Stepping into leadership isn’t just a new title. It’s a different job, a different mindset, and a different way of measuring success.
Zhenya Pashova knows this well. She’s been a Tidean for over five years, joining Tide as a Senior Software Engineer, growing into an Engineering Manager, and now taking on the role of Site Lead for Bulgaria. Along the way, her focus has shifted from writing code herself to supporting engineers, building teams, and helping people do their best work.
If you’ve ever wondered what actually changes when you move from engineering to leadership, Zhenya’s journey offers an honest look behind the scenes. The technical skills matter, but for her, one of the biggest learnings has been letting go of individual output and learning how to help others grow.
We sat down with Zhenya to talk about her path into leadership, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and what engineers should know if they’re thinking about growing their careers at Tide.
What first drew you to technology, and how did that turn into a career in engineering?
I’ll admit – my journey with technology wasn’t love at first sight. But what drew me in was the idea of building something useful, something that could make life easier – not just for me, but for others too.
I studied at a mathematics high school in my hometown, where I got a strong foundation in informatics, programming, and English. That’s where my journey really began. Later, I earned a bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering from Sofia University and a master’s in IT Project Management from New Bulgarian University. By then, I knew I wanted to work in tech – not just to build systems, but to help solve real-world problems with them.
What's been the most valuable lesson from your journey from Junior Engineer to Engineering Manager?
The biggest shift wasn’t technical, it was in my mindset. As a Software Engineer, your world revolves around your own tasks. You build something, you ship it, and there’s that sense of individual accomplishment.
But as an Engineering Manager, your success is measured by how well your team performs. You can’t do everything yourself, and you shouldn’t. The key is to enable others – to trust your team, guide them, and help them grow. That’s the most rewarding part for me now – seeing people develop and succeed because of the space and support I’ve created.
You've been at Tide for over 5 years. What has kept you here and motivated your growth?
It’s rare to find a place where the culture remains consistent even as the company scales. That’s what makes Tide special. We’ve grown a lot since I joined, but our values – collaboration, trust, and a strong focus on our members – have stayed the same.
Another big reason is the opportunity to try new things. You’re not stuck doing the same job for years. You can change teams, explore different areas, and work on a variety of products – all without leaving the company. That kind of flexibility has helped me continue growing, both technically and as a leader.
How has your role changed since becoming an Engineering Manager and Site Lead for Bulgaria, and what do you find most rewarding about it?
Becoming an Engineering Manager was a big step. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about my own growth – it was about helping others grow too, and I absolutely love that. Supporting people, helping them solve problems, celebrating their progress – it’s incredibly fulfilling.
As a site lead for Bulgaria, my scope has expanded even more. I now work across hiring, onboarding, and supporting engineers at different stages of their growth across Tide’s global engineering organisation – not just for backend roles, but across frontend, product, and design as well. It’s a broader, more strategic role that gives me visibility into the bigger picture. It’s challenging, but it’s also energising. It feels like I’m helping shape not just a team, but an entire engineering community.
What makes Tide's engineering culture unique, and what qualities help engineers thrive here?
We have a strong sense of ‘engineering community’. We support each other, share knowledge, and continuously learn through our communities of practice. Whether it’s exploring new tech or tackling difficult architecture decisions, we do it together.
But what really sets us apart is the ownership mentality. At Tide, you don’t just write code – you own the functionality end-to-end. From architecture and implementation to deployment and member experience, it’s your responsibility. That’s incredibly empowering, but it also requires commitment, curiosity, and a deep sense of accountability.
What would you want engineers who are considering Tide to know before joining?
Tide is a great place for engineers who want to grow. We’re data-driven, member-focused, and deeply collaborative. You’ll work with smart people from around the world and get to build products that make a real difference for small businesses.
Also, our remote-first approach is something I personally appreciate. I love being in the office to connect with colleagues, but on busy days, I value the ability to work from home and fully focus. That kind of flexibility makes a big difference, and it’s something we really value at Tide.
If you’re looking for a place where you can grow, experiment, and be part of a supportive, forward-thinking engineering culture—Tide might just be the place for you.
About Tide:
Launched in 2017, Tide is the leading business management platform in the UK. Tide helps small businesses save time and money by not only offering business accounts and related admin services, but also a comprehensive set of highly usable and connected administrative solutions from invoicing to accounting and adjacent commercial services such as web-site building.
Tide has nearly 800,000 SME members in the UK (14% market share) and more than 1 million SMEs in India. Tide launched in Germany in May 2024 and France in September 2025.
Tide has also been recognised with the Great Place to Work certification three years in a row. Tide has been funded by Anthemis, the Apax Digital Funds, Augmentum Fintech, Creandum, Salica Investments, Latitude, LocalGlobe, SBI Group, Speedinvest and TPG, amongst others. It employs more than 2,500 Tideans worldwide. Tide’s long-term ambition is to be the leading business management platform globally.
Curious about working at Tide? Explore opportunities on our Careers Page.
