Dear WuBookers, our series of interviews with the people of WuBook continues. After delving into revenue management with Jean Patrick Thiry and discussing connectivity with Roberto Ferrini, we want to go behind the scenes of our software to get to know Irene, Chief Technology Officer, up close. We asked her what her department does and why it’s so important, both for us and for our clients: here’s what she told us.
The Development Team: The Operational Heart of WuBook
Ambitious, motivated, knowledgeable: these are the adjectives those who work with Irene use most often to describe her. And, in fact, she is all of these things combined. This is also thanks to her extensive experience in the Support department, working directly with Zak users, which has allowed her to gain in-depth knowledge of every detail of our PMS. This expertise greatly facilitates her work today in managing the team of 15 developers (developers in industry jargon) she coordinates. In fact, Irene is responsible, along with a colleague, for the internal Technical Department tasked with overseeing software updates and the development of new features. “Most of the team works from our headquarters in Italy, and we also have a professional in Spain,” she explains, “but it’s a single department for the entire company. This means we handle programming for all the countries where we operate.” An essential role that follows precise, structured guidelines to function effectively.
“As CTO, I collaborate constantly with the Sales Department, which consults all business units to understand the needs of each market.” These may involve commercial opportunities or obligations related to tax and/or legal requirements. “Once the objectives are identified, we define a roadmap together to achieve them with the team’s support.” Synergy among all departments is, in fact, a hallmark of WuBook and is essential to ensure that strategy and technological solutions always go hand in hand. But also that the real and specific needs of each region are always met. “These can vary greatly, but we always strive to ensure that what we do is truly useful to the various regions and, above all, to hoteliers.”
Timely and accurate management focused on collaboration
So, what does the CTO’s work entail? First and foremost, the organization of activities, which are assigned to the various developers in a balanced manner and based on their specific skills. Implementation then follows a precise timeline, during which Irene oversees progress. “Once the development period dedicated to each project is over,” she explains, “the new feature is released into a test environment and made available to other developers and the business unit.” This allows for multiple tests and the identification of any malfunctions or areas for improvement: a sort of stress test with peer-to-peer review. “Only after everything has been fixed—and always in agreement with the Sales Department—can we release the new tool or the update we’ve prepared.”
Therefore, every project, regardless of size or nature, requires at least four steps: definition, development, testing (Irene’s favorite phase), and release. Each step is closely monitored by the CTO, who adopts a personal approach focused on both results and the development of her colleagues.
The servant leadership method
“I really appreciate the personal and professional relationship that develops with each programmer. And I believe it’s only fair to give each of them credit for what they’ve accomplished once the work is done.” It is on these principles that the servant leadership method (leadership in the service of others) adopted by the Manager is based. Empathy, mutual listening, and collaboration are distinctive elements of this operational paradigm, which overturns traditional hierarchies to enable fluid, effective, and stimulating collaboration. That’s why Irene never shies away, even when issues get complex or particularly advanced: she likes to have everything explained to her, even the most technical parts, so she can truly speak the same language as the team and facilitate their work as much as possible. “My work method? I have a deck where I list all the tasks for each programmer, and then I hold in-person meetings and use the whiteboard. Maybe it’s a bit old-school, but I find it very productive.”
And how can you argue with that! Just recently, our CTO led the development of the new sales model (already active in Italy) that allows the sales department to better profile potential customers and thus create tailored quotes. This is a very important achievement for the company, and by no means a given: “It was quite a challenge,” says Irene, “especially since it was a project that had already been partially launched in the past but had then been put on hold.” Her task was therefore to pick it up again, get it back on track, and shape it into a sustainable and profitable solution.
A PMS that evolves with the market
Toward the end of our interview, we ask Irene why, from her perspective (as an IT expert), a hotelier should choose Zak as the PMS for their property. “Because it’s a solution designed specifically for those who want to work better,” she says without hesitation, “with greater efficiency and less stress, without sacrificing advanced features.”Zak, WuBook’s management software, combines simplicity and comprehensiveness in a single platform: it allows you to keep everything under control intuitively, reduces the time spent on operational tasks, and minimizes errors. Furthermore, it adapts to different properties, supporting their growth without complicating processes. Speaking of growth, Irene is convinced that the hospitality industry will increasingly embrace digitalization and automation, and will require ever-greater attention to the guest experience. “Therefore,” she adds, “the PMS by WuBook will continue to evolve to stay ahead of the curve, focusing on simplicity, innovation, and tools that simplify the daily work of properties and meet their real needs, in all the countries where we operate.”
A mindset that, upon closer inspection, reflects the company’s overall culture. It is no coincidence that Irene took on the role of Chief Technology Officer at the end of 2025: a promotion that attests to her commitment in the Support department and rewards her willingness to take on new challenges. “I manage a team of all men,” she says, “but this has never been a problem for me: WuBook is an open company where ability and drive are valued without discrimination. This is another reason why I’m proud to be part of it.”
