy lifting of moving, getting the internet installed, shopping for furniture and electronics, coordinating deliveries, going to the supermarket, has been virtually frictionless and I know zero Lithuanian."Most people under 50 speak English very well, and on the rare occasion you do hit a barrier, having modern AI and translation apps on your phone instantly bridges the gap."The language barrier should not hold anyone back from making the leap."<h2>Life in Lithuania: A summary</h2>Leandro sums up his experience of recently moving to Lithuania in three words: “Introspective. Surprising. Purposeful”.Introspection comes from a calmer pace of life, surprise from stepping into a city (with an amazing local food and restaurant scene) that completely shattered his expectations.The notion of purpose comes from the professional side:"In my first 30 days at Vinted, I’ve had that rare satisfaction of knowing I am doing work that genuinely matters, at a massive scale, while feeling completely supported by the leadership, specialists, and engineers around me. It has been a perfect mix of personal discovery and deep career fulfillment."<h2>Join us in Lithuania</h2>Has Leandro’s experience got you thinking about a career move? Leandro has some direct advice: put yourself in the pipeline first.Many of you will look at a job post in Lithuania and start worrying about housing, visas, and cold weather before even having a conversation with the team. Instead of self-rejecting, treat the interview process as a two-way street to learn about the tech, meet the people, and test the waters. You don't have to figure out your entire life strategy today. Just take the first step, talk to the team, and let the adventure unfold naturally.Find out more about our relocation programme and packages <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/relocate-to-lithuania?gh_src=4dae07a2teu&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here.</a>

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A new career abroad: The realities of relocation with Vinted

Many Backend Engineers reach a crossroads at some point in their career when thinking about future progression. Some specialise further, some go down the people management route, and others follow the technical leadership track. While equally valued, the three paths carry different kinds of responsibility and impact. Finding the right one for you can make all the difference.That’s exactly what Paulina Overaitė, Staff Engineer, Trust &amp; Safety, did after joining us in 2019. In just 6 years of working here, she progressed from Junior Backend Engineer to a technical leadership role. We sat down with her to find out more about her journey: from finding her feet to winning awards – sometimes as the only woman in the room.<h3>Paulina's career timeline at Vinted</h3>

<h2>The day-to-day life of a Staff Engineer</h2>A self-described mix of the Architect and Right Hand <a href="https://staffeng.com/guides/staff-archetypes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">staff engineer archetypes</a>, Paulina’s daily work involves designing scalable system architecture, mentoring other engineers, helping teams untangle complex technical challenges, and setting the Trust &amp; Safety domain’s technology vision to ensure our platforms are future-proof.To put it simply, think of a sports team. If the Director of Engineering is the General Manager, who is responsible for building the team and setting the overall strategy, the Staff Engineer is more like the Head Coach. They focus on the playbook, technical design, and how everyone actually plays together, working alongside the Lead Engineer, who is like the team captain.Some weeks are heavily focused on deep-dive technical design, while others are almost entirely dominated by organisational alignment. Paulina’s impact comes less from writing code herself and more from empowering others – stepping in only when technical guidance is needed. What matters most is that our teams are set up for success and pulling in the same direction.Another important focus is balancing rapid delivery with long-term architectural integrity. While AI coding assistants have accelerated software development, reviewing code for quality, maintainability, and architectural alignment remains a deeply human, cognitively demanding task. Tied to this is the challenge of finding the right level of involvement. As a Staff Engineer, you are a technical authority, but you must avoid micromanaging every decision, or you’ll create a bottleneck and stifle team growth. The real art is learning how to step back and trust teams to make their own choices, while having the intuition to know exactly when to step in and guide them on critical issues.&nbsp;<h2>Career growth through experimentation</h2>Paulina’s career progression at Vinted hasn’t always been linear. She has experimented with different roles and projects, guided by the realisation that the real "north star" of a career isn’t gained by climbing the career ladder, but by finding the best fit for where you are in life.She explored the people management pathway when she was a Backend Engineer, and became an Engineering Manager for our Engineering Academy participants. But it was while she was covering for a Staff Engineer during their holiday that she realised the technical leadership pathway was a better fit for her skills, passions, and long-term aspirations: &nbsp;

Some Backend Engineers at Vinted choose to go down a specialist path and work on highly-specific, technical challenges. Others, like Paulina, decide to focus on a more holistic view of how our different systems and platforms intertwine – working across teams to solve company-wide problems. Becoming a Staff Engineer wasn’t a dramatic turning point, but a natural progression for someone who felt drawn to engineering projects that lived outside her team’s scope."I wanted to solve systemic issues – things that technically weren't my "direct responsibility" but still caused friction and pain points for us at the end of the day."The biggest shift for Paulina came from the transition from Lead Backend Engineer to Staff Engineer, when all of a sudden, she didn't have a single home team anymore. This meant losing the familiar structure of daily standups, sprint planning, and the typical agile or scrum ceremonies. Without the immediate dopamine hit of closing Jira tasks or shipping features, it can be harder to recognise your immediate impact. Day-to-day coding gets delegated, and other engineers lead specific projects. Paulina discovered that her new role was about multiplying impact through others rather than driving the execution herself.<h2>Tips for career progression</h2>Having gone from Junior Backend Engineer to Staff Engineer in just 6 years, we asked Paulina if she worked on any skills or formed any habits that helped her progress to senior levels. For her, it’s all about "proactive ownership" of both your own career and your team’s success. In practice, this came down to four "rules" she started following early on:1. Be strategic and proactive with your growth. Don't wait until the end of the quarter to think about your impact. Focus on tasks that align with the path you want to pursue – not just when it's time to write your self-evaluation.2. Your team’s success is your success. Don’t chase individual projects at the cost of your team. If your team fails, any individual "star" work doesn't matter. Real seniority is about making sure the whole ship succeeds.3. Keep a record of your work. Not everyone will remember every smart design decision, helpful comment, or project milestone you achieved. Keep a running list of your accomplishments and invest real effort into branding yourself during quarterly and yearly reviews.4. Apply common sense over checklists. Look at what your team actually needs right now and tackle those blockers – whether that means calling out a risky timeline, sharing feedback, or raising your hand to ask for help when a task is slipping. This mentality has also helped Paulina approach promotions. Rather than aggressive negotiations, which don’t come naturally to her, she broaches the topic through transparency – while always aligning her expectations with organisational restraints and business realities.&nbsp;

<h2>Diversity as an organisational superpower</h2>In 2023, Paulina was a mentor for Women Go Tech. In 2024, she won Build Stuff’s prestigious "Woman in Software" award for her visionary leadership at Vinted while enhancing the Trust &amp; Safety domain. Winning the award helped Paulina feel seen and appreciated. Since then, she has made a point of giving others the same kind of genuine, positive recognition to help them move forward.We all carry a mix of what society considers "masculine" and "feminine" qualities. Early in her career, Paulina was often the only woman in the room. At times, she felt like only the more “masculine” parts of her identity were worth sharing, while believing the more “feminine” parts should be kept hidden – glossing over her dance classes and instead bringing up her weekend of snowboarding, for example. Part of this hesitation came from the awareness that, in some working environments, women’s soft skills can be dismissed as “too emotional”, while men displaying the same qualities are more likely to get praised for their emotional intelligence. Joining Vinted gave Paulina the opportunity to do things differently. Challenging the status quo and showing up as your authentic self can be scary, but this authenticity often encourages others around you to do the same. Paulina believes this mindset has been a key part of her success.&nbsp;With AI increasingly handling raw coding tasks, working in tech is no longer just about writing code. The most complex challenges are human and organisational: team structures, communication bottlenecks, and balancing cost versus effectiveness. It requires a mixture of skills that go far beyond just being good at maths or writing syntax. Paulina remembers working with an Agile Coach who had a degree in psychology. Her ability to look at our teams from an outsider's perspective, diagnose communication breakdowns, and figure out why a team was struggling was incredibly impactful.Having career switchers or people with non-traditional backgrounds in the room is a huge superpower for engineering organisations. After all, sometimes it’s incredibly difficult to debug what’s not working when the bug isn't in the code!<h2>Want to be part of Vinted’s long-term technical direction?</h2>Technical leadership at Vinted is grounded in clarity, care, and ambition done right. If you’re ready to align high-level technical vision with business strategy, we could be just the place for you. Explore open <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/jobs?page=1&amp;q=staff&amp;gh_src=fw02s0s2teu" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Staff Engineer roles</a> at Vinted.&nbsp;

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From Junior to Staff Engineer: Scaling beyond a single team

Lithuania is where Vinted's story began, and it remains a place for bold ideas and new chapters. Today, more than 1,600 people shape our work in Vilnius and Kaunas, including many (100+ many!) who've relocated from dozens of countries across the globe to join our mission to make second-hand the first choice, everywhere.And as our company grows, so do the possibilities. Along with the <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/marketplace" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Vinted platform</a> millions know and love, we've recently launched <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/vintedgo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Vinted Go</a> and <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/vintedpay" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Vinted Pay,</a> and there's always something exciting on the horizon. Whether you're drawn by the chance to work on meaningful projects, be part of a supportive and diverse team, or simply experience daily life in a new country, Vinted is a place to explore your potential.Wondering what it's like to truly settle in and call Lithuania home? We talked to colleagues who've made the move to learn what brought them here, how they navigated their first steps, and their best tips for anyone considering their own move to Lithuania.<h2>What brought you to Lithuania?</h2>Every person's journey is unique: some arrived for a new adventure, to take their careers in a new direction, or were simply drawn by the sense of possibility in Vilnius and Kaunas. As one person shared, “I came for Vinted! But it was the people and the mild, lush summers that made me stay”.In Lithuania, you'll meet talented folks from all over, making it easy to connect with others who share similar stories and fresh perspectives.

<h2 style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:6pt;margin-top:18pt;" dir="ltr">“Finding your people” at Vinted</h2>Settling into a new place is about more than just where you work – it's about community. Many of those we spoke to said the Internationals at Vinted group helped turn colleagues into friends. Regular meetups, cultural nights, and celebrations mean you can share experiences, get advice, and build connections from day one. As someone told us, “99% of my friendships in Lithuania stem from this community... they made it feel like home for me: holidays, birthdays, professional struggles – we were there for one another.”Our colleagues highlight how open and welcoming the group is. Whether you're looking for tips on navigating daily life or just want to join in on a tradition from back home, there's always a place for you.<h2 style="line-height:1.38;margin-bottom:6pt;margin-top:18pt;" dir="ltr">Life in Lithuania</h2>Many of the team members we chatted to were surprised by how quickly Lithuania starts to feel like home. The relaxed rhythm of the cities, the welcoming culture at Vinted, and the ease of settling into new routines are some of the things people appreciate most. As one person put it, “(it's such a cosy place), that even the most central parts of Lithuania feel local”. Others highlighted “beautiful parks within 10–30 minutes' walk from almost anywhere you live”.Forest walks, lakeside weekends, and a vibrant art and music scene are part of daily life. The tech culture is thriving, public transport and daily essentials are high-tech and accessible, and English is widely spoken (though several people advised learning some Lithuanian basics to make deeper connections). At Vinted, we collaborate in English too, which helps everyone work together more smoothly, and there's always someone to help if you need it.The seasons are distinct, too, with “proper winters – snow and crisp air – as well as mild, vibrant summers.” For many, it's that combination of natural beauty, friendly communities and everyday convenience that makes Lithuania feel like the right place to settle down and Vinted a place to grow.

If you’re thinking about relocating to Lithuania, here's what our Vinted community recommends:

Advice for anyone considering a move

<h2>Ready for a new adventure?</h2>We know that moving to a new country is a big step. But from workation and flexible policies, to tips on settling in, and a culture built on trust and openness, we’re with you every step of the way – before you arrive, through your first weeks, and as you settle in for the long term.Whether it's navigating everyday life, making friends, or simply achieving the right work-life balance, you'll have the backing of a community and a company that believes in you.&nbsp;If you're considering your next big step, explore our&nbsp;Relocation page and see the roles we're hiring for. The opportunity you've been looking for – and a new adventure – could be waiting for you in Lithuania.&nbsp;<a href="https://careers.vinted.com/relocate-to-lithuania" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Relocating with Vinted -&gt;</a>

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Finding your place: Relocating to Lithuania with Vinted

Scale changes everything – not just in systems, but in how we lead. Moving from an Engineering Manager to a Director of Engineering isn’t a simple step up the ladder; it’s a chance to expand your reach and evolve your mindset. It’s the shift from leading teams that deliver key outcomes to enabling entire domains of leaders to guide a platform that connects millions and keeps growing fast. All while driving our mission: making second-hand the first choice worldwide.In this interview,&nbsp;Karolis Žilinskas,&nbsp;Director of Engineering, shares how he made that leap: what inspired him, how he prepared, and the lessons he’s learned about leadership, strategy, and sustainable evolution along the way.<h2>When an idea becomes a leadership journey</h2>The shift to Director didn’t come from chasing titles, but from following an idea that refused to fade. “I had an idea about building an identity platform: how it could work, how it would fit within our organisational design, and how it could strengthen our overall security posture…I began exploring it, talking to people across the company, and shaping how it could become a key enabler for Vinted.”That journey of exploration soon became something bigger than a side project. As the idea evolved, Karolis realised that to make it real, to drive it at a company-wide level, he needed to take on a broader role. Stepping into the Director position became a natural progression, allowing him to turn that vision into reality and bring multiple teams together behind it.<h3>Defining the moment &nbsp;</h3>The recognition that he was ready to lead came gradually. “The realisation came when I started to clearly understand what my manager was doing – not just observing, but imagining how I’d approach things differently and what I’d improve. I began taking on stretch tasks that mirrored those responsibilities to test myself. Once I was comfortable operating at that level and still felt hungry for more, I knew it was time to take the next step.”But readiness was about more than confidence; it required preparation. Karolis invested time in learning from mentors and peers whose leadership styles he admired. The combination of curiosity, feedback, and self-awareness made the transition smoother and helped him enter the Director role with clarity and purpose.<h2>The shift in scope</h2>At Vinted, the role of a Director of Engineering is defined less by control and more by context. “As an Engineering Manager, I focused on my team…their development, focus, and delivery. As a Director, the scale multiplies. My attention goes to the health of an entire domain, collaboration between teams, and whether our processes and practices are setting up everyone for long-term success.” &nbsp;His work now involves shaping how Vinted plans, decides, and executes across engineering as a whole. Instead of optimising locally, he looks at how systems enable others to deliver, learn, and succeed sustainably.<h2>Leadership built on care and clarity</h2>Karolis’s leadership philosophy is straightforward: results matter, but they depend on a healthy, motivated team. He focuses on creating an environment where people are clear on priorities, supported in their work, and confident to make decisions.

<h2>Turning strategy into action</h2>One of Karolis’s proudest achievements reflects how strategic leadership works at Vinted: turning alignment into real results. “The topic of centralised bot management had been discussed many times, but it never quite moved forward. Different domains saw it differently. I worked to align those perspectives…to define the shared problem, the risks, and the opportunity.” &nbsp;What started as a recurring discussion became a company-wide initiative. Karolis and his team secured support to create a dedicated group for managing automation risks, a shift that now strengthens the resilience and scalability of Vinted’s platform. It’s a clear example of how deliberate planning and persistence can turn a difficult problem into meaningful, lasting change.<h2>Challenges worth having</h2>Leading at scale means knowing when to let go of what’s working. That, Karolis admits, is one of the hardest parts. In a rapidly expanding company, systems have to evolve constantly, and what was reliable last year might limit progress the next. It’s a continuous balance between maintaining stability and having the courage to rethink.He leans on collaboration when change feels tough. “What’s helped me most is staying deeply connected to the work that excites me…in my case, security. When you genuinely care about the problem space, the hard parts of leadership become easier to navigate because you’re driven by purpose, not just responsibility.”He’s also quick to point out that being in charge doesn’t mean doing it alone. “At the Director level, you simply can’t do it on your own. I’ve learned to actively lean on my domain leadership team, my Director peers, and senior colleagues. Knowing when to ask for help – and creating a culture where that’s normal – has been one of the biggest enablers of success.”<h2>Empowering others to lead with impact</h2>Mentorship has become a natural part of Karolis’ work. “I bring Engineering Managers into decision-making as early as possible. The best way to learn is to see how complex decisions are made…especially the hard ones. I also try to show that I don’t have all the answers. Transparency builds trust and confidence.”&nbsp;That openness runs deeper than one-to-one guidance. Karolis helped shape peer-learning sessions within the domain leadership group, creating space for managers to discuss the real hurdles and share how they approach them. Together, they often tackle live topics such as balancing priorities or leading through uncertainty, which helps build collective ownership.This investment in others is something Karolis sees as essential for keeping Vinted’s culture strong. “A company scales sustainably only if its leaders keep developing leaders. That’s where the real leverage happens.”<h2>Advice for future Directors</h2>Karolis’s advice for ambitious Engineering Managers is both practical and encouraging. He believes stepping into a Director role is more than a promotion; it’s an opportunity to expand how you make your mark and evolve how you lead.&nbsp;

Balance, he adds, is essential. “Strong support structures, at work and at home, matter more than people think. You can’t lead effectively in isolation. And physical health is just as important; it’s not about pushing harder to do more, but making sure your energy levels can sustain the pace. Consistency and longevity come from looking after both your mind and body.”<h2>Reflection and what’s next</h2>Looking back, Karolis is most proud of how his thinking has evolved. Earlier in his career, he was focused on execution: solving problems directly and keeping delivery moving. Now, he approaches obstacles with a strategic lens, considering how today’s decisions will shape the business years from now.His goal now is simple: keep evolving. “It’s easy to settle once things feel comfortable, but progress for me, like for Vinted…never stops. Every few months, I look for new opportunities that stretch me and the systems I help shape.”<h2>Make your next step count</h2>Leadership at Vinted is grounded in clarity, care, and ambition done right.&nbsp;If you’re ready to level up from managing a team to shaping an organisation&nbsp;– and want to see the difference your work makes for millions of members&nbsp;– this could be the next chapter in your story.Explore open <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/jobs?gh_src=4dae07a2teu&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;departments%5B0%5D=Engineering&amp;page=1&amp;q=Manager" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Engineering Manager roles</a>.

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The journey from Engineering Manager to Director: Leading at Vinted

Taking on an Engineering Manager role isn’t about leaving coding behind, it’s about building on what you already know and discovering a new way to make an impact. Vinted is a great place to do that. With millions of members across more than 20 markets, it’s where technology meets scale and purpose. Many of our leaders started exactly where you might be now: writing backend code, solving technical puzzles, and wondering what comes next.Two of them, Audronė Šopauskaitė and Rugilė Lukoševičiūtė, made that move into management after finding a new kind of problem‑solving – helping people and teams grow. In this post, they share how their journey developed, what shaped them most, and the mindset that drove their success.<h2>Starting out</h2>Rugilė and Audronė started their careers outside tech, but curiosity led them into engineering. For Rugilė, it began in civil engineering and architecture. “I worked as an Architect for four years but realised problem‑solving excited me more than design,” she said. “I began coding in my free time, building small apps to practise. After months of learning, I applied for a Backend Developer role and got hired. That’s how my path in IT began.”Audronė’s journey took a similar turn. After studying history, she planned to become a professor but soon realised that path wasn’t for her. Curious about new challenges, she started learning to code at home and quickly got hooked, describing it as “feeling like solving puzzles all day”. That experimental mindset led her to join a programme that helped people switch careers into tech, which is where her engineering path began.

Working in Backend Engineering at Vinted gave both a strong sense of structure, teamwork, and ownership. “Since engineering and problem‑solving tasks were already my bread and butter, it didn’t seem too far away from being an Engineering Manager!”<h2>Taking the leap&nbsp;</h2>For Rugilė, the move into management came from a desire to work more closely with people. But stepping up to lead the same team she once worked in wasn’t easy. “The biggest adjustment was gaining trust,” she adds. “It’s strange at first when you go from teammate to manager.” Over time, she also learned how to find a better rhythm – something that now helps her lead with more confidence and balance.Audronė’s transition unfolded gradually. She describes the main obstacle as shifting her sense of progress. “I had to move from the joy of coding to making sure projects run smoothly,” she explains. “At first it felt like I was doing nothing, just talking, but eventually I saw my contribution through the team’s success.”<h2>What Engineering Managers do at Vinted</h2>At Vinted, Engineering Managers balance human leadership and technical understanding, keeping projects aligned, supporting progress, and connecting technical context to wider company goals.“We do an important job: &nbsp;translating technical decisions into business language and vice versa, shaping our teams’ vision and supporting people’s development and well‑being.” - Rugilė “The biggest difference at Vinted,” she adds, “is that we don’t expect Engineering Managers to have been programmers. What matters is interest in technology and the ability to make informed decisions. They are both a technical partner and a people lead.”

Roles differ across teams, and that’s by design. “The shape of the job shifts to fit each opportunity… In one team, I focused on long‑term goals; in another, on communication and dependencies.” - Rugilė. Her current mission centres on Trust and Safety. “We earn members’ trust through fair and transparent restrictions. We remove potentially harmful content while keeping processes open and accountable.”<h2>Challenges that shape growth</h2>For Audronė, the biggest change was shifting how she approached technical decisions. Having been a Backend Engineer throughout her career, it was an adjustment to move into a more advisory role rather than being the one making or executing those decisions. “A lot of Engineering Managers struggle with this, and I was no exception… but I got in the swing of things pretty quickly.”For Rugilė, a major hurdle was managing her calendar – moving from one meeting a day to a schedule packed with them was a big difference. It took time to find space for everything, balance work with personal life, and make room for meaningful focus.They both agree that leadership broadens your perspective, from building trust to changing how you make decisions and manage your time; the learning never stops.

Tips for backend engineers aiming for leadership

<h2>Ready to lead at Vinted?</h2>Engineering Managers at Vinted don't just lead teams, they connect technical depth with human insight. Across Vinted’s Marketplace and our new payments and shipping companies, Vinted Go, and Vinted Pay, they shape how millions experience second-hand fashion online. &nbsp;If you're driven by growth, wondering about leadership, and ready to support others while still staying close to the tech, this could be your next opportunity.See our open <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/jobs?gh_src=4dae07a2teu&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;departments%5B0%5D=Engineering&amp;page=1&amp;q=Manager" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Engineering Manager roles</a>

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Becoming an Engineering Manager: A Backend Engineer's Guide at Vinted

Millions of people rely on Vinted every day. Behind that scale is a platform built to handle massive amounts of data and constant change – powered by the engineers who keep it all running smoothly. Our Engineering Managers (EMs) lead those teams. They connect people, shape ideas into products and keep the technology strong as we expand to more than 20 markets.We spoke with 3 Engineering Managers from across the Vinted Group about what the role really involves, how it differs between departments, and what they've learned about leading ambitious engineering work. Audronė Šopauskaitė, Rugilė Lukoševičiūtė, and Karolis Žilinskas each have different stories that show how technical skill and genuine care come together to build something that truly evolves with the company, and why Vinted is a place where talented engineers can become exceptional leaders.<h2>What being an Engineering Manager means at Vinted</h2>Some managers have a full Engineering, Product, Design &amp; Analytics (EPDA) team, but Audronė's is all Backend Engineers. Keeping close to the tech and working with a very technical team keeps her sharp.&nbsp;

There’s no single way to be an EM here. The details change from team to team, but the goal stays the same: help great engineers accomplish their potential and keep scalable systems moving forward.

Across the Vinted Group, managers spend less time in meetings about processes and more time helping people perform at a high level. They connect dots across product, delivery, and design, fostering real autonomy among their groups. It’s a role that mixes engineering context with leadership craft, and for ambitious engineers, it’s a chance to shape how millions experience the platform every day.

The skills that make a difference – what our team thinks

Good leadership at Vinted takes many forms, but the biggest misconception? That you need to be the strongest coder, or the only expert in the room. Many think that as an Engineering Manager, you’re the one making technical decisions that the team later has to implement, but that's not true! As an Engineering Manager, you enable others to own and deliver the tasks, making it more about the group, not just your own skills.<h2>Meeting new challenges, finding your stride</h2>Taking on leadership brings fresh complexity – different concerns, new problem spaces, and the challenge of defining success through others' progress. But here’s a little secret our Engineering Managers shared: When you're new to it, you might feel you have to own every issue. In reality, you rarely face obstacles alone. Peer support and asking for advice make a big difference.Rugilė had the challenge of joining a group that was still finding its footing. At first, there were no clear ownership boundaries, which made things a bit uncertain, but then, through workshops, mapping responsibilities, and improving shared knowledge, real structure was built. The team became more aligned, and the results showed.

<h2>Building a positive team culture</h2>Culture can make or break a team. One simple rule guides many of our leaders: "Would I want to return as an individual contributor to this department? If not, it's time to reflect and fix what's missing." &nbsp;A meaningful, lasting culture is created when leaders lead by example. These Engineering Managers agree that Vinted treats them as partners, not layers of management. Everyone has a voice in shaping how things get done. When trust and communication flow openly, quality follows naturally.Encouraging feedback, experimenting boldly, and celebrating learning wins – big or small – create a space where people can grow together.<h2>Advice for the next generation of Engineering Managers</h2>

<h2>Ready to lead at Vinted?</h2>Engineering Managers here have a real stake in the future of second-hand. If you want to combine technical expertise, leadership, and meaningful impact on a product used by millions, Vinted offers a place to shape your own path. Bring your ideas, growth mindset, and curiosity – we'll back you to take the next step.Explore open <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/jobs?gh_src=4dae07a2teu&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;departments%5B0%5D=Engineering&amp;page=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Engineering roles -&gt;</a>

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Life as an Engineering Manager at Vinted

At Vinted, our team of Resource Analysts play a key role in keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes. Kotryna, who joined the team in June 2023, shares what it's like to work in this dynamic role – balancing data analysis, forecasting and teamwork to help our members access the help they need. Let's dive into her day-to-day responsibilities and discover what makes the job so unique.<h2>Meet Kotryna</h2>After earning her degree in information system engineering, Kotryna decided to dive into the realm of analytics. She kickstarted her career in the banking sector, working in transaction monitoring as an AML/CTF officer. While the role was rewarding, she was eager to find more opportunities for creativity.Seeking a mix of data and communication, she found her perfect match in Resource Analysis: "Resource Analysts have a variety of responsibilities, and our work is not just defined by calculations and numbers. [We work] with our partner teams and Vinted's internal teams – as a person who prefers teamwork, these were the key points that caught my attention."<h2>Inside the role of a Resource Analyst</h2>As a Resource Analyst, Kotryna and her team help our Customer Support department to assist our members in a timely manner. "In one sentence, a Resource Analyst ensures that we have enough agents in the right place at the right time."One of her key tasks involves preparing calculated and data-based forecasts to predict the number of support tickets from our members and, thus, the demand for agents, then planning staffing accordingly. According to Kotryna, accurately planned staffing and efficient scheduling are crucial when preparing for busy seasons, as training and preparing our agents takes time.<h2>Expecting the unexpected</h2>No matter how well a forecast is prepared, sometimes things go differently than planned, and an unexpected event may occur that causes a spike in support tickets. In those situations, Kotryna and her team work on backlog management so we can help our members as soon as possible.Kotryna’s role also involves a lot of communication with the teams that handle support tickets for our members. "Once we've prepared the forecast and staffing plan, we share this with our partner teams – we work closely with them to make sure agents are in the right place at the right time, ready to help our members."<h2>Collaboration is key</h2>Kotryna credits Vinted's positive and supportive work culture for her success. "My team is a very friendly team! We care about each other, and there's always a helping hand when needed. We try to do everything in a timely manner so there'll be no stress or pressure from tight deadlines."While they share core responsibilities, each team member shines in their own way. Some excel in project management and stakeholder collaboration, others are analytical wizards, and some are great at finding and implementing technical solutions.Beyond her immediate team, Kotryna collaborates with other departments, particularly when beginning new projects that involve different parts of the platform. "As Vinted is always evolving, we have multiple projects, and we meet our colleagues from other departments during our kick-off meetings and while working on a project." &nbsp;

<h2>Tools of the trade</h2>To do all this, Kotryna relies on a range of tools or, as she puts it, "Google Sheets, Excel and Looker are my holy trinity." These go-to resources help her to work efficiently and collaborate with her team.But it’s not just the tools; it’s the processes behind them that really help to keep things accurate and reliable, “We have standardised procedures and templates in place, and we always do our data validation.” For Kotryna, the golden rule remains: "Measure thrice, check twice, cut once."Regular meetings and team support sessions are also an asset and can help review if a forecast "makes sense".<h2>The best bits</h2>In addition to her daily tasks, Kotryna finds value in the perks of working at Vinted. "Vinted has really great benefits, such as volunteering days. I love that we can contribute to our community and use volunteering days to help those in need."She also appreciates the learning budget Vinted gives each team member – "I was able to join a conference in Paris, and I use our Udemy business account to get as much field-related training as I can!" For Kotryna, though, one of the most rewarding aspects is truly enjoying what you do for work every day, "One of the most exciting projects I recently worked on is the Electronics category! It is really exciting as I can see this feature myself while using Vinted!"<h2>Advice for aspiring Resource Analysts</h2>For anyone thinking about becoming a Resource Analyst, Kotryna's advice is simple: "Always ask the "stupid" questions, and if needed, ask the same question as many times as you need. This is one of the things I mention in the first meeting when we onboard new colleagues."<h2>Looking ahead</h2>When it comes to the future, Kotryna's goal is to develop her skills even further. "I'd like to become a data scientist and take on even more difficult calculations!"Her journey at Vinted has only just begun, but with her passion for data analysis and teamwork, it's clear she has a bright future ahead.<h2>Final thoughts</h2>Kotryna's story is a great example of how our team members continue to learn and grow at Vinted. &nbsp;Are you interested in joining a team like Kotryna's? Check out our <a href="/jobs?page=1&amp;q=resource%20analyst" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">open roles </a>at Vinted and discover how you can make your mark. &nbsp;

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From Data to Decisions: Life as a Resource Analyst at Vinted

Successfully rebuilding a career from scratch in a completely different field with no formal education or work experience is tough. But Tom Slaytor managed to defy all odds and successfully become a Backend Engineer, despite starting from a very different line of work. Read on to find out more about Tom’s remarkable journey into Vinted via our Engineering Academy, and discover how we at Vinted welcome and support our thriving career changers into our teams.<h2>Meet Tom Slaytor</h2> After working as a professional drummer for several years, followed by a role in sales, Tom Slaytor decided to pursue a new career path that ignited his passion. After developing an interest in engineering by chance, Tom stumbled upon an advert for the Vinted Engineering Academy and decided to apply (spoiler alert – he got the job). But switching careers is never easy – particularly without formal education or training. In his own words, let’s find out how Tom got on with this mammoth transition from professional drummer to Backend Engineer at Vinted, and hear the advice he’d give to people thinking of applying for the Engineering Academy. &nbsp;<h2>It all started with an app</h2> My work experience is pretty varied. After studying music at University, I worked as a professional drummer for several years. Following that, I had a job in sales within the finance sector. A career in engineering was never a consideration. Until one day I had a sudden idea for a training app for drummers. Without having any technical knowledge of engineering, I asked a developer friend to help me create it. As I worked alongside him, I watched him work on the code. I was immediately drawn to it, and found myself quickly getting to grips with what he was doing. The problem-solving element was particularly appealing, but without any experience or training in the field, it never occurred to me that this could be something I could do for myself. &nbsp;

<h2>Time for a change</h2> My job in sales came to an end, but I soon realised I didn’t want to pursue another role in this field. It didn’t spark my interest, so I began looking for another job that I felt more passionate about. I had some time and savings to fall back on, which gave me the opportunity to pursue something else. I took on some freelance work in the meantime, and set myself a deadline to begin applying for jobs, or start getting into a different field within a year. This was the springboard that allowed me to take the idea of programming more seriously, and further develop my skills in that area. As time started running out, the more I realised I really didn’t want to go back into sales. I always liked the idea of working for Vinted – it looked like a good company to join. But I didn’t feel like I had the skills, confidence, or experience to apply for a regular engineering role. I almost jumped out of my seat when I saw the advert for the <a href="https://vc-frontend.nordcode.io/blog/engineering-academy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Engineering Academy</a>, which requires no experience to join. I applied straight away.<h2> Making the cut</h2> The selection process was pretty relaxed. We were asked to share examples of some projects we’ve previously worked on, but there was no strict specification. We just had to showcase the extent of our skills and experience. After that, I had to do some tests and scenario-based questions designed to find out if I would be a good fit within the company’s values and culture, making sure that I had the right soft skills to thrive here. The next stage in the whittling down process was technical. We had to complete a homework assignment in our own time. It was quite challenging, but interesting. I learned a lot from it, and I took it as a good sign that if I found the assignment interesting, I’d find the job interesting as well. Finally, there was the interview with a couple of future team members. It wasn’t as daunting as I expected, and felt like a discussion. Half the questions were centred around my values and how I would react in certain situations or overcome challenges, and the other half were about the technical &nbsp;decisions and choices I made during the homework assignment. &nbsp;

<h2>Finding my way</h2> After successfully making it through the selection process, I was hired. On my very first day at Vinted I learned that there’s a structured onboarding process for academy participants. This came in two parts: technical onboarding, which really focussed on the academy, and general company onboarding. For the first week of technical onboarding, we joined a lot of workshops, and got to grips with the basics. It was all very structured, and we had the opportunity to learn more about how things work, the different workflows, and the programming languages used at Vinted that we were unfamiliar with. After that was Vweek – company onboarding for all new joiners (not just academy participants). We were introduced to different departments and had the opportunity to get to know colleagues in different teams from all over the world. It was a great introduction to what the company is all about – it’s like a big community.<h2> Expectations vs. reality</h2> It sounds cheesy, but working at Vinted is even better that I thought it would be. I’m genuinely excited to wake up every morning and come to the office to work. I was expecting loads of pressure to achieve more or do more in the Academy, but that’s not the case. We push ourselves because we want to. Even with lack of experience, in an unfamiliar system, with languages we’ve never used before, we’re never made to feel not good enough. Many of us haven’t worked in an environment like this before. It’s very comfortable and stress-free. From the people you’re working with, to the projects we’re working on, managers’ expectations, and the way everybody within the company helps each other, the atmosphere is really positive. I’ve quickly bonded with people both inside and outside of the Academy. Everyone is really supportive and accepting of one another. The people and the company culture really make this a fantastic workplace to be in.<h2> Want to join the Engineering Academy? Here’s my advice</h2> Engineering skills are important. But they aren’t the be-all and end-all. To be successful in any company you have to feel like you belong, and that your values align. Stay curious, and keep solving problems. Get ready to tackle new challenges. If that means having to learn a new language, or familiarise yourself with a new paradigm, just dive in and have a go, even if you’re unsure. Take it step-by-step, and eventually you’ll find the answer. If you’re on the fence about applying, I’d say go for it, even if you’re not sure you’re ready. I wasn’t sure I was ready either, but here I am. What’s there to lose? Are you looking for a new career challenge in engineering like Tom? Find out more about the <a href="https://careers.vinted.com/engineering-academy?gh_src=4dae07a2teu&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Vinted Engineering Academy</a>. &nbsp;

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From Drums to Development: Tom’s Journey to Backend Engineering

Changing careers is never easy, and often involves requalifying, battling feelings of self-doubt, and rebuilding self-confidence. Despite the challenges faced, Justina Šiaulytė, has done just that. In this article, we sat down with Justina to find out more about her remarkable story of transitioning from a video creator to an iOS developer at Vinted. Read on to discover how she adapted and used her resilience in the face of this formidable challenge, and learn more about how we at Vinted welcome career changers into our dynamic teams.

Meet Justina ŠiaulytėJustina Šiaulytė is an ex-video operator turned iOS developer. After making the brave decision to switch career paths in her 30s, and pursue her dream career as a software developer, she arrived at Vinted via our Engineering Academy –&nbsp; our entry program and technical induction designed to support junior engineers during the first leg of their career journey at Vinted. How did she get on? In her words, we’ll find out more about her career-change journey, and what the transition from learning at home alone to becoming a team member in a global tech unicorn was really like.The Career Shift DecisionBefore becoming an iOS developer, I’d been working as a video operator in a drama theatre for almost a decade. I enjoyed my job, and the feeling of holding a camera in my hand and filming, but also yearned to do something more creative and less physical. I wanted to learn something new, so I went back to the drawing board.I remembered how much I’d enjoyed programming at school and decided that there was no reason why I couldn’t go back and pursue this. My friend suggested I try iOS development, because he thought it was the easiest to learn by yourself. He lent me a book on the subject, but I found it really hard to follow. Then I stumbled upon a video course on Udemy for €12 and I decided that it was worth giving it a go.&nbsp;Self-Taught JourneyBefore making the switch, I started teaching myself about iOS development at home in my free time after work. I never went to any live courses, and I only watched online courses. I would spend almost all of my spare time creating apps for myself. Looking back, it feels like a dream to be working on a real product now.&nbsp;

Overcoming Self-DoubtMy career transition was gradual. After I turned 30, I decided that I wanted to learn something new, and it evolved from there. It wasn’t a decision that I took lightly. Making such a big life change and moving from a totally different field, with no background (not even studies) in the tech industry was terrifying. I was scared that I’d chosen the wrong career to start over in, or that I wouldn’t be very good at it. I wasn't actually sure if anyone would take me on, and dedicate the time to teaching me.&nbsp;&nbsp;When you start a new career, that feeling of “I know what I'm doing and I feel confident about my career” is non-existent. In the beginning, I felt like I knew nothing – like the rug had been pulled out from under me. Even now, some days it still feels like I don’t know anything, but I always willingly battle through the challenges. It’s a bumpy ride. Whenever I experience a setback, I have to pick myself up, try again, and learn more. This happens over and over again, but knowing that I can show up, push through, and rise up when I fall is empowering. The fact that I really enjoy programming makes the struggle even more bearable. It’s interesting, it's challenging, and it's really satisfying when you overcome even the smallest of hurdles. The whole process is really rewarding, and for me the constant perseverance has paid off.Toughest Part About Changing CareersThe hardest part about changing careers was not knowing when I was ready. Being self-taught, I had no idea if my technical knowledge and skills were up-to-scratch, so I didn’t know when to apply for jobs. I spent a year sending out CVs and getting stuck into a loop of learning, learning, and learning, because I wasn’t sure if I was good enough. If I saw an open position, I gave it a go, but I never managed to get past the application stage because requirements for junior positions are really high. I told myself to keep going, and that I would make it there eventually. Thankfully, the Vinted Engineering Academy was just around the corner.

Vinted Engineering AcademyThe Vinted Engineering Academy was a great way for me to enter the engineering field. There were no requirements for experience, so applying was a no-brainer.&nbsp;After my initial application, I made it through to the next stage, which meant working on some tough practical task scenarios. I found this part particularly tricky, as there were no right answers, but I managed to pass through this stage by being methodical and open with myself in my approach.The homework task was nothing like I expected, in a good way. It was challenging, but we had enough time to finish it.I actually found the final stage of the recruitment process – the interview – the most exciting part. Here was my chance to meet my possible future colleagues, and we got on really well. When we talked about code, it felt like a discussion.. All suggestions were valid, and none were considered ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. I loved this collaborative approach, and I decided then and there that I really wanted to work here with these people.From the approach, to the people, through to the tasks,&nbsp; everything that I experienced during the selection process in my daily role now. It was a good indicator of what it’s like to work here at Vinted.Joining Vinted&nbsp;I joined Vinted along with all the other Academy participants, and we went through an onboarding week first, rather than having to start working on something straight away. We started off by listening to some interesting talks from different team members on different elements of the company, its infrastructure, how things are approached, and why some programming languages are chosen. Then we took part in workshops on the design system and testing. I think this was one of the most important parts, as we found out the key information about how things are done here.What’s great about the Academy is that each person gets assigned a mentor. It’s really helpful to have a person nearby who can answer all of your questions. I was taken aback by how the company deals with management, as I’d never experienced this approach before. Our managers regularly check in one-on-one, to make sure that everything is ok, and that there’s no niggling issues or problems. I feel really heard. It’s really refreshing to be part of an organisation that listens to you and takes action when things are wrong or not going well.&nbsp;Code Review and Collaboration&nbsp;I’ve come a long way from the days of learning by myself. Now I know a bit more about iOS, and I like it even more because you can see it building in real time, and you can see how your every input changes the output. Another one of the crucial things I’d never experienced when working alone is how necessary it is to review other people’s code. If I need to write some code, I have to read a lot of other code in the process. It has been a steep learning curve, but such a great experience to see how other developers work.&nbsp;Vinted's Mission and AtmosphereWhen I think about working here at Vinted, I’m not only enthusiastic about the practical side of my day-to-day role. I also really resonate with our company mission to build something useful worldwide, not just locally. The fantastic atmosphere here is evidence of how much we care for our people, and the planet as well, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.ConclusionOnly when looking back at my career-change journey, can I fully appreciate the many hurdles and obstacles that I had to overcome to get where I am today. I faced a daily battle with my self-confidence, and being so isolated when learning in the beginning was a challenge. I’m so glad that I persevered, and had the opportunity, along with the necessary support and positive working atmosphere at Vinted to make my big career transition a positive one.

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Career Shift: Video Creator to iOS Developer at Vinted

Meet Agnė, Analytics Engineer at Vinted. During our interview, Agnė talked about her career journey to Vinted, explained her role-switching career jump, and shared what makes her current work meaningful.

What’s your name and job at Vinted?I’m Agnė, and I work as an Analytics Engineer in the Transactional Experience domain. Analytics Engineers at Vinted are responsible for taking raw data from different primary sources and translating it into meaningful analytical tables, which can help tackle business questions for anyone interested: data scientists, product owners, leaders, customer support. The Data Science &amp; Analytics department’s vision is to make data obvious throughout Vinted, and I feel my role plays an important part in achieving this.&nbsp;When and how did you join? Why? (Be honest!)I joined Vinted four years ago when there were only around two hundred employees here. Before that, I was a financial analyst in a manufacturing company, doing all kinds of reports, analyses, and process improvements. Even though I wasn’t looking for a change, somewhere deep down I wanted to move into the tech industry.I’ve heard friends talking about Vinted’s culture before. It caught my interest. So one day, when I stumbled upon an ad for a Product Data Scientist role, I decided to apply, wrote a warm motivational letter, put an honest effort into my homework assignment, and, to my surprise, was hired!&nbsp;How is Vinted’s mission important for you?&nbsp;It’s a great feeling to be working with a product that contributes to the growth of sustainability worldwide. It brings a deeper purpose and meaning to everyday tasks.&nbsp;Tell us about your typical work day? Do you have a morning ritual?I usually prepare for the workday ahead before it even starts. I wake up, drink a glass of water, do a fifteen minute morning exercise, meditate, prepare a nutritious breakfast and treat myself to a cup of strong black coffee. A successful morning routine sets the mood and productivity level for the whole day.During working hours, I divide my time between concentrated individual work and collaboration with stakeholders while sorting out data nuances or requirements.&nbsp;What makes you excited to wake up and go to work each morning?Firstly, no two of my work tasks are the same — and that keeps me continually stimulated, and always learning something new. For instance, we’re now preparing for the migration from the on-premise data warehouse to BigQuery (Google Cloud) and dbt (Data build tool). I feel a bit nervous about it, but it’s a good feeling because it will be a tremendous opportunity to grow my knowledge.&nbsp;Secondly, we use world-class technologies and processes, which put us at the forefront of the world’s data market. In parallel with the cloud migration, we’ll also be building a Data Mesh — the data platform version of microservice architecture. It's one of the hottest data buzzwords right now, and I’m more than excited to be a part of this.And finally, we truly have a data-driven culture here at Vinted, so the work I’m doing feels necessary and meaningful.&nbsp;&nbsp;You’ve been at Vinted for 4 years now. What was your first position?I started out as a Product Data Scientist in a cross-functional product team in the Trust domain. My responsibility was to answer various business questions using data from our app. Sometimes those questions were very abstract or oriented toward future opportunities. You had to call upon your knowledge, data, and creativity to answer them.&nbsp;Product teams act autonomously, so it was great to drive our initiatives and see the impact we make. It’s like a micro-entity inside the company.&nbsp;Why did you decide to switch career paths? What was the main motivation?While working in a product team, I felt I enjoyed and brought more value to the technical side, such as writing data jobs, tackling data inconsistencies, and improving datasets. Back then, we didn’t have specialisations. Product Data Scientists were responsible for the whole pipeline: from preparing data in the data warehouse to providing business insights out of analyses.&nbsp;With Vinted’s growth, the role inevitably split into three positions: Data Scientist, Decision Scientist, and Analytics Engineer. Then I realised that it was a perfect opportunity for me to switch roles. My lead was super supportive, and here I am.&nbsp;What was easy and what was hard about it? Tell us about the process.I wouldn't say anything was particularly hard. I was already doing some analytics engineering in my previous role. The only difference was how I divided my time; I switched from full-time analyses to full-time engineering. It wasn’t a massive change, but significant enough. It also didn't happen overnight. I shifted into it gradually and had to prove my capabilities.I had (and still have) to deepen my technical knowledge, which was challenging, but also enjoyable. My greatest advantage was my knowledge of how both the data and product teams work.&nbsp;I now see my work as a product I supply to the end users. The end user used to be me, so I find it pretty easy to understand data requirements when the demand arises. For example, when we launch a new feature, I can quickly understand what kind of tables will be useful and how to design a new dataset from the raw backend data or tracking events.&nbsp;What would be your top advice for someone who wants to change careers to something they virtually know nothing about?The most important one — please don’t hold yourself back by thinking that something's too complicated or impossible.&nbsp;One interesting fact about you?It might sound unusual, but I’ve been wearing only black for almost twenty years. It started as a gothic teenage rebellion and developed into my own individual style over the years.&nbsp;No, I don't get bored of it, and yes — it gets a bit warm during the summer!&nbsp;By the way, do you use the Vinted app? If so, what’s your way of using it?I was using it a long time before joining Vinted as an employee. Usually, I buy black clothes!&nbsp;When I see something I like in a clothes shop, I memorise or write it down and wait for the item to appear on the Vinted app. Someone might have bought it and didn’t like it, so I’ll buy it second-hand from them. It's a definite win-win situation.&nbsp;Aiming high daily is not easy – how do you relax?Music takes up a lot of my spare time. I listen to a variety of genres, visit concerts weekly, and travel to watch my favourite artists’ shows across Europe. I also attend online music history courses and read biographies and I’ve been going to music quizzes with a group of friends for years. I secretly cherish a dream of creating some music myself. I reckon it would be very structured and mathematical, yet delicately emotional.&nbsp;Pick one piece of media to recommend. Why do you think it deserves someone’s attention and what role does it play in your life?The School of Life&nbsp;instantly pops into my head. If you’re either going through a tough period in your life, as we all sometimes do, or you simply want to grow as a better human being — The School of Life <a href="https://www.theschooloflife.com/shop/">books</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/theschooloflifetv">videos</a> are a great source of wisdom. They cover various themes. From relationships, self-love, and work to philosophy and art. But most importantly, they teach a more empathetic approach towards life, ourselves, and others.

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Agnė Misiukonytė: Don’t Hold Yourself Back by Thinking That Something’s Impossible

Meet Vytautas, VP of Vinted Go. During our interview, Vytautas talked about his experience in e-commerce logistics, gave an in-depth explanation of a brand-new business entity in the Vinted group, and shared its current projects and future plans.

What’s your name and job at Vinted?I’m Vytautas Atkočaitis, VP of Vinted Go, which is the logistics arm of Vinted Group.&nbsp;When and how did you join? Why? (Be honest!)I joined Vinted a year and a half ago. Before coming to Vinted, I was living in Seattle, USA, where I was working for a big e-commerce company. A chance meeting with one of Vinted's founders, Mantas Mikuckas, led him&nbsp;to introduce me to Vinted’s mission and vision. It caught my interest because I didn’t know (as I hadn’t been living in Lithuania for a while) that there were Lithuanian companies with such ambitions.It was then that we spoke about the Shipping Director position. I went through the whole application process, and after that, I joined Vinted. Even though Vinted Go was only a plan then, the company’s ambition was captivating. Vinted Marketplace’s vision alone was enough for me to want to get involved in this project.&nbsp;&nbsp;Why is Vinted’s mission important to you?&nbsp;Personally, I really admire the opportunity to work on something on a global scale that has the potential to change the way millions of people consume. Right now, the work is on fashion, which is one of the most polluting industries. But when you have a platform with an established user base, you can affect many other industries at the same time.&nbsp;Nowadays, it is crucial to be environmentally friendly. In the long term, I don't see myself working in companies that refuse to think and act on these problems. I believe in Vinted’s mission, and I think it is necessary to do it on a big scale.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tell us about your typical work day. Do you have a morning routine?Usually, at 7 AM, I drive my kids to kindergarten. At 8 AM, I drink my coffee, check my emails, and prepare for my work day ahead, for a planned 9 AM start.No two days are alike at Vinted. My activities range from one-on-ones with my teammates to strategic problem solving and meetings with partners, investors, or media. Because Vinted Go is a growing unit in Vinted’s organisation, I still need to be hands-on on some topics, so if necessary, I do analysis, strategy planning, etc.&nbsp;&nbsp;What do you find meaningful in your job?&nbsp;For me, the most exciting thing is working with collaborative people who are eager to solve problems as a team. Co-creation is embedded in Vinted’s culture. I felt it when I joined Vinted. Back then, I didn’t really know much about it, but had my ideas. It was easy to blend into a team and start making an impact.&nbsp;Aiming high drives me. It means that we don’t seek an easy way out. We aim for quality, which usually is hard to achieve. To innovate, you can’t do what you already know.&nbsp;&nbsp;You’re now VP of Vinted Go. What do you like most about this field?My whole career has been in operations, logistics, and e-commerce logistics. Before Vinted, I spent 6 years at Amazon. Why Vinted and shipping? It came naturally from my profile. Speaking about it holistically, if you want to change the industry’s consumer habits and the whole industry in a meaningful way, it’s achievable when you reach a certain scale. From the marketplace perspective, Vinted is already the biggest online C2C second-hand marketplace in Europe. Thus we make a positive impact on the fashion industry, but at the same time, we make another impact by providing a vast logistics solution.For holistic solutions, you need to solve first-mile and last-mile problems in an industry that needs innovation. Our goal at Vinted Go is to be that accelerator of innovation in our industry and help Vinted Marketplace scale more and minimise the negative impact. We aim to be more net-positive. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s about working on global-scale problems. Shipping at Vinted is an exceptional place to do just that.&nbsp;&nbsp;What’s special about Vinted Go? How is it different from other companies?Vinted Go is distinct in the e-commerce industry. There are very few organisations that fully understand logistics and their value, and make continuous improvements. There are many reasons for this. The most common one is that only a few can reach a scale where it’s worth investing your time and money into them.When you reach that level, it becomes meaningful and engaging to dig deeper and learn more about it because you understand that your client’s loyalty and satisfaction with the platform depends on how successfully you deliver their parcels. It’s all about the experience of delivery, refund, and so on.&nbsp;What Vinted understood very early on is that shipping is essential for enabling C2C. It’s way more complex than traditional B2C. We have to ensure that a person who sells their no-longer-worn item can just pack and send it. We also need to guarantee that the buyer can easily pick it up. As well as this, all the actions in between, such as tracking, have to be transparent.&nbsp;What do we do better than the others? We have a playbook for launching various European markets cheaper, more comfortably, and with less pollution. We do that with the PUDO (pick-up, drop-off) shipping option, which is still quite a passively adopted way of shipping, especially in western countries. Right now, less than 10% of parcels are delivered to lockers. We work with this delivery mode, because it’s more comfortable and cheaper than the home delivery option, and carries more environmental benefits. We learned how to connect all the markets into one big market, which means that it’s no longer a hassle to send parcels between countries. Thus we can offer a new product - affordable shipping between countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;What functions does Vinted Go have in the Vinted Group?Recently we officially announced the launch of Vinted Go as a new and separate business unit within the Vinted group. The Vinted Marketplace is our first client to benefit from our shipping services.Beyond that, we’re building our own locker network in France – a process which we started a couple of months ago. We also sell shipping services to all e-commerce companies in Europe. We aim to be a service provider for everyone, not only Vinted. Our main focus right now is Vinted, but more and more teams in our unit focus on products and technologies to cater to other clients.&nbsp;&nbsp;How do you see the future of Vinted Go? What are its main priorities?The primary focus will be on providing the best possible experience for our Vinted Marketplace members. From there,&nbsp;we will continue to innovate in this field. Many problems are yet to be solved, from quality of life to affordability. Simultaneously, we will build our capabilities in France to create a fully Vinted-focused experience. Then we will move on to other markets. We also plan to develop our virtual shipping platform to provide products to e-commerce companies globally.&nbsp;How is Vinted Go innovative compared to other shipping companies?Our solution that we provide in part depends on our collaboration with shipping companies and carriers. We offer a single united network of our carrier partners. By integrating with Vinted Go, you get access to 43 shipping carriers across Europe with a unified pricing policy, customer service, etc., offered as one package.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tell us about the structure of your team. How fast is it expanding? Where is it based?Vinted Go’s structure is similar to other companies. It’s a mirror image of how Vinted Marketplace operates. We have teams working on the product, technology, etc. Our teams are cross-functional, which means they consist of people from product management, engineering, data science, and design. In this way, we collaborate to create new technological solutions.We’re not just a technology company. We have teams working with business development, partnerships with carriers, warehouses, locker providers, and so on. Furthermore, we have a sales department focused on commercial partnerships. Also, we have analytics, and program functions, which work on complex cross-functional projects. It’s quite a standard organisational structure.&nbsp;At Vinted Go, we employ over 120 people, and at the end of the year, we’ll expand to 180 people. Most of the team is based in Vilnius at the moment, but we actively hire people in Berlin, London, Paris, and Amsterdam, depending on the function or roles. We aim to find the best candidates.&nbsp;&nbsp;What qualities do you look for when hiring people in Vinted Go?We look for people who are passionate about solving complex problems, want to operate in a not fully determined environment, like operational or business development problems, and are eager to solve complex technological riddles. We currently see ourselves as a start-up in the Vinted Group. We’re trying to develop a couple of strategic directions, so we’re looking for people who want to grow together with us and who understand that the path to success is not linear.&nbsp;Could you share some semi-recent projects done in your unit?We’ve already started developing our locker infrastructure network in France. It was a project that we had worked on for six months. Our goal is to test it during the summer, see what’s working and what’s not, and then expand. Additionally, in spring, we started the sales of our virtual shipping platform and worked on integrations with e-commerces in Europe. We also enabled the expansion of Vinted’s marketplace: Vinted launched in Slovakia and Portugal. There are lots of different projects done in the unit.

What are the main principles you follow at work?My principles are in line with Vinted’s values. I value people who set ambitious goals, don’t default to the easiest path, who are not afraid to fail, and can learn from mistakes. Figuratively speaking, at Vinted, we’re thinking about how to fly to Mars and trying to understand why we aren’t there yet. I also value openness and certainty. It means communicating with each other clearly and avoiding ambiguity.&nbsp;What is vital for personal growth and helping others grow?From my perspective, I try to learn from my mistakes one task at a time. From a team perspective, I see my purpose as helping others to be in the right place where they can succeed. It means enabling them so their skillset can deliver impact, while at the same time, giving them freedom and opportunities to grow and expand their knowledge and skills. I believe in growing people vertically from within the organisation. So I spend a lot of time evaluating whether we have the right people in key positions.One of the reasons why I joined Vinted was Mantas and his story. The possibility to learn from him and other leaders in the organisation was really valuable. Right now, I do the same with Vinted Group leadership teams.&nbsp;By the way, do you use the Vinted app? If so, what do you use it for?I use it for my 3-year-old twins. Every season, my wife and I look for various items, and we find everything on Vinted. We don’t need to go to the shops, so it’s a win-win situation in terms of the economic and environmental impact. Plus, you get to see firsthand what’s working and what’s not in the product itself.&nbsp;&nbsp;One fun fact about you?I’m an adventurous person, both in work and in my personal life. I like playing poker and have played in the biggest poker tournaments in the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;Your favourite place in the world (online or offline)?Las Vegas.&nbsp;Please pick one piece of media to recommend.&nbsp;Why do you think it deserves someone’s attention and what role does it play in your life?For people coming to work in operations, I recommend the book Working backwards by Colin Bryar and Bill Carr. It’s about Amazon's operations and its fundamentals. It’s for those who are interested in this industry and want to learn to operate in a lean way.&nbsp;

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Vytautas Atkočaitis: At Vinted Go, We Contribute to Changing Consumer Habits

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