Summary of "Как я работал в ВETERA и познал б0ль [Моя ГРАНДИОЗНАЯ документалка]"
Overview
This video is a detailed, candid documentary-style recount by Andrey about his 4.2 years working in the IT department of a well-known Belarusian online gambling company. The company was initially known as Parimatch and later rebranded as BTR (Betera). Andrey shares extensive insights into his role as a project manager and later head of IT development, describing the struggles of creating a functional, motivated team amid a toxic and politically charged environment.
The narrative covers corporate culture, management challenges, team building, internal politics, and the ethical and social issues surrounding the gambling industry.
Key Lifestyle and Work Tips
Building Effective Teams
- Hire trusted people with proven skills, ideally those you know or have worked with before.
- Invest in juniors and train them internally rather than hiring inexperienced outsiders.
- Maintain open communication and collective decision-making within teams.
- Create clear roles (e.g., separate Project Manager and Business Analyst positions) to avoid overload and inefficiency.
- Foster a respectful, trusting environment where developers can contribute ideas freely.
Navigating Corporate Politics
- Understand that in any organization, leaders bring their own trusted people.
- Avoid conflicts with HR and management by differentiating responsibilities clearly.
- Use diplomacy: playing “good cop/bad cop” roles helps in managing internal disputes.
- Be aware of gossip and “snitching” culture, especially prevalent in HR departments.
- Recognize that some management decisions are politically motivated and may not align with efficiency.
Recruitment and HR Challenges
- HR was often inexperienced, poorly motivated, and controlled by a dominant figure (Varvara).
- LinkedIn and active hunting for developers were initially underused; personal networks were more effective.
- HR often prioritized control over quality, leading to hiring of inexperienced or unsuitable staff.
- Budget constraints and salary pegging to exchange rates created dissatisfaction and turnover risks.
- Training and mentoring new hires internally was essential due to market shortages of skilled developers.
Dealing with Work-Life Balance
- Project managers rarely get proper vacations due to constant responsibilities.
- Personal relationships at work can complicate professional dynamics.
- Awareness of mental health and managing stress in a high-pressure environment is critical.
Corporate and Industry Insights
- The company operated in a controversial industry (online casinos and bookmakers) with aggressive marketing and ethical concerns.
- Gambling addiction was recognized as a serious social problem, with the company profiting from vulnerable individuals.
- The Belarusian branch was heavily influenced by political and economic instability, especially after the 2020 elections and the 2022 war in Ukraine.
- Collaboration with the Kyiv office was initially strong but ended due to geopolitical conflicts.
- The company underwent restructuring, including creating multiple legal entities for tax and operational reasons.
- A shift from Parimatch to Betera involved aggressive rebranding and marketing tactics, including misleading charity campaigns.
- Internal corporate events and “corporate values” training were often seen as meaningless or irritating by employees.
Team and Personnel Highlights
- Andrey: Project manager turned head of IT development, responsible for building and managing a team growing from a dozen to over 70 developers.
- Arseniy: Immediate supervisor and long-time system administrator, avid gambler, and key stakeholder in development decisions.
- Varvara: Dominant HR leader, controlling and politically powerful, often obstructive to Andrey’s initiatives.
- Gosha Slezhevsky: Head of product department, hired rapidly but lacked experience and caused internal issues.
- Victoria: Promising HR professional trained by Andrey, who eventually left for better opportunities abroad.
- Deputy (unnamed): Andrey’s close assistant who later became problematic due to personal issues and conflicts.
- Ganiballector: Veteran developer, respected and trusted by Andrey.
- Max Pirozhok: Head system administrator, skilled and reliable.
- Edmun Eskir: Marketer with no real skills, favored by management due to connections.
- Kipelov’s son: DevOps specialist with security background, promoted by Andrey despite initial resistance.
- Designer: Initially a 3D designer transitioned to UX under Andrey’s management, involved in a personal relationship with him.
Notable Locations and Events
- Offices in Minsk, including the Futuris Business Center.
- Kyiv office, a key hub for the company before geopolitical tensions.
- Business trips to Kyiv and Dubai, with observations on corporate culture and events.
- Relocation efforts for developers to Poland and other countries due to political instability.
Summary
This video offers a raw, unfiltered look into the life of an IT manager within a large, politically complex gambling company in Belarus. It touches on the difficulties of managing people, navigating corporate politics, ethical dilemmas of the gambling industry, and the personal toll of leadership in such an environment.
Andrey’s story includes practical advice on team building, recruitment, and leadership, as well as sobering reflections on workplace dynamics, loyalty, and betrayal. The narrative is peppered with humor, sarcasm, and personal anecdotes, making it a unique insider’s perspective on a controversial sector.
Notable People
- Andrey (narrator)
- Arseniy Shket (supervisor)
- Varvara (HR leader)
- Gosha Slezhevsky (product head)
- Victoria (HR)
- Deputy (Andrey’s assistant)
- Ganiballector (senior developer)
- Max Pirozhok (system administrator)
- Edmun Eskir (marketer)
- Kipelov’s son (DevOps specialist)
Locations
- Minsk (Futuris Business Center)
- Kyiv office
- Poland (developer relocation)
- Dubai (corporate trip)
Companies
- Parimatch (former company name)
- Betera (current company name)
- DG (Armenian company involved in platform migration)
Category
Lifestyle
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