For Anja Hula, this award is more than just a line on a résumé – it’s the culmination of years of hard work, persistence, and continuous learning in both engineering and leadership. What began as an internship at Infobip has grown into a journey that now sees her leading a team of over 150 brilliant engineers.
“Winning Women Engineer of the Year Award means a great deal to me because it validates a path that hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been mine. It’s a huge motivator and a reminder of how important visibility is for women in IT,” she says.
The journey hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been meaningful. Each step has brought its own challenges, lessons, and wins. Now, Anja is sharing her story in this article, hoping to inspire and empower other women in tech.
Tech troubleshooter turned team leader
Anja’s interest in engineering began early, driven by a fascination with systems and how technology solves real-world problems. Her father, a tech enthusiast, helped foster this curiosity. “We always had the latest computers at home,” she recalls. “I started by fixing things, installing software, and teaching others.”
This led her to combine her love for mathematics with problem-solving, which ultimately guided her toward engineering.
Her journey began at Infobip, where she started as an intern. It was during those early years that she had the opportunity to dive into hands-on projects, learning quickly and contributing to meaningful work.
“As an intern, I was immediately thrown into meaningful projects and had to learn quickly,” she recalls. “That hands-on experience solidified my passion for tech and set me on a path where I could not only create solutions but also lead teams in building them.
As she moved into a leadership role at Infobip, Anja went on to build and lead successful teams. That transition became one of her biggest professional challenges.
I had a hard time accepting that I couldn’t do everything myself, nor would I spend 100% of my time coding anymore. As my responsibilities grew and I began leading more teams, I realized I had to change my approach. Stepping away from hands-on work was difficult because it had long defined me as an engineer. But over time, I learned that my impact lies in how I build teams, ask the right questions, and create space for others to thrive.
For women in engineering, there are no limits
Talking about female role models, Anja says that in the early stages of her career, she didn’t have many – she was often the only woman on the team or one of very few in meetings. “That’s why every female engineer I met along the way left a mark, whether through example, a conversation, or simply their presence, she says.
Today, it’s important to me to be part of that network of women, to share experiences and support others. I can also say that I now have the privilege of working with a boss who is both a role model and a source of support – a woman I learn from every day and truly enjoy collaborating with.
Knowing this, she confirms that you can’t break stereotypes in a single moment – you break them every day with your results.
Through my daily work with engineers and mentoring programs, I strive to be the person who signals to another girl that not only is she allowed to be here, but this space is hers just as much as anyone else’s. For women in engineering, there are no limits.
What makes a good engineer?
Since her mission isn’t only to build technology but also to empower future generations of female engineers, we asked her what qualities a good engineer should have.
“A good engineer should be curious, eager to learn, and willing to take responsibility and initiative. They should strive to understand the bigger picture and generously share their knowledge,” she says.
On the other hand, a good leader knows how to listen, communicate clearly, and build trust. Leadership isn’t about knowing everything, it’s about unlocking others’ potential and clearing the path for them to succeed.
That’s why my mission as a leader today is to help build new generations of engineers who think independently, learn quickly, adapt easily, and truly take ownership of their work – from decision to delivery.
For women at the start of their careers
To young women just beginning their careers in tech, she offers this piece of advice: “Girls, you can do anything you imagine.”
Engineering is a wonderful career because it gives you the chance to create and make an impact on the world. “Be brave, persistent, and open to change. You don’t need to have all the answers right away, what matters is staying open to every challenge, opportunity, and learning experience.
Her point is clear: believe in yourself, even when others don’t yet see your potential. Engineering isn’t reserved for someone else – the key is persistence.
What’s on the horizon for Anja?
Looking ahead in her career, Anja is eager to be involved in projects that push the boundaries of AI. She dreams of innovations that will have a lasting impact, shaping the future in ways we have yet to imagine.
With a particular interest in large language models, autonomous agents, and real-time contextual systems, she views AI not just as a tool but as a catalyst reshaping the way we think, work, and solve problems.
“AI has already changed how we operate,” she says. “And I’m excited for what’s next -because its influence on how we learn, create, and decide will only grow.”