Neil Gaiman once mentioned in his famous book, The Graveyard; “If you dare nothing, then when the day is over, nothing is all you have gained.”
Mateusz, Chief Technology Officer for No Spoilers, would be the perfect example of an individual that dares to strive for something more exciting and fulfilling than his previous job working in Corporate IT.
Today we sit down with Mateusz to learn more about his journey so far with No Spoilers!
What has been the biggest takeaway so far working in your own startup compared to working for someone else?
Managing & communication matters. In any company which just starts to introduce own its standardized business processes; you have to be the judge and jury. You need to be clear on what you want to achieve and you’re 110% responsible for it. Learn & teach. Teach & learn. Rinse & repeat. Perfecting this balance provides a level of confidence in my team to execute any task they face and it’s been exciting to see this come to fruition.
What about the Food and Beverage Industry do you like the most?
I don’t know, whether it’s the ever-changing and constantly evolving F&B sector, or I’m changing my sense of taste, but every 5-7 years I could reinvent my favourite menu. The Latin phrase “Quidquid Discis, Tibi Discis” greatly complements the experience. The Food and Beverage industry is an exciting roller coaster ride to witness and to experience yourself. Nothing is ever guaranteed, which to me is very attractive and it presents an opportunity to get out there and be a helping hand for those in need.
Who was your idol growing up? Superhero, family, etc…
Superheroes weren’t my thing, even though I did probably read all the Marvel and DC comics that were released in Poland up to a certain age. Optimus Prime is a different story, but would you idolize a machine? I would say yes! Optimus Prime symbolized courage and conviction. In the 1986 Transformers movie, he sacrificed his life for the safety of his members and most importantly passing the Matrix of Leadership to his fellow member.
It took me a few years to start idolizing them in a way… I got my first computer on 21/12/2001, at the age of 14. I kept the invoice.
What advice do you have for anyone interested in becoming a developer one day?
Don’t. No, seriously. If you’re just interested then don’t become one. But if you do, you might just end up receiving a mug from your girlfriend that says “OMG! He’s in love with a machine!” and it says it all. Jokes aside, if you’re applying for a first job, make sure there’s a decent mentoring programme (or something alike) with a supervisor that will guide you. That could save you even a few years of trials and errors.
Internet is a decent source of knowledge, but you need to learn to distinguish good entries from the bad ones. And, if you ask a fellow developer, he’ll probably have a different opinion. The “it depends” approach is the viable one.
Thank you, Mateusz!
