As children, many of us have cherished the dream of stepping into our parents’ workplaces — a world that seemed mysterious and cool. On September 4th and 5th, the Acronis Cyber Foundation Program’s ambassadors at the Sofia office orchestrated a truly magical experience for the children of employees. They organized two professional orientation events designed to provide young minds with an engaging glimpse into the multifaceted world of the tech industry.
However, just because parents work in the IT sector doesn’t mean their children automatically understand what their moms and dads do all day. And, let’s be honest, not all of us grasp the intricacies of our coworkers’ roles either, right? 😉 That’s where this event stepped in. With 13 inspirational speakers from various departments, the young attendees were treated to a wide spectrum of insights, ranging from coding, quality assurance, cyber safety, essential skills required for success in the IT industry, to brand design, procurement, product management, marketing, and technical writing. All of this was presented in an easily digestible manner suitable for young minds.
This event wasn’t just about passive learning; speakers actively engaged the children in discussions, encouraged them to ask questions, and even introduced interactive games. One such game involved a role-playing exercise, where the kids took on the roles of product managers, programmers, quality assurance engineers, designers, and more. Through this hands-on experience, they gained a comprehensive understanding of the product creation process from start to finish.
Marina Nevolina, one of the project managers for these events, shared her excitement, saying, “What impressed me most was the spark of interest that I saw in the kids. When they came, they didn’t know much about tech, but upon leaving, they expressed aspirations to become programmers, testers, designers, and product managers. The curiosity that the speakers inspired is a tremendous achievement, and I feel truly proud of it.”
The children also had the opportunity to tour the office, allowing them to see where their parents spend their workdays and get a feel for the company culture.
In total, 30 children attended these enriching events. One parent expressed their gratitude, saying, “Thanks for organizing this event and thanks to everyone who joined in to talk about their professions. Now, two of my three children want to work at Acronis 😀.” Another parent shared, “My children aged 8, 11, and 13 years old finally visited their dad at work and learned more about Acronis. They were just amazed by the event, and three hours passed in the blink of an eye. My son used to believe Acronis was just a wealthy, dull company, but it turns out it can be compared to cool Elon Musk’s companies 😀. This revelation prompted him to resume his programming classes.”
“During the Professional Orientation Day, we showed kids what their parents do every day and the cool skills they’ve picked up along the way. It’s all about showing where hard work can take you. We painted a vivid picture of where passion meets profession, and where dedication can lead tomorrow’s innovators!” – said Eva Ilkova, the other project manager for the events.
Events like these are only possible through the dedication and enthusiasm of numerous individuals. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our ambassadors, the inspiring speakers, the supportive parents, and, of course, the bright and curious kids who attended. Together, they’ve ignited a passion for technology and opened doors to a world of possibilities for the next generation.
