CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR JOURNEY SO FAR, FROM DEVELOPER TO TEAM LEADER, AND THE SKILLS THAT HAVE BEEN MOST USEFUL TO YOU?
My career started right out of high school when I seized a great opportunity and jumped straight into the world of work. After working on websites and graphic design as a full-time front-end programmer, I joined Bitrock almost 9 years ago.
I have grown both professionally and personally at Bitrock, developing my technical skills and learning new frameworks and technologies, to the point where I have been able to take on major roles in client projects and become a team leader. Teamwork is essential, as is learning how to manage priorities and organize personal work so that the work of colleagues can be completed as efficiently as possible.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE A TYPICAL WORKING DAY FOR YOU?
I work on a variety of projects, so my days are different, but they all have some aspects in common.
In the morning, I usually have a catch-up meeting with the team to get an overview of how the projects are progressing.
Then I focus on different activities depending on the current priority. My aim is to help the client find the best answer to the many issues that have arisen and to build relationships and alignment with them. At the end of the day, we summarise with the team members and map out the outstanding issues for the following days.
WHAT DOES BEING A BITROCK TEAM LEADER MEAN TO YOU?
At Bitrock, being a Team Leader means first and foremost fostering a pleasant and productive working atmosphere. Therefore, it is essential that you act as the team’s first point of contact. This does not mean centralizing responsibility, but rather acting as a facilitator for resolving any issues that may arise during a project.
In addition to the team, my role is to build a strong relationship with the client, acting as their point of contact and reference, resolving issues and overseeing the entire development process to ensure that all parties are satisfied.
WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST REWARDING ABOUT YOUR ROLE?
The most fulfilling part of my job is seeing the progress of the team members, knowing that I have conducted a successful interview, that I have chosen the right person, and that they are improving both in terms of the quality of the work done and the level of responsibility.
On the client side, knowing that at the end of a project there is a willingness to work together again and rely on the same resources provides the same satisfaction and represents the final step in a successful journey.
WHAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING SITUATION YOU FACED?
The most challenging situations are those where multiple projects need to be managed simultaneously. It is easy to lose sight of priorities in these situations, so effective communication and close collaboration between team members is essential.
As a result, building a partnership between the client and the team, translating requirements into code, staying on schedule, and managing potential issues are all part of the game, and with so many projects, it’s a great challenge to face each day.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE TECHNICAL ASPECTS AND MANAGERIAL ASPECTS?
The secret is to find out which role declination is most useful in a project or phase of it, and in relation to the assigned team. Sometimes a leadership role is needed, sometimes a more technical contribution. The key is to identify and fill individual gaps.
Then, as our environment is highly dynamic, being able to make a valuable technical contribution requires ongoing training in addition to the ongoing project challenges. To facilitate training, we provide a weekly team meeting where ideas, new technologies and experiences can be shared.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY SO FAR?
All the team building events were memorable. These moments are used to build internal team relationships, which are always vital in day-to-day interactions with clients.
In terms of projects, one of the most important milestones was reached a few weeks ago when, despite tight deadlines and a difficult start, we faced the situation strategically, aiming to maximize everything without sacrificing quality. In the end, we arrived ahead of schedule and received compliments from the client in addition to their estimate.
Thanks to Mattia Ripamonti, Front-end Team Leader @ Bitrock, for this interview.
