Perficient is made up of thousands of talented colleagues across the world who are building the leading global digital consultancy. Every colleague has an incredible story to share, and we want to showcase the diverse perspectives, unique paths, and incredible journeys of the people impacting Perficient and our communities.
We recently sat down with Maria Fernanda Avendaño from the LATAM team to learn more about how she #MakesADifference at Perficient and one of her hidden talents that you will discover if you keep reading her People of Perficient profile.
Are you part of any Culture Groups?
Yes, I am part of the Women in Tech ERG (Employee-Resource Group) and belong to the QA Hub. I am also involved in brainstorming ideas for team building, birthday celebrations or small gifts to show my appreciation for our team members. I do that usually with my closest team members and the people I know in the company.
What is your role? Describe a typical day in the life. 
I am a Senior Business Consultant, and I’ve been working at Perficient for ten years. My day starts with a team meeting. We review the objectives that we must meet and the blockages we may have. During the week, we have activities such as sprint planning, grooming, refinement, retrospectives, test case design or execution of the same. My QA team is very active, so we distribute tasks very easily because we all have the ability to perform them. We try as much as possible to rotate tasks to maintain a fresh knowledge of the processes and not generate dependencies. We constantly support each other in case of possible inconsistencies that may arise.
What I like most about these activities is the execution. I feel like an explorer trying to discover new routes in the operation of my project as I discover how these processes can be improved. Another activity that I enjoy is the retrospectives. I consider these to be a space for growth and recognition of what we do every day. This helps us to achieve our goals within the project.
My routine since I started working from home has changed a lot. Working from home gives me the advantage of dedicating more time to my partner and family. I used to spend that time on my daily commute to work, but now I feel that I have more ownership of my time and that is something I really value. I can carry out activities like gardening, playing sports, and preparing for my rehearsals with my music band.
How do you explain your job to family, friends, or children?
I start by giving them a general panoramic of the many things I do with technology and what I learn every day.
An example that I use is: Imagine a basic calculator that has several buttons and each one has a function; my goal is that this calculator writes and calculates as expected by the user. This means that If I click on number eight, I expect to see that eight on the screen and not something else. If I subtract a two from that eight, I expect to get a six on the calculator screen. My mission is to validate that the calculator works as expected according to what the client has requested.
I like to share practical examples because it is easier to understand the basics of what I do in my work.
Whether big or small, how do you make a difference for our clients, colleagues, communities, or teams?
I try to generate empathy and a more familiar environment to help each other and not forget that we are human before we are employees. I like to make every member of my team feel good, both my Perficient team and the client. I like to celebrate our team member´s birthdays since these are special moments in people’s lives. I really like to help generate entertaining, fun spaces within the company that help us get to know others, share and relate to each other in different spaces other than the workplace.
What are your proudest accomplishments, personally and professionally? Any milestone moments at Perficient?
Personally, one of my proudest accomplishments was being recognized among my coworkers for my empathy and collaboration with colleagues. My colleagues can identify me as the one who is always involved.
As a professional, I feel proud to be able to transmit what I know to younger generations. As a member of the Women in Tech ERG team, I can share my experiences with young people and help our community grow. I also feel proud when I can support teams with a series of complex internal and external problems and guide them to generate a better work environment and more balanced teamwork.
READ MORE: Women in Tech Advances Equality at Perficient, in Our Communities, and for Our Future Leaders
What has your experience at Perficient taught you?
It has taught me to be mature and evolve both personally and professionally, to be more accurate in my decision-making, to be more tolerant, confident, humble, and to understand that there are many other points of view. Perficient has taught me to understand that we are human, and we can make mistakes. But learning from our mistakes is a daily mission. We live one day at a time.
What advice would you give to colleagues who are starting their career with Perficient?
Be open-minded and willing to receive everything that arrives in the best way possible. We should question ourselves by reflecting on all the information and experiences that we have and understanding why things happen to make the best of all the experiences. It is important to remind ourselves of our values as human beings and the possibility of discovering new things in our day-to-day life.
Why did you choose Perficient? What keeps you here?
I joined Perficient from an acquisition, which became my second home and my second family with whom I shared every day for more than eight hours per day. Here, I learned the importance of having a clear purpose to make things happen, enjoy the process, and never forget that we are humans.
Today, I am part of Perficient, a global company with new challenges and opportunities for growth. I have understood the process of change step by step and that everything brings new opportunities. I have met new people and opened my mind to understand that everything is a necessary evolution for our learning and growth, both personally and professionally.
Why are you #ProudlyPerficient?
I am proud to be part of Perficient because I feel it is my second home. Besides giving me a job opportunity, it helps me to grow day by day both professionally and personally, and it gives me opportunities to challenge myself and face all kinds of scenarios within different projects. I am proud to have the opportunity to learn about so many technologies, cultures, and languages. Being an international, global company makes me feel that no one is more or less than me. Perficient is a place where I feel that many of my needs are covered, and you can look for a helping hand at any time.
How have you grown your career with Perficient?
I have grown my career because I love to learn, and at Perficient, there are many opportunities for this. I have learned from the knowledge transmitted by my different work teams and from working on projects with different clients. I have taken courses and attended talks and activities that the company offers. I have also learned a second language and have had the opportunity to interact with new cultures.
What are you passionate about outside of work?
I am passionate about music, singing, songwriting, and performing. Being on stage is a wonderful feeling. I believe that many do not know about my vocal talent.
Perficient believes in a strong work/life balance. What is one way you accomplish this?
I respect the time for everything in life. The same way we schedule time for work, we must respect the time for personal life, family, hobbies, and everything we are passionate about.
Check out Maria´s YouTube channel and connect with her on LinkedIn.
SEE MORE PEOPLE OF PERFICIENT PROFILES
It’s no secret our success is because of our people. No matter the technology or time zone, our colleagues are committed to delivering innovative, end-to-end digital solutions for the world’s biggest brands, and we bring a collaborative spirit to every interaction. We’re always seeking the best and brightest to work with us. Join our team and experience a culture that challenges, champions, and celebrates our people.
Learn more about what it’s like to work at Perficient at our Careers page.
