Transmetrics’ Spotlight: Leading Projects and Growing Together – Meet Irina Yanchovska

Transmetrics’ Spotlight is back, featuring Irina Yanchovska, a lead project manager who joined the team over three years ago. With nearly 20 years of experience in IT and Telecom, Irina specializes in Project Management, Business Development, and Sales. She has successfully led over 50 presales and delivery projects. Currently, she is part of Transmetrics’ team, working on IT projects for logistics planning and asset management, utilizing predictive analytics and AI.

In addition to her corporate career, Irina holds a PhD in Business Administration and conducts academic research on employee satisfaction and job performance in the technology sector. Despite many difficult business projects she has successfully led, Irina shares that her most challenging project yet is raising her two teenagers, Joanna and Gavril, while maintaining her sanity.

Tell us more about yourself and your experience before Transmetrics.

I began my career in the Telecom industry with a small Bulgarian company that grew significantly over the years. I started at the lowest sales level and eventually became the Head of National Sales, leading a team of Sales Executives and Account Managers. Following this, I spent seven years with major international corporations, including HP/HPE/DXC, in various presales roles, working on large multimillion-dollar international tenders. Recently, I also completed my PhD in Administration and Management, focusing on the factors that influence job satisfaction of employees in the ICT sector.

What attracted you to join Transmetrics initially?

Transmetrics was not on my radar until a headhunter contacted me on LinkedIn with a proposal for a PM role. Coming from an international corporation with over 150,000 employees and working in huge multinational teams, I initially hesitated about the offer from a scale-up company with less than 35 employees. After expressing my concern, the headhunter encouraged me to give them a chance, saying, “I believe they have a lot to offer!” I’m truly grateful I took that advice. 

The first thing that attracted me to Transmetrics was the amiable attitude of the HR and hiring manager – they were so nice, polite, and down-to-earth that I immediately felt a connection. Another appealing factor was that many employees had studied at my university (AUBG), which I saw as an excellent sign. As I continued my journey with Transmetrics, I fell in love with my super-smart and genuine colleagues. I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep repeating it – at Transmetrics, you can never be the smartest person in the room, and that’s amazing!

What aspects of the company culture do you find most appealing, and can you share a specific experience that exemplifies it?

The most astonishing thing about Transmetrics’ culture is how it selects its people. Once you find your place in the company, there is a strong feeling of belonging and acceptance, making you part of a larger cause. Another aspect I appreciate is the numerous opportunities we have to connect outside of work – we organize game/quiz nights, participate in various charitable activities, and go on team-building events and gatherings several times a year. This fosters a strong connection between different teams. I’m happy to say that making friends at Transmetrics is quite easy.

What’s the thing or several things that motivate you in your work as a Lead PM and that make you learn and develop further?

What I enjoy most about my role as a Lead PM at Transmetrics is working with people –  colleagues, customers, and partners – with diverse profiles, personalities, and backgrounds. The essence of my role is to find the best ways to motivate them to achieve project goals and advance, which is a long-term learning journey. I also take great satisfaction in the overall accountability for the project’s success.

Currently, I’m working on several projects, each facing different challenges. One of them is an EU-funded project called DECARBOMILE, which gathers 31 partners from ten different countries with the purpose of triggering an unprecedented improvement of green last-mile logistics in Europe. In this project, Transmetrics leads the technological partners and ICT tools development process. The biggest challenge in this setup is organizing a smooth workflow, ensuring each partner has a clear understanding of their responsibilities, fostering collaboration and synergies among partners, and ensuring adherence to the project plan and deadlines.

How do you feel your work contributes to the overall success and mission of the company?

Being part of a small company has several benefits. One of them is that the individual contribution is noticeable and may greatly impact the overall company’s success. As a PM, I’m working with Transmetrics ocean shipping customers, who are using our container management system and I feel part of the product development and success. Furthermore, I’m using every opportunity to use my experience and knowledge and set up some structure and processes in our daily work in the PM team.

What advice would you give to someone considering joining our company?

Just do it!

Outside of work, what are your interests and hobbies?

Three years ago, I bought a village house, which now occupies all of my free time. I’m not complaining, but all my interests and hobbies gave way to gardening – now I’m really into growing bio veggies, planting flowers, and enjoying the serenity of summer evenings under the stars on my garden porch! 😊