One of our core values is teamwork in all its forms: from collaboration between the different business units to on-the-job training and mentoring programmes, we encourage relationships and exchanges between our Bitrockers, as we believe that this is the best way to grow personally and professionally.
That is why we have decided to create this new section, Lead the Way, where we will have the opportunity to get to know some of our team leaders and this professional figure better.
These are professionals, highly qualified in their field, who, in addition to being a guide and reference for technical and more strictly professional aspects, play a strategic leadership role, focused on the development and growth of team members in every aspect.
Today, we are going to have a chat with Simone Esposito, who joined Bitrock in 2017 as a junior and has grown into the role of Engineering Team Lead.
Let’s find out his story and some interesting background!
Can you explain your journey so far, from Developer to Team Leader, and the skills that have been most useful to you?
When I joined Bitrock in 2017, it was my first work experience: I had just graduated from university and had a great passion for IT and coding, but no experience of doing it in a real working environment. My colleagues at the time helped me a lot: I was able to learn a lot and improve my technical knowledge, but also understand what it means to develop something for a client in a structured team.
During the first few years, I focused my energy on mastering the various technologies around the JVM and, in particular, the Scala programming language, as this was a stack required in the project I was working on.
The transition to the role of Team Leader was gradual and more about adding new skills than actually replacing them. I started to learn and get more interested in the architectural view of the applications, with the aim of designing a better solution for our customers’ needs. This led me to a more central role in the team I was working in, where I started to participate more in discussions and organizational meetings. As a result, I improved my communication skills and, while continuing to work in a team, I started to be seen and act more as a mentor to the newcomers. I think this mix of technical background and interest in working with a team to help each other improve and achieve our goal is one of the most important ingredients for a good team leader. When I was offered this opportunity at Bitrock, I was very excited to test myself in this new role, especially in this environment, as we were able to create a great group with my colleagues and my boss.
Can you describe a typical working day for you?
My day starts in the morning when my dog jumps up on the bed because he’s bored and wants to play. Who needs an alarm clock when you have a dog? After a quick breakfast I start my day.
As a Team Leader, I’m still actively working as a software engineer on a project for one of our clients, so I have to attend all the usual Agile ceremonies. At 9.00am we start with the first standup, then I usually have a bunch of other calls in the morning to coordinate work with my team. If I’m lucky and no unexpected meeting pops up, I can usually get some coding done in the late morning before lunch.
The afternoon is coding time again, but I often have to attend some meetings, sometimes related to the project I’m working on, sometimes internal Bitrock meetings to coordinate with my colleagues or my boss.
Other than that, I may be involved in some pre-sales activities, such as meetings with potential new clients, or technical meetings to write and review architectural proposals for new projects.
Before the end of the day, I try to close the agenda to reserve some time for 1:1 with my team members, as I think that talking to them and developing relationships with my team is one of the most important and interesting parts of my job!
What does being a Bitrock Team Leader mean to you?
Being a Team Leader at Bitrock means more than just managing technical projects. The role focuses on leading and empowering a team of talented people to grow and deliver successful results. It involves fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement, while ensuring the successful delivery of projects that meet client expectations.
As a Team Leader, I am responsible for providing direction, help, support and mentorship to my colleagues, while looking out for their professional development and well-being.
What do you find most rewarding about your role?
The most rewarding aspect of my role as a team leader is the relationship with my colleagues and the opportunity to watch my team members grow and succeed. It’s really satisfying to see them overcome challenges, develop new skills and achieve their goals. I’m very happy when I can help and support them in their professional development and career progression. In addition, the opportunity to continue working on projects in a hands-on technical way allows me to stay in touch with code and technology.
What was the most challenging situation you faced?
One of the most challenging aspects of my role is balancing the needs of my team with the expectations of the company. As a Team Leader, I often find myself in the middle of two different priorities. On the one hand, I want to support my team members, ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs are met so that we can all work in a positive and productive environment. On the other hand, I need to focus our efforts on achieving the company’s goals and objectives, which sometimes requires difficult decisions and trade-offs.
How do you balance technical and managerial aspects?
As a Team Leader, I have to balance my time between external client projects, internal activities and supporting my team. I try to organise my agenda by scheduling dedicated slots for internal tasks to ensure I have enough time to devote to my team, but unexpected client meetings can disrupt this plan.
Having flexible working hours helps, as it allows me to compensate for time spent on internal activities without creating too many problems for client projects. It’s important to be able to adapt quickly to changing priorities and ensure that both client commitments and internal responsibilities are met. This approach helps me to give my team the support they deserve, while still being productive as a Software Engineer for our clients.
What is your favourite memory so far?
It’s hard to choose just one memory. Actually, I have several, but they all share a common pattern: sharing and celebrating the success of one of my team members. Whether it’s a successful project delivery, a personal achievement or a well-deserved promotion, it always brings great satisfaction.
These memories are some of the most important in my career because I see my team’s success as a personal goal. Of course, the credit for their success goes to them and not to me, but knowing that I was there to support them when they needed it makes me feel that I’m doing my job right.
These are the moments when I see the results of our teamwork and collaboration.
Special thanks to Simone Esposito, Engineering Team Leader @ Bitrock.
Ready for the next episode in our journey to discover our Tech Leaders? Keep reading our blog and be sure to follow us on our official Social Media channels!
