Meet the Team: Mane Hakobyan
March 24, 2025
Meet the Team
March 24, 2025
Meet the Team
At Cleverbit Software, we believe that the people behind our projects are what make our company truly special. Meet Mane Hakobyan (pronounced “Mané”), our dedicated and meticulous QA expert, whose journey to Malta and into software development is nothing short of inspiring.
Originally from Armenia, Mane relocated to Malta with her family over two years ago, an experience that came with its fair share of challenges. Moving to a new country is never easy, and even more so when navigating complex immigration rules, embassy hurdles, and traveling with a baby. But with determination and a little bit of luck (she’s a bit of a good luck charm – lucky us!), her family made it work. Now fully settled, Mane enjoys the island life, appreciating Malta’s friendly people, beautiful weather, and proximity to the sea. Her son is also thriving here, growing up trilingual - learning Maltese, English, and Armenian!
Mane works fully remotely, which allows her to balance work with family life. As a working mum, she faces the daily juggle of childcare and career, often catching up on work in the evenings after bedtime. With no extended family in Malta to rely on, she’s grateful for her husband’s unwavering support and the flexibility Cleverbit provides - something she considers a game-changer for working parents.
Her path into software development was anything but conventional. Coming from a family with no prior experience in tech, Mane first pursued a career in economics and banking before shifting into QA at the age of 27. Inspired by her mother, a forward-thinking journalist who recognized her talent for mathematics, she carved out a new path not just for herself, but also for her younger brother, who followed in her footsteps to work in QA as well.
Though she prefers to stay out of the spotlight, Mane’s impact is undeniable. As the sole QA in her team, she takes on responsibility naturally and is known for her kindness, reliability, and passion for her work.
Outside of work, she expresses her creativity through cooking, a passion she shares with her son. She’s also a big fan of seafood (thanks to Malta’s fresh selection!) and cherishes New Year’s celebrations, a holiday even bigger than Christmas in Armenia, filled with food, gratitude, and family traditions.
Her advice to other working mums? A quote from Dr. Becky Kennedy: “It feels hard, because it is hard.” A simple yet powerful reminder that balancing parenthood and career isn’t easy, but that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.
We’re incredibly proud to have Mane on our team. Her dedication, resilience, and warmth make Cleverbit a better place every day.
Over 2 and a half years.
I am a QA Engineer.
My job is to ensure that the product developed by engineers meets the needs of both the stakeholders (who requested the product) and the final users. I do this by testing the product to find and report any issues before it reaches the users.
I was playing a game on “Dendi”, a computer we had when I was about 4 or 5 years old. It had a light gun that we used to shoot ducks - something like Duck Hunt. I also remember playing Super Mario.
Not really. When I was 14, my mom tried to convince me to start learning programming from a colleague, but I refused because I didn’t want to leave my school and friends. Needless to say, I regret that decision now.
Usually my 3-year-old son wakes me up around 6 AM. I prepare a quick breakfast for him and my husband, but I just drink water. Then my husband takes him to school, and I start work at around 7:45 AM and have brunch at my desk. I then take a break at 2:25 PM to pick up my son from kindergarten and I try to keep him engaged so I can work for a couple more hours. In the evening, I make dinner for the three of us (my son loves helping with this!) and we eat around 5:30 PM, then start his bedtime routine. After he falls asleep, we do some tidying up, chores, and then go to bed. Nothing too exciting, basically. :D
It’s not exactly a superstition, but when I used to work in the office, my colleagues would sometimes struggle with an issue, and the moment they called me over, it would suddenly be resolved without me doing anything.
I don’t have any heroes, sorry.
I was on maternity leave at the time. In Armenia, maternity leave can last more than three years. My son was 7 months old when I received a message from a recruiter. We had a call, and I thought, why not? I passed the first interview, then the technical task stage - I still remember writing it while on vacation, sitting in a hotel lobby with terrible internet. But I managed, got the job, and later received an offer to relocate to Malta. We’ve now been living on this sunny island for almost two years!
I’ve been working on the same product (but in different areas) since I joined, as it’s quite broad.
It’s friendly, fun, and caring. I really enjoy the atmosphere in the office!
Hmm, tough question. I love everything related to food, so maybe I’d like to own a cafe one day. Or perhaps be a children’s nutrition specialist - that’s another passion of mine. I still need to think about it!
Headquartered in Europe, Cleverbit Software is a prominent custom software development company, employing over 70 skilled professionals across the EU, UK and US. Specialising in custom software for business efficiency, we work with a diverse international clientele in various industries including banking and insurance, SaaS, and healthcare. Our commitment to solving problems and delivering solutions that work makes us a trusted partner with our clients.
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