At Willyama, we’re proud of the diverse paths our team members take. In this blog, one of our early-career employees shares her journey from university student to valued team member, and how working at Willyama has shaped her growth in the tech industry.
Bianca Ingles
When I first joined Willyama, I had just finished my first year of university. I was bright eyed, full of ambition, and keen to get real world experience in the tech industry. I’m a proud Wiradjuri woman who was raised on Yuin country, in a small semi-rural coastal town.
Opportunities felt limited, especially for someone like me who dreamed big. My family isn’t well off, and as the first in my family to go to university, I had a lot to learn and figure out. I was navigating a new city, a big university, and a whole new world as I worked towards building the future I wanted.
I’ve always been involved in volunteering, especially with programs that support young mob and promote STEM. I had been mentoring at ANU’s National Indigenous Summer School when I met Kieran, who was dropping off one of his kids. We got talking about the industry and the next thing I knew, he offered me a job at Willyama. I said yes, and I haven’t looked back since.
Since then, I’ve had the chance to explore so many different roles, from IT and project management to sales. Each experience has helped me build a wide range of skills and given me insight into the full business process, from sales through to delivery. I’ve learned how to write professional documents, grasped complex cloud security concepts, and started to connect what I was learning in uni with how it works in the real world. I’ve grown a lot, learning to tackle challenges, communicate clearly, and build resilience in the face of setbacks.
What’s made the biggest difference is the culture at Willyama. From the start, they supported me as an individual, not just an employee. They offered flexible arrangements around my studies, were always available to help with difficult uni concepts, and welcomed me back during breaks to build more experience. When I needed to take time off from study for a year, they brought me on full time and supported me through that chapter too. When I was ready to return and finish my double degrees, they backed me without hesitation. Willyama supports those who want to learn, grow, and explore different career paths. I’ve always had the support of Kieran and my colleagues, who go out of their way to help me succeed.
Being part of the team means being seen and supported. Willyama has always had my back, both professionally and personally. They’ve never just seen me as a worker but as a whole person, with values, dreams, and a future worth investing in. Because of that, I’ve been able to look after my family, pursue my passion in tech, and keep pushing forward even when the odds were against me.
I’m proud to be part of the team and excited for what’s next.
