As Vice-President, Bell Network, Borika Vucinic oversees engineering support and operations for Bell Media broadcast sites in Montreal and Toronto, and project engineering and network support for television and radio stations across Canada. In 2015 she was recognized as a pioneer and a voice for women in communications and technology with the Women in Communication and Technology (WCT), Technology Innovator Award. Borika holds an MBA and a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and has earned a reputation as an innovator and team builder. Formerly Director, TV and Radio Engineering, she was instrumental in building the Bell TV Network team and delivering infrastructure advances to support the Fibe TV app and Satellite TV video on demand.
“Having diversity of opinions at the table when new technologies are developed, implemented or innovated is absolutely important as diversity brings new ideas, different thoughts and multitude of options.” — Borika Vucinic
1. In a couple of sentences, who you are and what you do?
My name is Borika Vucinic and I am Vice President of Bell Media Network. My team supports the creation and delivery of Bell Media content to Linear broadcast channels, for on-demand content and over various digital outlets.
2. What’s the most important thing you have learned in your career?
I learned to persevere, trust my instinct when faced with challenges and always have best people around me who I can trust.
3. Did you have a mentor? If so, how did you find them and how old were you?
Yes, I had mentors at various steps in my career. I found them by asking the person that I look up to, to be my mentor.
4. What did you want to be when you grew up and why?
I wanted to be a medical doctor. And I still want to be that. Maybe in few years, I will pursue that dream of mine… I always wanted to help people heal from pain and suffering.
5. What things did you like to do as a teen?
I always loved to read. Novels, comics, newspapers, school books. I enjoyed reading, transporting myself into another world.
6. Are there any activities or hobbies you wish you had become involved in as a teen that would have prepared you for the role you have today?
I wish I was more physically active in sports and such. I was a bit like bookworm and haven’t spent a lot of time in sports activities playing for the team. This would have been good to understand as sports team dynamics are very similar to work teams.
7. If you could give your 12-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Be confident. Be who you are.
8. Any advice for young girls who dream of running a company in STEM?
To run a company you need to know the business well, be passionate about it and surround yourself with best people to help you run it.
9. What’s the most important thing you have learned in your career?
Stay in the job that you love and work for the company you respect. Come every day to work thinking how can i make a difference today and give it your all to make it happen.
10. Have you developed any insights about getting more women involved in science careers?
I see lots of women studying in science fields but then lesser number of them are taking technical jobs and choosing more administrative and management roles. I think we can do a better job in providing insights into career progression and opportunities in science and technical roles and showcasing more women who have taken that path.
11. What is your advice to the industry as a whole to help close the gap for women in technology?
Having diversity of opinions at the table when new technologies are developed, implemented or innovated is absolutely important as diversity brings new ideas, different thoughts and a multitude of options. Hiring women will bring diversity and enable innovation and change.
You can find out more about Borika on Linkedin.