Entering the tech industry is a mix of opportunities, skills, and pure luck. For many of us, breaking into BigTech felt more like winning a lottery ticket than following a structured path. However, there is one methodical action to change that.
And when I say I had luck, it’s not because I lack intelligence, determination, or grit. I possess all of these qualities, as do many others reading this post. There are likely individuals who are even smarter, more determined, and facing higher stakes.
I recently had the incredible opportunity to sit down with my colleague Peter Maynard, the dynamic force behind the YouTube channel Paying it Forward. Here’s a snapshot of our conversation:
CAREER 03:47 - Did you know tech was the career you wanted to follow? 04:57 - What was it about software engineering that got you hooked? 06:02 - Have you faced any career setbacks? 07:10 - What is your perspective on mentorship?
The following post is a stream of consciousness about prototypes; it does not offer any practical advice (except that you should not get attached to a prototype or proof of concepts). If you are a pragmatic individual and do not have a beer at hand, I suggest you stop reading now.
A prototype embodies the visionary essence of a product or idea, a future concept, but, ironically, it does not have a future, or at least it is created without the intention of having one.
Six years ago, I embarked on a journey to the United States, five years ago, I made a conscious decision to stop worrying about my English accent. In this time, I’ve come to realize the profound privilege of working in an industry, within a specific region, and alongside a team where I’ve never felt discriminated against.
However, I’m not naive, neither oblivious to the challenges that still lie ahead as I continue to advance in my career.
I’m currently aboard an airplane with my heart soaring.
It’s been a challenging Sunday as I embark on a 15+ hour work-related journey that will keep me away for a week. My child is back at home, perhaps getting ready for school right now. I’m just one of the countless individuals who find themselves in a similar situation, obliged to leave personal matters behind as they head to work.
In my country, there’s a saying that encapsulates this approach: “de la puerta para adentro, solo negocios,” which roughly translates to “from the doorstep inward, it’s all business.
I have always found Chernobyl fascinating, it is a captivating tale of caution yes, but also a profound tale of wisdom.
Chernobyl by Midjourney
Chernobyl stands as a catalyst of chaos and a tragic human disaster, yet it also embodies the essence of ambition and reveals a perplexing paradox in its furnace of ambition.
A few years ago, I was enthralled by the HBO miniseries that portrayed the catastrophic nuclear incident in Pripyat, Ukraine, a part of the Soviet Union at the time.
This was me over 15 years ago, enjoying lunch with a Caguama-sized beer in front of my parents' house in Puerto Vallarta, eagerly awaiting the start of the Free Software Festival. It was an incredible symposium, featuring prominent figures like maddog and Richard Stallman giving keynote speeches. The Mexican open-source community was tightly-knit; everyone knew each other. At that time, I had already given some local talks and organized events through local Linux User Groups.
Most of the posts in my LinkedIn timeline cause me a lot of cringe, more than what I can bear and what I was expecting. I feel that half of them want to sell me something (including CEOs sharing how amazing their teams are), and the other half are self-promoting. It is effectively a job market, and I am suspicious of every booth.
The other day, I tried to be brave and post my unfiltered comments.
Rediscovering Passion, Collaboration, and the Power of Music Last week marked the kickoff of the 2023 global hackathon at Microsoft, and let me tell you, it wasn’t my first rodeo. Back in 2021, we clinched the top spot in a category, and my name found a cozy spot on a glass panel somewhere in the hallowed halls of Microsoft HQ. But this time around, there was something undeniably different in the air.
I miss the algorithm in my fediverse. I miss the algorithm.
The algorithm—a term that has become a buzzword in the realm of social media, and one that stirs a mixture of nostalgia and frustration within me. Like many, I recall the days when Twitter’s chronological timeline was the norm, a straightforward feed that allowed me to seamlessly follow my friends and acquaintances in real-time. Yet, as social platforms evolved, so did the mechanics governing our digital interactions.
