Meet the new team members helping Laduma launch their new product!
It’s an exciting time at Laduma. With the launch of its latest technology quickly approaching, four talented developers and engineers have been drafted in to support with the development. While the office remains temporarily closed, we are yet to all meet in person (discounting our daily Microsoft teams chats, of course) so we asked our new colleagues some interesting questions to get to know them a bit better.
What are you looking forward to most about working at Laduma?
The problem space is really interesting, and the fact the things that I make will actually make an impact on people’s ability do get stuff done. With the current state of the world, the most important thing I think I can do is make an impact.
What led you to this career?
A mixture of my Dad and blind luck. My Dad was trained by IBM, worked as an engineer for Hitachi Data Systems in the 80s, and then in the 90’s built super computers for large organisations and nation states.
I was always surrounded by computers and technology; my younger brother and I built our first computer when I was eleven. I went to Uni to study Electrical and Electronic Engineering to better understand how computers and technology worked. During A-levels I’d done a course that involved programming microcontrollers in Assembly, and I thought I would be doing more of that. After Uni I joined the gig economy as, lots of people do now, as a tester. This led me to join an Agency as a junior engineer with a paid learning placement. Most of my knowledge and experience in software is self-taught. From there I’ve worked in retail, robotics, education, healthcare and other industries.
What energizes you at work?
Making and impact, to both my work colleagues and the people that use the software/products that I help create.
What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?
At a previous company, we did an in-place rollout of a completely redesigned checkout payment workflow for a retail company, the impact of that increased revenue 0.8%, which I know doesn’t a lot, but it equated to nearly £80M of income.
What’s the best advice you can give to someone who just started their career?
Don’t stop asking questions, be open to learning new things, and its ok to make mistakes, own up to them, own the process of fixing it and learn from it.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about your position?
That software is about computers. Inherently software and writing software is about people and communications.
If I’ve not understood what the program needs to do, I’m going to write something that’s not useful. Likewise, if I don’t write my code in a way that other people can clearly understand, and I make it hard to use the tools that I have written, then I’ve communicated badly.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A chef, like my mum. I still cook lots and really enjoy it.
If you could get a new skill in 10 minutes, what would it be?
How to draw, and paint. It’s a skill I’ve not put time into, and when I see my wife doing amazing things with paints, inks, and pencils, I wish I had invested time in it.
What upcoming technological innovation will dramatically impact the industry in the next five years?
I think it will be a blend of things, machine learning, weak artificial intelligence (I personally don’t think that we will actually achieve general artificial intelligence that is human like), higher bandwidth and the rise of 5G, as well as improvements in human to machine interaction with natural user interfaces.
If you could add one thing to the office, what would it be?
A permanent barista and coffee bar. I may be the typical coder and drink too much coffee.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
I don’t have one, for me to sing karaoke, I need to have more Dutch courage than enables me to actually sing.
If you had to be a breed of dog what would it be and why?
Can I be a cat instead?
What are you looking forward to most about working at Laduma?
Being part of a new project – working with great people and being part of the team that’s going to produce a market leading product.
What led you to this career?
Computer tech has always been interesting, and whilst I’ve done a few things over the years – I’m still drawn to the amazing things that you can do sitting in front of a computer. The sense of achievement when you get something working never fails to get me!
What energizes you at work?
Working with people in a collaborative way where you feel both important but also that the sum is greater than the parts – proper team stuff! I also sometimes enjoy a challenge like a tight deadline to really get focused (though that one is a double-edged sword of course.)
What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?
I have worked on various projects over the years, but the one that stands out would be where I was lucky enough to have a more leading role in creating a new flight booking system for my previous employer. Whilst I certainly couldn’t take all the credit on that particular project, having a more leading role – and seeing it through was something I feel great about. Really hope to apply many of the things I learnt in that process to my new role with Laduma.
What’s the best advice you can give to someone who just started their career?
Bide your time, because it’s always going to take time to understand an individual job but also a company and its industry – so don’t rush, enjoy it and try to learn from those around you (because at some point, probably not that far down the line), people are going to be learning from you.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about your position?
Probably that software developers should know how to fix everyone’s printer… Slightly more serious answer would perhaps be a misconception that you have to be a maths whizz or an a-grade student. The reality is that whilst it’s a technical role, anyone who’s interested, prepared to work and can learn the odd thing could become a great software developer. If you love to solve puzzles, then you might be well be suited to be a developer (after all – solving puzzles is what we do day in day out).
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I think my first career goal was to play for Liverpool, though I wasn’t much of a player so had to shelf that one in favour of becoming a movie star… though it’s fair to say that my efforts in school plays didn’t land me any starring roles. I can’t really remember too many career aspirations beyond that.
If you could get a new skill in 10 minutes, what would it be?
I suppose it would be a cheat to say the skill of being able to learn anything I want in 10 minutes. Ok, so a real answer – I have been trying to learn Russian language (without a great deal of success) over the last couple of years, and so if I could master that in 10 minutes then sign me up!
What upcoming technological innovation will dramatically impact the industry in the next five years?
I’d say that widespread adoption of machine learning. It’s already exploded in the past 5 to 10 years and that’s going to continue as more businesses find innovative ways to take advantage of such amazing technologies. I have no doubt whatsoever that there will be a big crossover between AI and immersive tech.
If you could add one thing to the office, what would it be?
I’ve only seen the office once so far, and it’s a fantastic place. I don’t want to kop out of an answer, but I really haven’t got anything that immediately comes to mind. Perhaps the addition of a Laduma wall – I heard they’re going to be pretty good ????
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Oh dear, singing is definitely not a strong point, and these days I’m a bit shy of the limelight – but if you put a few beers in me, I might have a crack at Don’t stop believin’ by Journey.
If you had to be a breed of dog what would it be and why?
Now that’s going to test my knowledge of breeds – ok, I’ll say Terrier – a bit small and wiry but I’ll give anything a go (not really sure if that fits with Terrier types but I’m going to roll with it).
What are you looking forward to most about working at Laduma?
The people / environment, the technology and product.
What led you to this career?
Interest in building visual products and a desire to work with cutting edge technology.
What energizes you at work?
Innovation and coffee.
What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?
Taking a product from a concept to an MVP and finally to a continuously integrated, successful product.
What’s the best advice you can give to someone who just started their career?
Accept any challenge, anybody can learn anything. Voice your ideas and opinions, debates help to build successful products.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about your position?
Seniors are always right, they’re not!
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A professional football player.
If you could get a new skill in 10 minutes, what would it be?
Learn Spanish.
What upcoming technological innovation will dramatically impact the industry in the next five years?
It already is but AI/Automation and AR.
If you could add one thing to the office, what would it be?
An office dog.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Neil Diamond – Forever in Blue Jeans
If you had to be a breed of dog what would it be and why?
I have a pet French Bulldog so I would to be one of them to understand what it’s like to be him.
What are you looking forward to most about working at Laduma?
Learning new skills in media and new tools to help me learn more.
What led you to this career?
My interest in testing and flexibility of work.
What energizes you at work?
Love for my work, I enjoy it and especially when we complete a project or make the product workable that is the best feeling.
What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?
My rapport with my colleagues, being a part of the team, learning new tools for the job.
What’s the best advice you can give to someone who just started their career?
Give yourslef time to love your job. Keep learning.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A doctor.
If you could get a new skill in 10 minutes, what would it be?
I’d like to know all the languages in IT.
What upcoming technological innovation will dramatically impact the industry in the next five years?
I think definitely Laduma, it will be an innovation for this era and especially times like it make life beautiful.
(And flying cars, wow.)
If you could add one thing to the office, what would it be?
It looks beautiful to me as it is!
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Not a Karaoke person.
If you had to be a breed of dog what would it be and why?
Not a Dog person, but if one, I’d like to be a massive dog.