Summary
AI Lily
In this episode of ‘Seriously, Bud,’ the host engages in a candid conversation with Olga Glecker, a developer from St. Petersburg, Russia. The discussion begins with the correct pronunciation of her name and her childhood experiences growing up in a family of engineers. Olga talks about her educational background, initially aiming to study programming but ending up in computer hardware manufacturing – a field with limited opportunities in Russia at the time. After completing her technical school, she transitioned into advertising before finding her passion in software development and eventually turend to WordPress development.
The conversation also explores Olga’s journey in learning English, a language she initially struggled with. Her determination led her to listen to English audiobooks, particularly Harry Potter, which significantly improved her proficiency. Olga reflects on her writing journey, starting with poetry and moving on to authoring fantasy novels, which she is translating into English. Despite her technical background, she emphasizes the creative satisfaction she derives from writing.
Olga and the host touch upon personal subjects, such as her marital status and her approach to a healthy, balanced family life. They discuss how her relationship with her husband began in a professional setting, evolving into a meaningful partnership over time. Olga reveals that she has an 18-year-old son and speaks about their friendly relationship, though she sometimes needs to switch into ‘mother mode.’
The discussion delves into her experiences with WordPress and the local developer community in Russia, which she describes as active but limited in in-person interactions due to a lack of sponsorship for meetups. Olga emphasizes her role as a developer, capable of creating themes and plugins, and her reliance on English for work-related tasks. The host highlights the importance of language consistency, suggesting that working in multiple languages can be confusing.
Finally, the conversation touches on cultural topics, like the shift in Russian lifestyle habits towards healthier choices and away from traditional stereotypes, such as heavy vodka consumption. They also discuss the impact of COVID-19 on personal habits and professional life, indicating changes in social behaviors and increased use of technology for maintaining connections. The episode wraps up with Olga recommending her best friend Maher Bala from India for a future episode of the show.