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TEAM TALK is an ongoing blog series we’ve created to be able to go behind the scenes and talk one-on-one with different members of the TeamSportz team. Here, we sit down with CTO, Jorge Pena.
Before TeamSportz, what did you study or do for work? Basically, how’d you end up here?
Well, that’s a really long story, but in summary I studied Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence in College, then worked as a systems administrator and developer for a few years and then created a small development company. That’s where I met Francisco as we hired him as a junior developer. After he moved to London I left the company (not really suited for the business side of things) and went back to being a developer. Around 9 years ago I moved with my family to Ireland to work as a senior developer in Paddy Power and later moved to Pond5 as a Developer Manager and then Director of Engineering. Then Francisco pitched TeamSportz to me and asked if I wanted to help on the technical side.
What drew you to TeamSportz in the first place?
Francisco’s passion for the project was a very big driver, but also the idea of putting technology at the service of grassroots sports and giving everyone access to analytics solutions that usually are very expensive.
Where are you from and how do work opportunities in software development, there, differ from where you’re currently located?
I’m from Portugal and I went to college there and worked in software development and technology for 15+ years. While it was always easy to find jobs in software, the salaries are still low compared to other European countries and there aren’t many opportunities for career advancement. I used to joke that I advanced more in my first 3 years in Ireland than in the 15 that I worked in Portugal but unfortunately it’s true. Hopefully things are getting better but I don’t plan to get back.
Is there a sport you’re most passionate about?
That would be running and athletics. I’m an amateur runner and it’s something I really enjoy. Going outside for a run or a hike is usually the highlight of my day. I like sports in general and my daughters play team sports so it’s also something I’m interested in.
What is it about software development that interests you?
I love maths and solving problems and I also love building things, so software development is the perfect way for me to apply all of that.
How does it feel being on the other side of things? (Francisco being the CEO)
To be fair my main interest lies on the technical side of things and also on the mentoring and management of software development teams. So, I’m happy to be contributing to TeamSportz in that capacity and happy to leave the entrepreneurial side to Francisco as I’m not great with that stuff.
What do you do in your free time that fulfils you the most?
Like I said before, running is something I love to do and helps me relieve stress. Then I enjoy spending time with my family and I’m also an avid reader and also enjoy playing computer games when time permits.
Any advice you’d give someone starting out as a developer?
Main advice I would give to anyone starting out is to go out of your way to understand how things work on a deeper level, following tutorials and copying stuff from google will only take you so far. Having that deeper knowledge and understanding will help you long term as languages and technologies change and evolve but the basic principles are much more constant. Also don’t be afraid to ask questions to help you get that understanding.
Despite any failures, what motivates you to move forward?
I’m an optimistic person and always looking to learn and grow so I usually look at failures as opportunities for learning and improvement. Life is too short to be wallowing in the past.
How do you think you’ll make a difference in your role this year and beyond?
I want to help create a productive and effective engineering culture while at the same time contributing to the core algorithms driving our AI tracking technology.
Is there a single person that has been key to your success?
I can’t say there’s one single person, but I’ve learned a lot from colleagues and mentors throughout the years. I always try to learn from the people around me.
Do you see yourself coding for the rest of your life?
Yes, it’s something I really enjoy doing and will always find some time to do either professionally or as a hobby.
In your opinion, what does it take to be a software developer?
You must like to build things, solve problems and logical puzzles and be willing to spend the rest of your life learning and improving your craft. Also a necessary trait for successful software developers is the ability to collaborate and talk to people. Understanding the client's needs is the only way to build good software even if it’s something just for you.
