How Accessibility and Community Define Success at EPAM Colombia

How Accessibility and Community Define Success at EPAM Colombia

Curiosity drives Laura Curtidor. Now, as a Software Testing Engineer at EPAM Colombia who’s focused on accessibility, she has complemented her passion for learning new things and love of technology with a true desire to improve people’s lives and help them thrive in their daily activities. How is she turning her ambitious goals into realities and overcoming challenges along the way? Through the power of teamwork and community.  
 
Laura brings over a decade of experience to the tech industry. From the start, she looked beyond code and revenue, using her creativity to address social issues and make a difference. This passion led her to accessibility testing, where she ensures technology can truly be used globally by everyone. 

At EPAM, Laura found the ideal place to learn and use her talents for good. She also found a supportive team where she can exchange ideas and drive innovation. 

Accessibility Benefits Everyone 

When talking about accessibility, people may first imagine products designed to benefit a specific group of people, like a wheelchair ramp. Laura reminds us that while it will benefit people in wheelchairs, it will also be used by people with strollers and bikes. “The goal is simple,” shares Laura. “We should always strive to build products for everyone because everyone uses them.” 

She highlights how a common pitfall in software development is creating products for an “average user” and how many teams discover that this person doesn’t exist. 

It is important to create and test software with everyone in mind and go beyond traditional use cases. In the modern development landscape, teams must consider a wide range of life experiences and backgrounds when creating tools and solutions. Doing so ensures the desired outcome while making a real difference in the industry and the world. 
 
Opening Doors for Culture and Knowledge 
 
In her four-plus years at EPAM, Laura has worked on a variety of projects across multiple industries. Yet one stands above the rest: a collaboration with a leading global media brand focused on science, education, exploration and environmental conservation. 

This project broadened her expertise. For almost a year, she developed experiences allowing audiences to connect with museums, history and scientific principles in new ways, from exploring world history to discovering the secrets of the deep sea. 

Success requires a cross-functional team effort. This collaboration helped Laura understand the true impact of her work: ensuring high standards of accessibility allows products to reach and inspire significantly larger audiences. 

Growing Together 

While Laura came to EPAM with experience in functional testing on web and mobile apps, she discovered her passion for accessibility here. She credits this to her active participation in internal tech communities and professional groups. For Laura, surrounding herself with experts, getting out of her head and bouncing ideas off her team is a highlight of EPAM’s culture. 

This culture of collaboration fuels her success — both technically and personally. These communities of like-minded professionals go beyond tech talk; they serve as support networks that build confidence and foster growth.

Surrounded by support: Laura and her colleagues collaborate to share knowledge and build connections

Sharing Knowledge to Drive Growth 

For Laura, the key to growth is simple: sharing knowledge. After gaining so much from EPAM’s communities, she is dedicated to giving back. She leads cross-functional teams exploring AI for humanity and mentors the next generation of STEM talent, actively nurturing the networks that helped her get to where she is now. 

Ready to join a community that grows together? Explore open roles at epam.com/careers.