From the Philippines to the Heart of Our Platform
Louella moved to Sweden in 2013 from the Philippines. As a Senior Software Engineer, her role is crucial. She develops and maintains the ZEOS integration layer, which is essentially the central hub for external clients and integrators using our ZEOS services. Think of it as the brain behind the communication – keeping everything running smoothly and connecting our partners to what they need.
"Our team oversees the entire lifecycle of this layer," Louella explains. She's involved in everything from the initial design and implementation to ongoing support, always ensuring our services are stable, reliable, and can scale with our evolving business needs.
Ownership, Collaboration, and Growth
What drives Louella? It's Zalando’s engineering culture. We believe in "You build it, you run it," and Louella embodies this. "This empowers engineers to take full ownership of their work, extending far beyond just writing code," she says. This means she's constantly collaborating with teams across Zalando and stakeholders, not just to solve problems, but to really understand their needs. This approach has sharpened both her technical and non-technical skills.
Her daily motivation comes from seeing how her team’s work directly contributes to the Zalando Group Strategy. Plus, the support from her team, mentors, and colleagues keeps her inspired. It’s that shared pursuit of delivering client value that fuels her passion.
A Team That Connects and Grows Together
Louella's team has a unique approach to development. We actively encourage employees to own their career paths, with clear role expectations guiding engineers every step of the way. "This has helped me a lot in recognizing both my talents and opportunities for growth," Louella shares.
In our hybrid work model, staying connected is key. Her team has a dedicated in-office collaboration day. This isn't just about work; it’s about whiteboarding sessions, stakeholder chats, and building stronger bonds over breakfast or lunch. "Our team highly values close collaboration," Louella emphasizes, where everyone feels empowered to share ideas and brainstorm solutions.
Louella’s own development story at Zalando is a testament to this. Working in a small, agile team has given her direct exposure to stakeholders, boosting her non-technical skills. She's not just implementing; she’s actively involved in system design, quality assurance, operations, and even sprint facilitation. Zalando also fosters connections through programs and communities, offering endless networking and learning opportunities.
Proud to Be Part of the Platform
Louella is particularly proud of the Stockholm Hub's role in providing crucial platform capabilities. Partners are now onboarding and using services like ZEOS One and the ZEOS gateway. It's a huge win for the team and for Zalando.
Her advice for success? "Stay engaged and be constantly curious." Understand your purpose, participate actively, seek out growth, and connect with mentors – and be one yourself. Most importantly? "Enjoy what you do!"
Louella is a prime example of the talent driving innovation in our Stockholm Tech Hub. Ready to explore your own growth story with us? Check out our open roles here.
