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At Exadel, we believe that growth becomes more meaningful when it's shared. That's why we launched Women in Exadel: Let's Talk — a series of online conversations where women across our organization can connect, exchange experiences, and inspire one another.
In our inaugural session, we invited three accomplished leaders to share their experiences and perspectives on leadership:
Eugenia Boreyko, VP of Engineering and Women@Exadel Co-Lead
Tanya Jain, Head of Consulting Delivery and Women@Exadel Co-Lead
Tricia Ann McKinley, MD, Delivery & Project Management
Their paths into technology may be different, but they share a commitment to helping others grow and succeed.
Why Does IT Inspire You?
Technology is constantly evolving, and that is exactly what makes it so exciting.
Tanya Jain
"IT inspires me because it's constantly evolving, constantly challenging me, and it never gets old or stagnant. Over the past two decades in this field, I've had the opportunity to continuously learn, adapt, and think creatively when solving problems. I really love the challenge of taking complex situations and figuring out how technology can help make things better, more efficient, or more scalable. What’s especially rewarding for me is our teams getting to work directly with clients and help solve real business problems through technology. At the end of the day, it's not just about systems or tools — it's about helping people and making an impact."
Tricia Ann McKinley
"IT inspires me because it combines innovation, creativity, and problem-solving in ways that can truly make a difference in people's lives. What excites me most about IT is that it is never static. There is always a new challenge to solve, a process to improve, or a better experience to create. Most important, IT inspires me because it is ultimately about people, understanding their needs, solving real-world problems, and creating solutions that make everyday experiences better."
What Are Your Main Principles for Working with a Team?
Leadership means different things to different people, but trust, communication, and support are themes that connect all three perspectives.
Eugenia Boreyko
"I actually have three principles I rely on in leadership. The first one is transparency. I believe people work better when communication is honest and expectations are clear. The second one is consistency. Leadership is not about one motivational speech or one strong decision. It's about showing up every day, keeping standards, and creating stability for the team. And the third one is leading by example. I don't believe leaders can ask for discipline, ownership, or professionalism if they don't demonstrate it themselves first. Trust is built not through words — but through repeated actions over time."
Tricia Ann McKinley
"I believe it's important for every team member to understand how their work directly contributes to our broader company vision, executive leadership goals, and client success. I care deeply about my team members and believe growth comes through honest and respectful communication. I also want us to continuously challenge ourselves to find innovative solutions for our clients. Recognizing the hard work and accomplishments of the team is incredibly important to me. People deserve visibility and recognition for the effort they put in every day."
What Challenge Made You Stronger?
Every career journey includes moments that test us. Often, those experiences become our greatest teachers.
Eugenia Boreyko
"I believe that if you never fail, you’re probably not trying anything difficult enough. The only person who never makes mistakes is the person who does nothing. For myself, failures usually trigger analysis. I ask: what did I miss, what could I improve, what should I do differently next time? I think growth starts when people stop being afraid of failure and start learning from it."
Tanya Jain
"One challenge that really shaped me happened many years ago when I stepped out of my comfort zone and joined a marketing team after spending most of my career in IT. Honestly, I was terrible at it. I didn’t know the terminology or even how marketers fundamentally approached their work. I failed repeatedly. There were many moments where I felt completely out of my depth. But what made the experience so important was learning how to keep showing up anyway. That experience taught me grit. It taught me humility. It taught me how to be vulnerable enough to ask questions and admit when I did not know something."
How Do You React to Failure?
Failure is something every leader experiences. What matters most is what happens next.
Eugenia Boreyko
"Between trying and failing or never trying at all, I will always choose trying. I don't believe there is such a thing as a completely bad experience. Sometimes it's a painful and costly mistake — but it still teaches you something valuable. What matters to me is this: do we take responsibility for our mistakes and learn from them? Leadership is not about punishing every mistake. Sometimes people need to go through the experience themselves to truly understand something."
Tanya Jain
“My reaction to failure has evolved significantly over time. When facing my own failures, my initial response often centered on disappointment, frustration, regret, and, in some situations, even grief. Over the years, however, those emotions have gradually given way to acceptance, reflection, and a focus on lessons learned. What once felt like an endpoint now feels more like an opportunity for growth, fostering hope and ultimately building resilience. What I find interesting is how differently I respond when others experience failure. My immediate instinct is almost always one of support and encouragement. Rather than dwelling on the setback itself, I focus on helping them process the experience, learn from it, and identify a path forward.”
Tricia Ann McKinley
"I view failure as an opportunity to learn and improve rather than something to fear. Innovation rarely happens without experimentation, and experimentation naturally comes with setbacks along the way. When it comes to others, I believe it's important to create an environment where people feel supported taking thoughtful risks and trying new ideas without fear of blame. At the same time, I also believe failure should come with ownership and accountability. Learning from mistakes is what ultimately builds stronger individuals, stronger teams, and more innovative solutions."
What Inspires You Every Day to Keep Growing?
When asked what motivates them most, all three leaders returned to the same theme: people.
Eugenia Boreyko
"What inspires me most is seeing people and environments grow. One of the best feelings is watching people around me become more confident and independent. Leadership is not about keeping strong people close forever. It's about helping them grow enough to fly on their own."
Tanya Jain
"What inspires me every day to keep growing is our people. I feel incredibly fortunate to work alongside such smart, hardworking, talented, committed people every single day. I see my role as being there to support them, advocate for them, guide them, and help create the best experience possible for them. Also, leadership is never one-directional. While I may support and mentor others, they teach me constantly too."
Tricia Ann McKinley
"What inspires me every day is people - both the people I love and the people I work with. I believe in leading with empathy, assuming positive intent, and taking the time to understand where others are coming from. I'm motivated by the opportunity to learn from others, support their growth, and work together to create meaningful impact."
Growing Together
The stories shared during our first Women in Exadel: Let's Talk session show us that there is no single path to success in technology. Every journey is different, every challenge teaches us something, and every experience can help someone else find their way.
Most importantly, these conversations demonstrate the power of women supporting women. By sharing our stories openly, celebrating one another's achievements, and helping each other grow, we create a stronger and more inclusive community.
This is only the beginning of the conversation, and we look forward to hearing many more voices, stories, and experiences in the future.
Together, we learn. Together, we grow.
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