EPAM: CREATING A WORKPLACE THAT INSPIRES POSITIVE EXPERIENCES

At EPAM Bulgaria, our employees are the cornerstone of our success. It's a simple premise, but one we embrace wholly: the talent, dedication and innovation of our people drive our company forward every day. With this understanding, we emphasize a positive workplace culture where the growth and well-being of every person matter.

We enhance workplace satisfaction through various programs, including career initiatives, networking opportunities in and outside the office, sports programs, free mental wellness sessions and more. As an organization, we strive to make our office a hub of positive experiences, boosting motivation, contentment and overall employee happiness. By fostering a collaborative work culture where every team member feels supported, valued and empowered, we unlock the full potential of our collective strength, driving success and innovation at every level.

In 2024, we took a significant step forward by launching the "Employee Experience" program to represent a new way of working, putting employee well-being, growth and satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. We introduced special days dedicated to our people, featuring enriching discussions, workshops with clients, brainstorming sessions and essential coaching sessions offered by our mental wellness partners. These days are designed to inspire personal and professional growth, fostering a deeper sense of connection and well-being across the team.

Today, we are sitting down with four of our team members – Zdravko Duchev, Magdalena Stefanova, Ivan Panajotov and Stanislava Gorostanova – for an in-depth conversation about the impact and vision of the Employee Experience program at EPAM Bulgaria.

ZDRAVKO DUCHEV

Software Engineering Manager

Zdravko brings more than 25 years of experience in IT and software development. Despite his extensive career, he often says he hasn't "worked" most of that time – because he truly enjoys what he does. This year marks a special milestone for him as he celebrates his 10th anniversary at EPAM, coinciding with EPAM Bulgaria's 10th anniversary. A decade ago, Zdravko played a key role in building EPAM's Bulgarian location from the ground up, and he finds it remarkable to see how much both the office and the company have grown since then.

What makes EPAM such a special place?

In interviews, candidates often ask me to name one thing I like most about EPAM. While there are many things I could mention – its people, the variety of projects, industries, solutions, strong best practices and the engineering excellence mindset – if I had to choose just one, it would be that EPAM is constantly evolving. It has always been a great place to work, and it's continually transforming into something even better.

This accomplishment isn't just because EPAM as an organization responds in an agile way to the ever-changing environment we operate in, but also because of its "always looking for improvement" mindset. Even after receiving numerous awards, EPAMers are relentlessly striving to make things even better. And despite being a large enterprise, EPAM continues to provide the framework where great initiatives from its people can flourish and become globally shared practices.

Can you tell us more about the Employee Experience program?

The Employee Experience program was established as part of our OneTeam – the boundaries spanning, self-organizing initiative at EPAM Bulgaria, where EPAMers are the main drivers for organizing team activities and initiatives. Based on our latest employee survey, the working group analyzing the results found that people consistently shared positive feedback about face-to-face and in-person collaboration activities. With the support of local management, the working group decided to focus the next strategic initiatives in Bulgaria on enhancing employees' positive experiences – thus, the Employee Experience program was born.

In these challenging times we've faced over the last few years, this program focuses on returning face-to-face interactions with colleagues as generators of positive experiences. As part of this program, we introduced the "Experience Days" initiative. Additionally, in partnership with external specialists, we offer mindfulness sessions and coaching (both individual and group) to our teams, as well as organized specific office days and other activities.

What is the idea behind Experience Days?

The idea of Experience Days is to bring together people who share the same domain expertise or work for the same customer or industry. By stepping outside their regular project activities, people have a greater chance to strengthen connections with their colleagues on a personal level, share common challenges they face in their work and exchange ideas on how to overcome them. This initiative fosters unity within groups, allowing people to help and learn from each other. In our daily activities, we always strive not only to create new solutions but also to learn new things and to have fun.

What role does EPAM leadership play in supporting the Employee Experience?

A key part of the positive employee experience is ensuring that people feel heard, empowered and recognized for their achievements. EPAM leadership empowers employees to initiate such programs, support their implementation and provide the opportunity to evaluate the results (via surveys and feedback forms), reflect on them and create new initiatives.

At EPAM Bulgaria, we highly value those proactive people who go the extra mile to set up and drive initiatives, which is why we call it OneTeam. We are one team and together we're committed to creating a workplace that continues to bring value to our customers and positive experiences for our people!

MAGDALENA STEFANOVA

Head of Business Analysis and Product Management

The idea to create positive experiences for our people was introduced to Magdalena Stefanova, who heads the Business Analysis and Product Management unit at EPAM Bulgaria. She takes great pride in leading a dynamic team that focuses on creating innovative solutions tailored to the unique needs of diverse clients. Magdalena and her team were the first to organize an Experience Day, where they held in-depth discussions about their client's goals and explored ways to enhance the client's strengths.

You and your team were the first to host an Experience Day. Tell us more about the event and its program. How did it go?

In our pursuit to foster a vibrant, collaborative culture at EPAM, my team and I had the pleasure of organizing the first Experience Day. The event, designed to provide a hands-on look into our daily operations and projects, included various workshops, interactive sessions, fun games and presentations led by our expert employees. It was a fantastic occasion that not only brought our team members closer but also allowed them to showcase their skills and creativity. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and we are already in the planning stages for the next one.

How does the Employee Experience initiative address cross-department collaboration and communication?

The Employee Experience initiative at EPAM is specifically designed to enhance cross-department collaboration and communication as it encourages a more cohesive work environment. This initiative includes regular cross-departmental meetings and collaborative projects, which allow team members from different areas to work together, share insights and deliver innovative solutions.

What opportunities does the initiative offer for employee involvement?

The initiative presents numerous opportunities for employees to become involved in decision-making processes. From brainstorming sessions to feedback surveys and participatory decision-making meetings, everyone is encouraged to share their ideas and perspectives. In my opinion, this approach leads to more comprehensive and effective business strategies. Through such initiatives we strive to maintain an inclusive and inspiring environment at EPAM Bulgaria, fostering both personal and professional growth for our employees.

IVAN PANAJOTOV

Leader of Business Intelligence Analytics practice

Another successful initiative is led by Ivan and his team members. He oversees a team of skilled professionals working in various data and analytics roles across a broad range of projects. As a leader, Ivan is committed to supporting his team in achieving project goals, fostering their professional growth and ensuring they feel valued as part of the EPAM community. In addition to his leadership role, Ivan also serves as Delivery Manager, Project Manager and Scrum Master on two data projects for a large global retail company, balancing strategic guidance with hands-on project involvement.

You organized a special Experience Day with your team. Can you tell us more about it?

It was a great opportunity to bring the team together and learn more about individual successes and struggles. After starting the event with some small talk, coffee and cakes, we participated in an interactive workshop on Self-Awareness led by our mental health partners. We gained an understanding and practical advice on how to steer our minds toward more positive perceptions. Afterward, we had one of our senior team members present his EPAM-organized hackathon project showcasing the application of AI in resolving real-world problems for farmers. We concluded the event with snacks, drinks and nice conversations on our sunny office terrace.

How does the initiative foster a sense of community and belonging among employees?

The initiative fosters a sense of community by providing people with the opportunity to physically spend some time together and share their achievements and struggles. Being focused on particular projects, accounts or disciplines, Experience Days bring together people who already have something in common and help them bond and recognize they are a community. As the initiative is open to everyone, it's a great chance to get to know what others are doing and have some fun together.

STANISLAVA GOROSTANOVA

Senior Manager and People Lead

At the beginning of 2024, Stanislava played a pivotal role in launching the Employee Experience program. The initial phase of the program was undoubtedly the most challenging, as it required identifying target audiences, establishing the framework and structure for the events and developing relevant content to ensure meaningful engagement. She was responsible for the involvement of the mental wellness specialists in the sessions.

Tell us more about the partnership with the psychology specialists.

Our collaboration with our mental wellness professionals has been flourishing for almost three years now, providing invaluable support to our employees. This partnership enables us to focus on two primary areas: individual psychological sessions and group coaching sessions.

The individual sessions are conducted by expert psychologists who work one-on-one with our employees. These sessions offer a confidential space for employees to discuss personal challenges, seek guidance and enhance their mental well-being. This service has proven to be essential in supporting our team's overall health and productivity.

On the other hand, the group coaching sessions are designed as part of our Employee Experience program. These sessions are conducted in a workshop format, where employees come together to learn and discuss various topics related to emotional intelligence and effective communication. These group sessions not only foster a sense of community and mutual support among employees but also equip them with practical tools to manage difficult situations in their lives.

Why did you include mental well-being workshops in the program?

These workshops aim to help employees develop and improve interpersonal relationships and increase self-awareness. EPAM Bulgaria aims to promote a healthy work-life balance and support the mental health of our employees.

What are the future plans for expanding or evolving the Employee Experience initiative?

As we look towards the future, we are thinking of organizing more group coaching sessions, which have proven to be an effective way to foster teamwork, communication and leadership skills among employees. Plans for expansion include increasing the frequency and variety of these sessions, covering topics that are relevant to the evolving needs of the workforce. We aim to bring in more external experts and coaches to provide fresh perspectives and specialized knowledge.

Looking ahead, we are committed to further developing the Employee Experience initiative. Plans are underway to expand on successful outcomes, incorporating broader strategies to foster an even more inclusive and stimulating environment. This continued dedication is aimed not just at enhancing productivity but at making EPAM Bulgaria a truly remarkable place to work – where employees not only grow in their careers but thrive in every aspect of their professional lives. Join us as we continue to innovate and pave the way for a future where every employee experience is valued and cherished.

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