Trust being
passed forward

Varvara Menta and Thanos Gkogkos on learning through mentorship

On his second day as an intern, Thanos Gkogkos picked the toughest task on the team’s list of mobile test automation cases. Some were straightforward. One was notoriously tricky. That was the one he chose.

His mentor, Varvara Menta, didn’t hesitate. »Try it,« she said, »and we’ll work through it step by step together.« They expected it would take several days, maybe a week. The next morning, Thanos had solved it.

»We were all amazed,« Varvara recalls. »That’s when I saw he had curiosity, persistence, and wasn’t afraid of challenges.« For Thanos, the moment felt different. »I was nervous about failing, but Varvara made it feel safe to step up and take on more than I thought I could.«

 

Varvara Menta

Varvara grew up in Thessaloniki. Her path into mentorship started with figuring out her own strengths. Her first tech job lasted six months before she was told she wasn’t a good fit. Instead of giving up, she used that as motivation. As the only tester on a small development team, she taught herself automation and performance testing. She later earned a Master’s in Computer Science from Aristotle University, focusing on communication networks and system security.

When she joined Netcompany in 2017, she brought more than technical skills. She brought empathy and a determination shaped by early setbacks.

»When someone on my team doubts themselves, I know exactly how that feels,« she says.

Over the years, she’s built automation frameworks for several EU projects. But the quieter work has been just as important: encouraging her team to take on challenges, question processes, and recognise their own value, even when they doubt themselves.

Travel has shaped her approach. »I love discovering new cultures and what makes each one unique,« she explains. »That same curiosity about how different people approach problems shapes how I lead. Both at Netcompany and in the wider testing community.«

Thanos Gkogkos

Thanos grew up in Serres, a small city near Thessaloniki, learning to trust his instincts along the way.

When university peers recommended Netcompany for internships, he immediately applied and was soon invited for an interview.

 

 

  • »I was quite nervous. But the interviewer was so welcoming and put me at ease immediately. That told me exactly what kind of company this was.«

 

 

When he joined in November 2024 and saw the automation tasks ahead, he could have started small. But he chose the most challenging one, and it set the tone for what came next.

The question no one else asked   

Not long after solving the complex automation case, Thanos approached Varvara with a new idea: »Could I use AI tools to support my learning?« 

It wasn’t about permission. It was about thinking differently.

»That question made me reflect on how we help new engineers grow,« Varvara recalls. 

By suggesting something new, Thanos showed that mentoring isn’t one-way, it’s about learning together.

»When people feel safe to ask questions, they stop wondering if they can do something and start exploring how far they can go,« Varvara says.

When the doubt gets loud

Later that first year, Thanos came to Varvara with something tougher than any technical issue: his uncertainty. »I wasn’t sure if Software Testing was right for me or if I should switch to Software Development,« he recalls. 

»Varvara dedicated the entire meeting to explaining each field, the career paths, the growth opportunities,« Thanos says.  

»It was profoundly reassuring,« Thanos adds. »She helped me understand that uncertainty is part of the process.« For Varvara, this taps into something deeper. »What I cherish most is the confidence I’ve been able to give Thanos.« 

After his internship, Thanos was offered a full-time position and later completed his degree in Computer Science. Now, at 25, he works on critical EU projects impacting millions.

The cycle continues

»I’ve been lucky to have leaders who value patience, trust, and even laughter when mistakes happen,«  Varvara says. »Those lessons guide how I lead now: with empathy, flexibility, and room for people to grow in their own way.« 

Thanos has started mentoring newer team members. His advice: »Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and make sure you’re surrounded by people who support you. When I first started, I had many doubts, but I quickly realised it’s okay not to know everything right away. The willingness to ask questions and admit what you don’t know is actually a strength, not a weakness, especially when you have a team that believes in you. That trust motivates me to keep improving.« 

Looking back, they’ve both changed a lot. Varvara has learned to rethink her own methods and to stay open to learning from the people she mentors. Thanos has learned that his instincts – tackling tough tasks, asking questions, speaking up about uncertainty –aren’t weaknesses. They’re strengths. 
 
It’s more than mentorship. It’s trust being passed forward. 

 

Mentoring at Netcompany

When you join Netcompany, you are paired with a mentor from day one. Your mentor is an experienced colleague who maintains a long-term relationship with you to provide continuity across projects and teams. They act as a sparring partner and offer relevant input on your career aspirations, opportunities, and well-being, even as you change teams, move between projects, or work with different managers.
Mentors have been in your position themselves and understand what it is like to be new in a career and in Netcompany. They take an active role in fostering and sustaining the mentoring.
Above all, mentoring at Netcompany is about having someone who offers sparring and guidance and contributes to your long-term development and career aspirations, alongside your project manager’s role in daily project work.

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