Translating Leadership Skills Across Oceans

Sun Microsystems turned Oracle. Crossover for Work. Prodigy Software. Upstart.

Be it at an established company, a fast-growing startup or a fresh-faced organization, each of these entities provides software engineering solutions at scale.

It’s what drew our 2023 leadership and management graduate Polina Stepanova to excel in various engineering or management roles at each. Regardless of actual product output, each role requires Polina to flex global skills:

Leadership
People management
Software engineering
Quality and release management

The global nature of these organizations—and associated skills—allows Polina to thrive—whether from her native Russia or after immigrating to the Bay Area in 2020. “The software can be distributed quickly and affordably to a broad audience,” she enthuses, “and its ability to be easily updated allows it to adapt to user needs and improve lives efficiently.”

While the outputs of her work are global in nature, what Polina found after coming to the U.S. is that management styles and expectations may not as easily translate from country to country. Despite having worked hand-in-hand with U.S.-based colleagues while still in Russia, Polina felt a bit overwhelmed when she started at her current position of engineering manager at Upstart.

“I realized I needed to deeply understand American business culture, the expectations placed on leaders and managers, and how to communicate effectively in this new environment,” she reflects. “I didn’t need a degree and was looking for something I could do while working full time and on a limited educational budget. I aimed to accelerate my integration, regain my confidence and establish a strong foundation for my future growth.”

The search began to find the perfect complement of course work, flexibility and budget, and so Polina turned to her personal support group. Chatting with other female immigrant friends who have earned success in their respective fields, they shared positive feedback about several of our programs.

Polina found her fit with our Certificate Program in Leadership and Management.

You completed the certificate in a little more than a year. What was your experience like?

The curriculum was well-designed, and I got a lot out of the required courses and enjoyed the chance to choose electives that interested me. I particularly appreciated the focus on the ethical aspects in every course. For my electives, I took Essentials of Business and Talent Management and Workforce Development.

Because I worked full time, taking the courses one at a time was best for my schedule. It allowed me to dedicate proper effort to each class and keep up with the homework. The interactions with fellow students were precious; they came from different industries, and I learned much about how other businesses work and their challenges.

The discussions and group work enhanced my learning and helped me integrate more broadly into American culture. The instructors were experienced leaders and experts in their fields, and they helped solve the issues brought by students.

I took all of my classes online. This format allowed me to balance my learning with a full-time job and family responsibilities. The experience was excellent—most courses were designed with breakout sessions and group projects, making it easy to build relationships with other students.

"I didn’t need a degree and was looking for something I could do while working full time and on a limited educational budget. I aimed to accelerate my integration, regain my confidence and establish a strong foundation for my future growth."

When you began our certificate, you were working at Upstart. Tell me about this organization and your role as engineering manager.

Upstart is a fintech company focused on AI-powered financing to enable access to affordable credit based on true risk. In my role, I lead and manage a team of engineers, oversee and plan software releases, and coordinate with internal stakeholders to ensure smooth project execution.

I mentor and coach team members, conduct performance evaluations, and foster a collaborative and innovative team environment to drive continuous improvement in our development processes.

I was able to apply the lessons I learned in class to my current work immediately. The skills I gained in negotiation and implementing changes, understanding business objectives and organizational dynamics, and viewing the organization from different roles’ perspectives have been super-valuable and practical.

Additionally, the courses helped me discover and refine my authentic leadership style, allowing me to lead confidently and reflect my true values and strengths.

How would you describe your leadership style?

My leadership style is collaborative and hands-on, combining involvement and determination with care and friendliness. I lead by example, communicating openly, mentoring my team, and aligning the company’s and employees’ interests to achieve shared goals. Emphasizing trust, transparency and resilience, I excel in conflict resolution while treating everyone respectfully.

Drawing from diverse experiences at startups and corporations, I foster a culture where there is no “not my job” while leveraging the power of a justified “No” when necessary.

"The courses helped me discover and refine my authentic leadership style, allowing me to lead confidently and reflect my true values and strengths."

How will earning this certificate follow you in your future goals?

Earning this certificate has given me confidence, both personally and professionally. It reassured me I have the knowledge and skills to excel in my role.

In five to 10 years, I see myself continuing my vertical growth, leading a large organization and building software solutions to improve the world around us.

What advice would you give to a student who is starting the certificate?

Try not to take two courses simultaneously as it can be overwhelming—homework and projects require time and effort.

Don’t hesitate to ask instructors for advice about your work situations; they’re there to help you succeed. Additionally, network with your peers—building new connections can significantly enhance your learning experience and open up new opportunities.

If available, take advantage of your employer’s educational budget to help cover the costs.