Gina Wiley: My Journey So Far as a Senior Engineering Manager
Gina Wiley is a Senior Engineering Manager. Read more about her journey and what our engineering culture is like here at Deliveroo.
Could you introduce yourself and your role at Deliveroo?
I’m Gina, I’m a Senior Engineering Manager at Deliveroo. I lead our Consumer Experience group in our New Verticals engineering team, and I’ve been at Deliveroo for five years.
Could you walk us through your path to engineering management and what brought you to Deliveroo?
I studied information systems at university and developed an interest in human-computer interaction. This field emphasises understanding users and translating business processes into technical requirements. I moved to San Francisco for a tech consulting role, where I worked on a large-scale, multi-country project replacing legacy systems with connected Software as a Service (SaaS) products. This cross-functional experience shaped my understanding of end-to-end business process transformation through technology.
In 2017, I joined DoorDash’s Business Applications team, working on partner onboarding and support processes, which introduced me to logistics and delivery tech during a pivotal time for the industry.
In 2020, I moved to London to work at Deliveroo, initially supporting restaurant partner onboarding in the Restaurants engineering group. I now work in the New Verticals engineering group, focusing on launching grocery and retail propositions. We’ve recently introduced a lot of new features to support this growing space; so continuing to innovate and deliver at pace to keep up with the changing market has been an exciting challenge!
Reflecting on the role of engineering manager here, what do you think is the most rewarding part of this role?
I enjoy seeing engineers on the team take on new challenges and push themselves out of their comfort zone to reach their full potential, so I’ll make sure that they get access to the right resources and opportunities so that they can continue to learn and grow.
It’s important to trust your people to reach their growth goals with the right opportunities. I believe (and have seen throughout my career) that when you give people more ownership and responsibility, they will go above and beyond to achieve a positive impact.
What would you say about career progression at Deliveroo?
In progressing your career, it’s important to know what is expected and what it means to reach that next level. I value that at Deliveroo we have a clear ‘levels and expectations’ framework and resources to guide career conversations. Our framework sets out very clearly what is expected at each level, and anyone who joins will review this framework with their manager to start the conversation of what opportunities there are to progress.
At Deliveroo I’ve found that there are so many opportunities to increase your scope of influence and responsibility. We have so many fantastic impactful projects people can get involved in, and incredible team members, which means there is no shortage of opportunity. What’s really important is leading by example; having a growth mindset to continuously work on improvement and seeking out those opportunities to grow outside of your current areas of expertise.
How have you been supported in your own growth journey?
I’ve had amazing support by all my managers, mentors, peers and team members I’ve worked with over the last 5 years. It wasn’t easy joining in 2020 and moving to a new country – it was a tricky time for many, but I always had a support network to lean on here. I’ve had very supportive managers who have advocated for me, who have provided me opportunities to grow and challenge myself, and I have benefitted from Deliveroo’s formal mentoring program to get extra support on my growth areas.
What sets Deliveroo apart from any other tech companies you’ve worked for?
Working at Deliveroo has provided me with immense opportunities to make a significant impact. I’ve been most impressed by the people I work alongside, and it’s clear that everyone has a drive to make change and do so in a way that we learn from each other and pivot quickly if needed. People here are passionate about the work they are doing; this passion creates a fast-paced environment where I feel I’m constantly learning and being challenged by those around me to consider how we can get incrementally better day-to-day.
What would be your one piece of advice for any new engineers or managers looking to join us?
No matter how big or small the project, feature, or task – give it your all. Hold a high bar for yourself and make that a regular practice, and that will show in the end result. If we all have that collective sense of ownership and accountability for the work that we’re doing, then we’ll be able to go faster as a team – it becomes a flywheel effect. Doing this also means you are setting a good example for your people and encouraging others to do the same, which creates highly effective, motivated teams that can produce incredible results.
About Gina Wiley
I’m a Senior Engineering Manager in the the New Verticals group at Deliveroo. I have over 10 years of experience in tech industry, specialising in logistics and information systems. I’m passionate about operational excellence, developing high performing teams, and mentoring women in tech. Outside of work I enjoy playing piano, exploring London, and reading books on my kindle.