Magdalena Iwańska
AI Developer
I’ve always pursued what fascinates me and consistently worked toward my goals. During my studies, I work as an RPA Developer at Adamed Pharma, in September I’m starting as an AI Developer at DB Cargo Polska, and in October, at a young medical startup called SafetyGaze. I’m involved in leading projects that use machine learning: a GNN neural network for detecting microplastics in water, LSTM models that support early detection of Parkinson’s disease, and an auditory navigator for the visually impaired. I graduated from the International Baccalaureate with a score of 40/45, with top marks in math, physics, and chemistry. I treat every new challenge as an opportunity to grow.
What you’re doing goes beyond the typical projects of a teenager. What got you interested in this field in the first place?
I’ve always wanted to study something related to IT. The projects I work on stem from what interests me. I look for problems that can be solved with machine learning and try to work on them. My long-term goal is to build my own AI solutions for problems in neurobiology. I’m already working on this independently, but in the future I’d like to do it on a larger scale and solve real problems for a specific group of people.
Sounds like someone who knows exactly where they’re headed. You have a clearly defined goal and ambitious plans. What made you decide to join the Girls Code Fun Foundation program?
I needed someone to help me weigh the pros and cons of my ideas. I wanted someone to validate whether my projects so far made sense and which direction I should develop in… I figured no one could do that better than someone working in the industry, at one of the biggest companies, during a conversation. And I was right. 🙂
We’re glad to hear that. What skills or knowledge did you gain through our program? Are you using them in your work?
I didn’t need technology-related knowledge. I was already getting that from textbooks, papers, browsing other repos, and using GenAI. What I needed more was a recipe for the soft skills required to succeed in the IT world. Vlad Gorelik taught me above all that confidence matters and that you shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions and take an unconventional path. I started putting this into practice at my current job, and thanks to that, the project I’ve been working on since April is moving much faster because I’m leveraging the knowledge of my senior teammates. Seeing this change and the improvement in my productivity, I became interested in personal development.
It’s worth having people in your life, not the kind who will clip your wings, but the kind who will clip them entirely and let new ones grow back, ones that will let you fly higher.
How has the program influenced your professional or academic future? Did it change your approach to technology, your career goals, your life goals?
Thanks to the program, I wasn’t afraid to take on work in other places. That’s why in September and October I’m starting jobs in completely different fields: DB Cargo Polska (railways) and the medical startup SafetyGaze. Each of these companies will have different tasks waiting for me, but thanks to Vlad’s approach, I’m no longer afraid of that. I feel excited. Now my goal is to try as many things as possible, drawing on the knowledge I have and the knowledge I’ll gain during my studies.
What changed in you after your conversations with Vlad, and how did that translate into action?
Vlad Gorelik and working with him definitely changed my perspective. I’m no longer afraid to talk to people at various levels about my needs, problems, and ideas. I managed to overcome many barriers, but I also gained insights from working in such an elite environment.
And the fact that I actually followed through on what I planned and agreed on with Vlad, instead of just nodding along “to keep the peace.” Now I’m reaping the benefits of the work I have and the work that’s coming up, which will also prepare me for the future in terms of diligence, time management, and experience.
Was there something you didn’t expect that turned out to be important?
The mentor’s honesty. He wasn’t afraid to tell me what I was doing well and what I was doing poorly. Unfortunately, in other mentoring programs I’d often encountered mentors who tried to force the idea that everything I was doing was good and that I had no weaknesses. Here it was different.
You hadn’t encountered that kind of honesty before. How has it affected your life?
When it comes to my personal life, the people around me say I’ve become more open and cheerful, also because I have a better sense of my own worth. Thanks to this mindset, I wasn’t afraid to cut off people who wanted to clip my wings, and I started appreciating those who genuinely want to help me. At work, I also heard that even though I’m independent, I’ve still made progress in communicating with the rest of the team and reaching out to the business side.
What advice would you give to other girls considering joining the Girls Code Fun Foundation programs?
Don’t be afraid to apply. It doesn’t take much time, and it helps open up perspectives, even when something seemed definitively closed off. The program helps validate your ideas and sparks new ones… If you have any doubts at all, you’ll get a recipe for how to overcome them.
