Watch Our Virtual Event with MongoDB's Women Leaders
Watch our virtual event from November 2020 with MongoDB, the leading modern data platform and the first database provider to IPO in over 25 years. MongoDB's cloud database platform is redefining how developers build amazing apps.
Speakers from MongoDB included:
- Meghan Gill, Vice President, SalesOps
- Stephanie Samuels, Regional Director, Sales
- Julia Prause, Director, Customer Success
- Nati Yemane, Sr. Solutions Architect
- Vanda Friedrichs, Sales Development Representative
Breaking the Stigma Around Mental Health: Meet Yulia Genkina
Below is an article originally written by Jess Katz at PowerToFly Partner MongoDB, and published on July 21, 2020. Go to MongoDB's page on PowerToFly to see their open positions and learn more.
Yulia Genkina is a Curriculum Engineer on the Education team at MongoDB. In her day-to-day, she creates new educational experiences for others to learn how to use MongoDB. She loves what she does because she believes that access to learning should be free and available to everyone. Before working at MongoDB, she used to teach in a public school in New York City. Yulia is also an advocate for mental health and sat down with me to share her experiences and why she believes we need to break the stigma that surrounds mental healthcare.
Jessica Katz: Thank you so much for sharing your story with me - I know how passionate you are about mental health awareness. I would love to learn about your experiences with mental health and what some of the challenges are that you've faced.Yulia Genkina: Sure! My experience with mental health ranges from being in the role of a caretaker for those around me who struggle and need support, to me myself seeking mental health care and support.
I grew up in Russia, where there is a serious stigma around mental health, and for the majority of the population, mental health issues and complications are not viewed as medical problems. I've often heard people with depression being referred to as lazy and weak even if those people were beloved members of my family. In fact, my father still holds this very opinion despite knowing that I live with depression.
It is a very strange space to be in, especially given the fact that I grew up with a mother who was diagnosed with Schizophrenia, a step-mother with clinical depression, and a sister with a borderline personality disorder. All these diagnoses require care, treatment, and compassion, just like any other chronic diagnosis. Good mental healthcare in Russia was hard to come by when I was growing up there, but I was hoping that the conditions of my family's mental health did not affect me too much when I was making the move to New York.
When I began teaching in New York City, it became apparent to me that there is a strong stigma surrounding mental health here as well. Many communities from which my students came had a very similar outlook on mental health to what I experienced in Russia. A lot of my students should have been provided with mental health care but they didn't receive the care they needed. The schools did not have enough resources to support its students or educators in that way either.
With regard to my mental health, I initially started seeking help to find a way and to get support to convince my husband to accept mental health care and start going to therapy. While going to therapy to find ways to support him, I found that I too was struggling a lot and was in need of help. At this point, we are both in good care of a fantastic doctor, taking care of ourselves, each other, and our loved ones to the best of our ability, which wasn't possible a few years ago.
JK: How have you grown through this experience and what have you learned about yourself throughout this process?
YG: I learned some cliche things that are nevertheless true. You can't truly care for others if you don't practice self-care, just like you can't truly love someone if you don't love yourself. But I also learned some surprising things about myself. In the past, I've been very supportive and happy for people who chose to take prescribed medication for their mental health, however, when it came to my turn in this journey and I had to make the decision of whether or not I was willing to try medication, I was scared.
There are so many myths around antidepressants, people who take antidepressants, and just any mental health-related medication, and I carried that stigma and fear within me as well. I thought, "I'm not the kind of person who needs medication! That's the last resort! What if I become dependent on antidepressants forever? That would be horrible!" I thought all sorts of scary things. This is especially silly given that my husband was already taking this same medication and he was doing great, and I was in full support of it.
What helped me snap out of this was my husband, my therapist, and family and friends who have also experienced mental health issues. For example, learning that my super awesome, always energetic, inquisitive, researcher aunt also took antidepressants at some points in her life, yet here she was living her best life, gave me hope. Learning similar things about other people through sharing my fears and experiences with them really helped me.
JK: How did MongoDB support you during this time and how do you think people with mental health conditions can be best supported?
YG: Having good health insurance through MongoDB is an incredible privilege with regard to mental health care. I've been utilizing company-sponsored memberships that are centered around mental health care as well like Headspace, which is a meditation app. The flexible work schedule we have at MongoDB has been invaluable too. I can schedule an appointment with my therapist when it's convenient for me instead of strictly before or after working hours. As long as I get my work done, taking out an hour a week for a therapy session doesn't negatively affect how my manager views me or my performance.
Similarly, I've been able to take PTO when needed without having to explain that I just need a self-care day, or that I'm dealing with a mental health emergency.
I think there are many ways to support others in their journey to taking care of their mental health. Here are some that I can think of right now:
- Don't attempt to be your friend's or employee's therapist. Instead, research how to best hold a non-invasive compassionate conversation with that person to let them know that you are there for them to help accommodate when needed.
- Establish a clear communication/support protocol where both parties have a guilt-free and pressure-free conversation about getting support when moments of a mental health crisis arrive.
- Don't assume. It can be hard to know when someone is struggling with mental health and needs support so never make assumptions. Instead, having respect, trust and clear communication are very important at all times.
JK: Why do you think it's important for people to be more open to talking about mental health?
YG: There is a lot of stigma around this subject, and with stigma comes a lot of misinformation and fear. This means that people don't know when and how to look for help, or there is fear of taking medication or trying different types of therapy. The thing is though, the more we talk about it, the more we learn. We learn that everyone is different and one approach may work for some but not others. We learn about the variety of ways in which people around us cope and grow, we learn to not assume, and most importantly we learn empathy.
I found that people are generally surprised when someone speaks about mental health openly, but are also relieved at the same time, to know that they are not alone. If we don't talk about these things then we might believe that everyone else's life is perfect while scrolling through Instagram, where everyone we see is living a happy, interesting, well-balanced life, and we think for some reason, we're the only ones who just can't figure it out. In reality, everyone struggles in some way or another, and we can all learn from each other and support each other if we actually talk about what we are going through.
JK: Why are you passionate about this?
YG: I've seen the lack of mental health care and complete denial of mental health importance ruin the lives of many people in my life. My immediate family has gone through so much turmoil with multiple people in the family having schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and other life-long conditions going untreated and ignored. I've seen so much suffering and denial while teaching high school in New York City as well. I don't wish this struggle on anyone, and from what I'm seeing there is a real mental health crisis in many communities in the US. If me speaking about this helps even a tiny bit, then I'll keep speaking up.
JK: What would you like other people to know about this issue?
YG: There is so much! Mental health is part of our physical health and needs as much care and attention as our physical bodies do. I always thought that I was a strong and independent person, who can take on pretty much anything that life throws at me (I know, a bit arrogant of me) but the reality is that no matter how strong and independent you are as a person, you are still affected by so many factors that are in and out of your control. Do your research, learn about yourself and your health.
Working on your mental health is similar to exercising, or eating healthy — it is another very important way to better yourself and your quality of life. Do more research to understand what is true and what isn't about the mental health options that are available to you.
If someone you love and are in close relationship with is experiencing a mental health crisis, it is as important for you to get help as it is for them. Caring for someone in this situation is difficult and has a profound impact on your mental health as well.
Take care. We're all in it together.
Watch Our Virtual Event with MongoDB's Leaders
PowerToFly kicked off September 2020 with an interactive virtual networking and hiring event with MongoDB - used by millions of developers to power innovative products and services.
Speakers from MongoDB included:
- Cindy Class, Director of Diversity & Inclusion
- Tess Avitabile, Director, Engineering
- Esha Maharishi, Lead Engineer
- Rachelle Palmer, Sr. Product Manager
- Veronica Tudor, Team Lead, Solutions Architects
Employee Benefits That Make a Difference at MongoDB
Below is an article originally written by Jess Katz at PowerToFly Partner MongoDB, and published on October 22, 2019. Go to MongoDB's page on PowerToFly to see their open positions and learn more.
At MongoDB, our employees get to make a huge impact and disrupt the database software industry every day. However, making a large impact isn't the only perk of working at MongoDB. We also provide our employees with the resources they need to thrive in many aspects of their lives. We're devoted to creating an open, innovative, and supportive environment for our team.
From mid-day meditation sessions and yoga classes, to fertility assistance and an amazing parental leave policy — the opportunity to make an impact at MongoDB is real and we want to support all of our employees in that journey.
Take a look at just some of the benefits we offer our employees (some of these benefits vary by location).
Family Support Programs
At MongoDB, we have several programs that support our employees' families, like a generous parental leave policy, and a back-up care program for family members.
In January 2018, we launched a revamped Global Parental Leave Policy to better serve the needs, wants, and interests of all new parents at MongoDB. We offer 20 weeks of fully paid parental leave for both mothers and fathers, as well as an additional four weeks of fully paid flexible work arrangements to assist with returning to work.
We offer additional programs for expecting parents as well, like parenting workshops, a parental buddy program, and Cleo, which provides employees with fully personalized and customizable counseling on their journey to parenthood.
Lead Software Engineer, Andrew Giannotti, was one of the first employees at MongoDB to utilize our new Parental Leave Policy. His daughter was born on February 8th, 2018 and this policy made a huge impact on his life as a new father.

Having this time off allowed my wife to recover and recuperate from the birth while I took on a lot of the parenting duties like getting up in the middle of the night and changing diapers. This time really allowed me to bond with our daughter. A lot of my male friends had to return back to work only one or two weeks and they hardly ever got to be involved in the fun moments when their babies were awake. I really got to experience all of the wonderful moments with my daughter and spend time with her. While on paternity leave, I was continuously told by my team not to come back to work too early, and to stay off of my work email. I am so grateful that that part of my life was completely stress-free so I could be present with my family.
In addition to our parental leave policy, we also offer a back-up care program. Through Bright Horizons, MongoDB is able to provide access to high-quality child or elder back-up care in-home or at a center when school or daycare is closed, someone is ill, the regular caregiver is unavailable, or whenever an extra hand is needed.
We are very excited to offer these programs that support the needs of our employees.
Flexible PTO
Our flexible PTO ethos is applied globally to ensure employees take time to refresh, relax, and unwind. This policy is based on mutual trust and communication between every employee and their manager.
Sr. Product Marketing Manager, Alexandra Loh, went on a Babymoon vacation that she will never forget.
Over the holidays this past year, my manager and MongoDB made it possible for me to take time off to do something really important. My partner and I took an amazing trip to Patagonia as our "Babymoon" adventure. It was a special trip and, at 6.5 months pregnant at the time, the last one as just the two of us for the foreseeable future. I'm incredibly grateful for the flexibility and understanding to have such an opportunity.
MongoDB provides you with all of the tools you need to achieve a positive work-life blend.
Fertility and Adoption Assistance
We understand that starting a family can be challenging and we care about doing what we can to reduce the stress in our employees' lives. This includes coverage for all employees regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. We also recognize, that while some countries' national and private health insurance may cover fertility treatment for its citizens, coverage is much rarer in the U.S.
This is why we partner with Carrot in the U.S., which provides customized fertility benefits for the modern company. This includes IVF treatments, genetic testing, egg freezing, donor eggs, donor sperm surrogacy, adoption, and more.
All US MongoDB employees can sign up for Carrot, connect with a fertility expert, and find a clinic that is best for them. These services support every employee, whether they want to have an exploratory conversation, or are in the middle of receiving treatments.
The best part is that MongoDB reimburses 90% of covered costs, up to a $20,000 lifetime maximum, for employees who undergo a fertility treatment or adoption — and to protect privacy, Carrot handles the entire transaction.
Employee Affinity Groups
It's important for us to embody our values, especially when it comes to "Embracing the Power of Differences," one of our core company values. MongoDB affinity groups support our larger commitment to a diverse and inclusive community.

Our affinity groups include MongoDB Women & Trans Coders, Underrepresented People of Color Network (UPOC), MongoDB Veterans, MongoDB Women's Group, MongoDB Queeries, Ally Skills, and more. These groups provide a safe space for employees to create, ideate, mentor, and connect with one another through a common interest or identity. If you're an employee and you have an idea for a new group, we will provide you with the tools you need to build it.
Mental Health
At MongoDB, we recognize the importance of our employees' mental health and wellbeing. We want to break the stigma around mental health, and provide our employees with all of the support they need, especially at work. We are dedicated to providing our employees with valuable tools to face all of life's challenges.
We offer mental health programs to our employees where they can receive confidential assistance from qualified professionals.
With WorkLifeMatters, and Vhi, employees are provided guidance for any personal issues that they may be facing. This program provides a 24/7 hotline, three free sessions with local mental health counselors, and more.
We also offer Spring, which is a mental health service that uses technology and top providers to offer patients a more personalized approach to care. Employees interested in using Spring receive a mental health screening and support from a specialist when they need them, and more. At the moment, Spring is offered to our US-based employees in New York, New Jersey, Texas, and California.
In addition to Spring, we also offer Headspace, which is an app that provides hundreds of themed meditation sessions on everything from sleep to focus on reducing stress.
Wellness Events and Programs
We strive to offer an inclusive and holistic approach to health and wellbeing for our employees, their families, and the MongoDB community. In fact, we were recently named one of the healthiest employers in New York City by Sequoia Consulting Group, which is a great testament to our culture and commitment to wellness.

In select offices, we offer in-office yoga and bootcamp classes, meditation sessions, nutrition sessions, fitness challenges, chair massages, health check-ups, and more. In the past year, we hosted over 50 wellness events across the globe and scaled a wellness fair to a holistic global wellness program.
Throughout the year, we host wellness workshops for all of our employees around the world that cover topics like how to stay healthy while traveling, the ins and outs of holistic health, and how to improve your sleep habits.
In addition to our wellness programs, we also empower our employees to give back to their communities.
Global Mobility
MongoDB is a global company with 40+ offices around the world! Each MongoDB employee has the opportunity to expand their personal and professional experiences and may have the option to relocate to another office depending on their role.
We foster a culture for internal mobility, where employees can transfer to different teams within the company. We care about our employees' individual growth and provide them with opportunities to apply for open roles within the company on other teams.
Mairéad Bennis started working on the Finance team at MongoDB in Dublin back in February, 2014. In 2017, she was offered a role in our Financial Planning & Analysis department at our HQ in New York City that she couldn't turn down.

It was a big decision to move for this role of course, but it was a very exciting opportunity for me. Today, I can definitely see that this move took my career to the next level. I've had many incredible opportunities since moving here and great exposure to the business from working within the FP&A team. I get to work with all of the stakeholders across the company. This role helped me focus and develop my career path and I have since been promoted to an FP&A Manager. On a personal level, it's been an amazing opportunity for me to get to know New York City, whilst also slightly scary since I grew up and lived my entire life in Dublin. It was definitely a big jump at first to get used to the New York way of life, but it has been worth it!
All of these benefits are in addition to our comprehensive medical, dental, and vision health care packages, as well as our Employee Stock Purchase Program. The above list of benefits is not intended to be a comprehensive description of each benefit or plan nor does it represent a guarantee of benefits to any employee. MongoDB reserves the right to cancel, revise or otherwise change benefits provided at any time.
Here, at MongoDB, you'll have the chance to work on our most core technology and programs and make a real impact at a fast-growing public tech company.
Interested in working with us? Check out our Careers page and join our team!