October 2019

Olga Kosmylina

Information and Communication Technology 2017

1.  Tell us about yourself. 

My name is Olga Kosmylina. I did my Masters at ARU in 2016/2017, where I accomplished a degree in Information and Communication Technology. I am now a software engineer thanks to my degree, and am more than happy with the education and career choices I made.

2.  What is your fondest memory at Anglia Ruskin University?

I have many good memories from ARU, but one of the fondest is my first Web Development class where I wrote my first lines of code and saw ‘magic’ on the screen. From that very moment I realised that I was on the right path, and since then, Web Development classes were my favourite.

3.  What advice would you give to current students as they are preparing to graduate? 

I would recommend keeping the balance between concentrating on your studies and relaxation. Keep an eye on your mental health, and give yourself some breaks from writing your thesis. Meet with friends from time to time to help you rest and give you more energy to study!

4.  What do you know now that you wish you had known whilst you were studying?

I wish I had known that it is okay to feel a bit lost and not know what to do with your future. Life is great, and there are no mistakes - only experience. You must continue to believe in yourself, even if you find things a bit tough. 

5.  How did your time at Anglia Ruskin help you? 

It helped me to learn more about myself and become more open-minded, striving for knowledge, and becoming more optimistic about the choices I made and continue to make.

6.  What did you love about your chosen course?

Every lecturer on my course was kind and open, and every lesson with them was full of interesting, fun and cool things. I especially loved the Web Development and Computer Architecture lessons, and am very grateful for such great teachers, and my overall experience at ARU.

7.  What would you tell someone thinking of studying at ARU? 

If someone is looking for a place where they can get an education relevant to the modern world, then Anglia Ruskin is the right place.

8.  In one word, how would you describe ARU?

Cutting-edge.

9.  Who was the biggest influence on your career?

I cannot say that there has been one big influence on my career, because I was, and continue to be surrounded by so many inspiring people in my industry, and every person makes a contribution to my experience. From lecturers and classmates to my colleagues now - everybody inspires me to keep going.

10.  Of what accomplishment are you most proud?

I prefer to be humble about the good things in life. I like to work hard and love seeing the results of my work. So far, I am really proud to be the first female software engineer for the BBC's Russian Service. I work in the Digital Journalism Department where the team is very diverse and spread around the world. They were looking for a person who would work in Moscow and help this hub to develop their projects in a digital way. I really enjoy working for one of the biggest media companies in the world and knowing I am making my contribution.

11.  What advice would you give your younger self?

Keep calm and stay brave.

12.  What drives you?

Success. It affects everything: your happiness, your family and friends, the world around you. But success for me means working hard and achieving your goals. It definitely makes you feel good, and when you love your work, then it is all just a big and pleasant adventure.

13.  What’s next?

For now, I want to gain more knowledge where I'm currently working. There is a lot to learn and develop, and I am excited about the next things to happen. Luckily, you cannot predict it, but I believe that everything will be even greater in the future.