Coffee break with Tania Skichko

Familiar faces, new challenges: a smooth move at Solaris

Interview: Marina Burtyleva

Interviewee: Tania Skichko

When we sat down with Tania for this month’s Coffee Break with Solarians, we expected to hear a story of professional growth – and we got that. But we also found something even more special: a reminder that sometimes the best opportunities are the ones we create for ourselves.

What is your role at Solaris?

Tania: I currently work as a Junior Analyst in the Seizure Operations team. My main responsibility is handling incoming documents from courts and other authorities related to account seizures.

Our team is quite big now, especially after the restructuring — we’re grouped together with colleagues managing seizure operations for international branches, insolvency systems, and the mail helix. All in all, I’d say it’s a medium-sized function.

What did you do before you joined the Seizure Operations team, and what motivated you to change teams?

Tania: Before I joined the team, I worked in the Mail Handling team at Solaris, handling physical mail. I was responsible for reading, scanning, and digitally forwarding documents to the right departments.

Interestingly, around 80% of that correspondence was always meant for the Seizure Operations team — so I ended up interacting with them on a daily basis. That made me curious.

I started learning the basics of seizure-related processes and realised I wanted to dive deeper. I knew I was ready for more responsibility and a new challenge, and when an internal opening came up I applied. I was also inspired by a colleague who had made a similar transition — she also moved from the mail team to Seizure Operations. Seeing her success gave me the final push.

How did the transition go for you?

Tania: Smooth! Since I already knew the team and they knew me – the change felt very natural. There was no need for formal introductions, and the onboarding process was easier because we already had a working relationship and mutual trust. They were also happy to bring someone in who already had some understanding of the processes. That kind of familiarity really helped.

What new skills or knowledge have you gained since making the switch?

Tania: Many! This role involves a lot of legal and procedural knowledge. I’ve learned how to verify and process documents from courts and authorities. And, I’ve gotten comfortable with the tools we use in Seizure Operations, like Jira and our internal backoffice systems.

When I worked in Mail Handling Team, I saw seizures as documents — but now I understand how to handle them, what the legal background is, and how they affect customer accounts.

I’d say I’ve also developed my attention to detail even further. It was always a strength of mine — probably thanks to my background working with speech, language, and communication disorders in children aged 3 to 6, but in this role, precision is absolutely critical.

We’re working with sensitive data and financial information, so even a small mistake could have big consequences down the line. Soft skills-wise, I’ve learned a lot from my colleagues. They’re incredibly experienced and generous with their knowledge. They always tell me, “Don’t hesitate to ask,” which makes me feel supported and helps me grow faster.

What’s one non-work-related thing that always brightens your day at Solaris?

Tania: Can I name two?

First, it’s the view from the office. I absolutely love it. I’ve taken dozens of photos from our windows — every time I post it on Instagram, it’s the same view, but I never get tired of it.

Second, it’s my colleagues. We’re such an international team — people from Ukraine (like me), Greece, Bosnia, Romania, Serbia, Nepal, Italy, Bulgaria. I love how everyone brings a bit of their culture to the team. Our lunch breaks are like mini cultural exchanges — we talk about food, traditions, even languages. It’s never boring.

We also know how to have fun. At our own Christmas party, we did a treasure hunt across the office. It felt like being a kid again — running around, solving clues, laughing together. And yes, I won!

What’s a small daily habit or routine that helps you stay productive and balanced?

Tania: I try to go for a walk during my lunch break, especially when I’m working from home. It helps me reset, breathe some fresh air, and come back with a clear head. Not every day, of course — sometimes I’m tired and just want to lie down and watch Netflix — but when I can, I walk. It makes a big difference.

Even in the office, I like to take little strolls, when we go for lunch somewhere a bit further from our usual corner. It’s those little breaks that help me stay grounded and focused.