We are TOWA: Sara, Intern DXP Development

Hi Sara, tell us first of all who you are, what you do at TOWA and how you became aware of TOWA.

I am Sara Konno, originally from Japan and have been living in Vienna since autumn 2021. I am currently studying for a bachelor's degree at a University of Applied Sciences and was looking for a mandatory internship – that's how I came across TOWA on LinkedIn.

After I looked at the website, I discovered the open DXP intern position and applied right away.

When did your enthusiasm for development begin, and how did you come to it? 

My first degree actually had nothing to do with IT – I studied a foreign language. But programming fascinated me even back then. I found the idea exciting: to build something entirely my own from the ground up.

The move to Vienna was the perfect time for me to start something new. Since I am someone who likes to understand how things work, I didn't want to just start with a language or a framework – I wanted to learn the fundamentals. So I enrolled in a computer science program. That's how my journey into the tech world began.

What does your typical workday at TOWA look like? 

I usually start my day with a short walk to the office – luckily it's very close. Once there, I make myself a cup of tea. In the morning we have our daily stand-up: everyone briefly reports what they're currently working on, where there might be obstacles, and what happened the day before. After that, it's into the doing!

Which projects are you currently working on? 

I am currently assisting with a website project. My focus is on bug fixes and the refactoring of components.

How does working at TOWA differ compared to your previous employers? 

In fact, this is my first job at a digital agency – and almost everything was new to me. But that’s exactly what made it exciting!

What do you particularly like about your internship? 

Already on the first day I noticed: here you constantly learn something new. During onboarding there were not only the usual HR documents, but also a whole lot of technical resources — on Git, Vue, JavaScript, CMS systems and much more. That made it enormously easier for me to get started.

And then there was the buddy program: my buddy Juliana was simply great. We had lunch together, took tea breaks — and she was always there when I had questions. But honestly, the whole team was super helpful and warm.

Are there any specific challenges in your role with us? 

Sometimes I wish I already had more advanced skills so I could take on more complex tasks. But that's exactly what motivates me to keep learning and to continue developing myself!

Do you feel that working at TOWA has helped you grow and develop? 

Definitely!

I couldn't have wished for a better place to grow and learn.

Which highlight at TOWA has particularly stuck in your mind? 

Definitely the team event in Innsbruck. It was really nice to finally meet the colleagues from Germany and Bregenz in person – until now I had only known them from meetings on the screen.

And without exaggeration: Everyone at TOWA whom I had the pleasure of meeting was not only super competent, but also incredibly friendly and open.

Now a question for everyone who is thinking about becoming part of TOWA: What would you tell them? 

Just do it – you won't regret it!