Meet Zuzanna Dobak, who traded a decade in human resources for a seat on the tech train – and discovered that the best career switches don’t abandon your past, they build upon it.
The fear of missing the tech train
After more than 10 years in human resources, Zuzanna faced a crossroads that many professionals encounter: stay comfortable in a familiar field or take a leap into the unknown. She made a decision that would reshape not just her career, but her entire sense of what she was capable of achieving.
“There is a train going and it stops at the station,” Zuzanna explains, using a metaphor that captures her mindset perfectly. “I don’t want to miss the train called tech and AI. I want to be part of the changes that are coming in the next 20, 30 years.”
This wasn’t just about job security or salary increases – though those certainly mattered. It was about future-proofing a career and embracing an industry that’s reshaping how we work, communicate, and solve problems.
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The stackable skills philosophy
Unlike many career switchers who feel they need to abandon everything they’ve learned, Zuzanna approached her transition with what she calls a “cake philosophy” – taking pieces from different experiences to build something uniquely her own.
“Career switch doesn’t mean you have to switch yourself as well,” she reflects. “You cannot throw everything away and completely switch to another field. You are what you are, and what you’ve earned makes you good at the job.”
This wisdom proved prophetic. Today, as a Solutions Engineer at NinjaOne, Zuzanna combines her technical skills with her human resources background, creating a unique value proposition that her company clearly recognizes – she was recently promoted, validating her approach to career transformation.
The bootcamp journey: From fear to confidence
Enrolling in Le Wagon’s web development bootcamp in summer 2023 wasn’t just about learning to code – it was about proving to herself that dramatic change was possible. The experience was intense, challenging, and ultimately transformative in ways that extended far beyond technical skills.
The beginning: Confronting imposter syndrome
“At the beginning, I was afraid. Will I make it? Am I good enough?” Zuzanna recalls. “I was literally brand new. I was comparing myself with people who maybe already had some experience.”
The fear was real and paralyzing. She found herself thinking, “I can still go back to HR” – keeping one foot in her comfort zone while tentatively stepping into the unknown.
The breakthrough: Learning to ask for help
A pivotal moment came when Zuzanna spent over an hour struggling with a coding task, nearly breaking down in frustration. When she finally called her instructor Pedro for help, he delivered advice that changed her entire approach to learning:
“We are here to give you the skills. You have to ask.”
This simple interaction sparked a mental shift from trying to figure everything out alone to leveraging the expertise around her. “I started to learn how to ask for help,” she explains. “I realized that asking for help gives you better results and faster learning.”
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The realization: You don’t need to know everything
Perhaps the most liberating discovery was that expertise doesn’t require omniscience. “I don’t have to know everything,” Zuzanna realized. “This mental switch was enormous for me.”
This revelation extended beyond coding into a broader philosophy about professional growth and confidence – one that continues to serve her in her current role.
The perfect role: Solutions engineering
When Zuzanna landed her position at NinjaOne, it became clear that her multi-faceted background was an asset, not a liability. As a Solutions Engineer, she occupies a unique space that combines technical knowledge with customer interaction – exactly where her HR experience becomes invaluable.
“It’s part of customer-facing, technical job, which is not just developing,” she explains. “I have human skills, so they’re not wasted. I can actually use them.”
This role exemplifies the future of work – positions that require technical fluency combined with distinctly human capabilities like communication, empathy, and relationship building.
The holistic approach to career development
Zuzanna’s philosophy extends beyond just adding technical skills to an existing toolkit. She advocates for what she calls a “holistic” approach to professional development:
“Everything you do affects different levels and areas of your life. If you pull experience from different areas, you’re more effective. It’s like having multiple cupboards – you can open the one you need rather than limiting yourself to just one.”
This approach has yielded tangible results. Her recent promotion demonstrates that companies value professionals who can bridge different domains and bring diverse perspectives to technical challenges.
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The confidence transformation
While Zuzanna is careful to note that confidence is “a whole life process” rather than a one-time achievement, the bootcamp experience provided crucial evidence of her capabilities.
“The experience gave me a lot of strength,” she reflects. “Every day at bootcamp taught me that I can do stuff, I can fix stuff, I can break stuff. There’s always a new day, and everything you do can be changed.”
This resilience translates directly into her current role, where she approaches new challenges with the knowledge that she’s overcome difficult situations before.
Advice for career switchers and current bootcamp students
Zuzanna’s advice is both practical and inspirational, drawn from someone who’s successfully navigated a major career transition:
Be brave and take the risk
“Be brave – this is the main one. There’s a motivation behind why you do a career switch. You’re investing in yourself, so take the step and take the risk.”
Embrace the human element
“Communication skills can be used and can be efficient. In the classroom, have fun with the people you’re working with. Ask questions.”
Special advice for women
“As a woman, I can say we women sometimes see ourselves struggling and asking ‘Do I have it right or wrong?’ Sometimes just do it. Don’t overthink it – think about it, but still do it.”
Connect with other career switchers and get support on your journey. Join Le Wagon’s alumni community of 20,000+ graduates who’ve successfully transitioned into tech careers.
The ripple effect: Helping others
One of the most rewarding aspects of Zuzanna’s journey has been her ability to support others following similar paths. Her recent promotion has positioned her to share knowledge and guide colleagues who are also navigating the intersection of technical skills and customer relationships.
“Now I can help others as well,” she says. “There are still a lot of things I don’t know, but I can help with small things, and I can see how I’ve grown.”
The future of tech fluency
Zuzanna’s story illustrates a crucial trend in today’s job market: the increasing importance of tech fluency across all roles. Her success wasn’t about becoming a full-time developer, but about understanding technology well enough to bridge the gap between technical solutions and human needs.
This hybrid approach to career development – combining domain expertise with technical skills – represents the future of work in an increasingly digital world.
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our part-time and flexible learning options designed for working professionals who want to upskill without career interruption.
The frame on the wall
Zuzanna keeps her Le Wagon certification framed on her wall, not just as a professional credential, but as a daily reminder of what she’s capable of achieving. “It shows me what kind of action I took,” she explains. “For future actions, if I struggle or feel afraid, it reminds me that I’ve dealt with difficult situations before.”
Conclusion: The train keeps moving
Zuzanna’s journey from HR professional to promoted Solutions Engineer demonstrates that career switches aren’t just possible – they’re powerful. By combining her existing strengths with new technical skills, she didn’t just change jobs; she expanded her professional identity and opened doors to opportunities she couldn’t have imagined.
Her story serves as both inspiration and roadmap for anyone considering a similar transition. The tech train she was afraid of missing? She didn’t just catch it – she found her perfect seat, one that leverages everything she’d learned before while propelling her toward an exciting future.
For professionals in any field wondering if it’s the right time to add technical skills to their repertoire, Zuzanna’s message is clear: “Be brave, take the risk, and remember – you don’t have to abandon who you are to become who you want to be.”
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Zuzanna Dobak completed Le Wagon’s Web Development Bootcamp in summer 2023 and currently works as a Solutions Engineer at NinjaOne. Her story demonstrates how technical skills can enhance rather than replace existing professional expertise, creating unique value in today’s evolving job market.
