Vira Larina

"I am an experienced Business Group Director with over 15 years of experience in tech. Leveraging my background as a software engineer, I deeply understand technological challenges. Currently, I lead a team of nearly 300 talents: Program, Project Managers, and engineers across more than 20 locations, including Ukraine, the UK, the US, India, Brazil, Spain, and Poland, and managing over 50 complex global projects that provide solutions for top-tier clients.Beyond my technical foundation, I am currently pursuing an MBA to expand my passion for blending proven, innovative academic approaches with real-world practice. I know taking risks and challenging assumptions grows companies - and people - to their full potential.As a working mother guiding large-scale digital transformations, I have firsthand, daily experience nurturing resilience amidst turbulence. Originally from Ukraine, and currently in the UK, I lead with empathy, advocate for psychological safety, and inspire shared hope in uncertain times."

"As a Business Group Director, I lead a large global team responsible for delivering complex digital transformation projects for top-tier clients across multiple industries. My main responsibilities include setting the strategic vision, managing a geographically dispersed workforce, overseeing project execution, ensuring quality standards, and driving innovation.The outcomes of my work enable companies to modernize their technologies, optimize processes, and unlock new capabilities through cutting-edge solutions. Successfully delivering these transformations enhances operational efficiencies, improves customer experiences, and drives business growth for our clients.What I most enjoy about my role is the blend of technical depth, leadership opportunities, and the ability to solve complex challenges at scale. Being at the intersection of technology and business strategy allows me to apply my software engineering background while continuously learning and evolving my leadership capabilities.I find immense fulfillment in developing and mentoring my team members, creating an environment that fosters psychological safety, resilience and innovation. Guiding global cross-functional teams through ambiguity and change is incredibly rewarding."

"My journey to becoming a Business Group Director has been a winding path that combined my technical education with practical experience across various roles. After completing my master's degree in Engineering from the National Technical University of Ukraine, where I was actively involved in scientific research and student government, I began my career in IT recruiting at Miratech.This role allowed me to build a strong understanding of the tech talent landscape while honing my ability to evaluate technical skills. During my maternity leave, my passion for hands-on engineering led me to explore the software engineering field. I started developing websites and later completed Java software development courses. After my career break, I rejoined Miratech as a Java engineer intern. Over the next several years, I progressively took on more senior roles as a software engineer, team lead, and project manager. Working on critical projects for clients across fintech, insurance, government, and healthcare sectors provided me with invaluable experience in managing complex deliverables and cross-functional teams across multiple geographies.My inspiration came from observing effective leadership that could rally teams, navigate ambiguity, and drive innovation despite challenging circumstances. This motivated me to pursue an MBA to complement my technical depth with strategic business acumen. Combining my engineering mindset, delivery expertise, and leadership capabilities, I was promoted to my current role as a Business Group Director. Now, I have the privilege of guiding a globally dispersed team transforming the digital landscape for top-tier clients worldwide."

"I enjoy spending time with my family, travelling, watercolour painting, and reading. "

"As a Business Group Director, no two days are exactly alike, but some common threads weave through my daily experience. I usually start my day at 5-6 AM and spend 2-3 hours studying MBA. This allows me to focus on studying in silence before my colleagues start their working days, and tons of emails and messages reach my mailbox and working chats. Then, I catch up on emails and messages and review the current status of our projects and programs across different regions.Much of my day involves virtual meetings and calls with project teams, clients, and internal stakeholders. This could include status sync-ups, risk/issue triage, strategic planning sessions, or one-on-one coaching with team members. Effective communication and alignment are critical when managing global deliverables.I dedicate time to reviewing deliverables, analyzing metrics/reports, and providing guidance to ensure we are on track to achieve desired outcomes for our clients.Throughout the day, I prioritise being available for my team - whether that's helping them resolve blockers, offering mentorship, or simply listening and providing an open environment. I also spend time on people management activities like interviewing, developing talent, and succession planning.No matter how packed my schedule is, I always reserve intentional \"focus time\" to work on strategic initiatives and pause to reflect and recharge. Balancing tactical execution with long-term vision is key to successful leadership."

"Master degree in Engineering; MBA candidate"