Roman: Ivan, your path into IT was, let’s say, not exactly typical.
Ivan: Exactly! I did an apprenticeship in sales at Interdiscount. But I’ve always been interested in tinkering with technology. On the side, I tried out a lot—like building projects with a Raspberry Pi or creating an automated irrigation system for my plants. Through a friend I then became aware of Inventx and started in the Service Desk team in June 2020.
From Service Desk to Digital Banking
R: …which also has its challenges…
I: Of course—that’s what makes the experience so valuable. I was in Service Desk for about a year and a half and, as a result, had contact with many different teams. That gave me insight into different areas, allowed me to build a strong network, and also actively get a feel for new topics—among other things in Application Management. That’s how I realized relatively quickly that Digital Banking interests me especially.
R: Then you switched to Application Management—while studying at the same time. How did that work?
I: In total, I worked for about 2.5 years in Application Management in the Digital Banking area while simultaneously studying Business Information Systems. I then completed my studies in summer 2024.
At work, it was about supporting applications in e-banking and mobile banking, analyzing and fixing errors, and writing my first SQL scripts myself. In the process, I realized that I want to dive much deeper into these topics and better understand how the systems work in the background.
Taking on responsibility and continuing to grow
R: Was there a moment that particularly stands out?
I: Yes—quite a lot happened relatively early on in Application Management. Two experienced colleagues left the team. After about half a year, I was suddenly one of the most experienced. That was intense—I was thrown in at the deep end. But that’s exactly what pushed me forward tremendously. I had to work very independently and built up a lot of know-how. They say pressure makes diamonds—that describes it pretty well.
R: But you didn’t make yourself comfortable...
I: Right—since summer 2024 I’ve been a Business Analyst in the Digital Banking area. Today I work more at the interface between the business side and technology. At the same time, I want to continue developing more in the direction of technical topics. I’m someone who likes to get hands-on and wants to understand things myself. That’s why I’m also drawn more strongly in this technical direction.
My next step is to contribute more in Andrés Baumeler’s team, especially in the area of OpenShift, ArgoCD, Ansible, and in building applications.
Potential instead of a perfect résumé
R: Your path is anything but linear. Did that ever hold you back or throw you off track?
I: Clearly: no. Because here they don’t just look at skills. Of course they matter—but what’s decisive is the potential you bring. If you show interest and want to develop, you get the opportunity to do so. I was able to look into different teams, try things out, and develop step by step. There was never a “That’s not part of your area.”
R: What, specifically, makes Inventx stand out for you?
I: For me, people are at the center here. It’s not about what you can do today, but where you want to develop. Managers support individual strengths. You’re given a lot of trust, but at the same time it’s also expected that you take responsibility and deliver. This balance is extremely valuable.
