Meet the team lead: Dmitrii
If there would be a visual representation of responsibility and proactivity, Dmitri would be it. His team had a very successful start here, in Moldova, and they are growing continuously.
Q: Take us back to your first days of programming, what hooked you in the beginning?
It was difficult. Really painful to sit all day on an exercise from a programming book estimated to be solved in half an hour. In some moments I thought I was worthless and good for nothing. But I received an enormous pleasure when I managed to solve it by myself and it gave me the strength and willpower to continue. Other than that, I think I caught the right moment to start learning to code because the information was open and easily accessible on the internet.
Q: Tell us please about AskPhill. What were your first impressions when you started working with them?
AskPhill is Europe’s leading e-commerce agency for fashion, lifestyle, and beauty brands. They build data-driven, scalable e-commerce stores for D2C brands.
I liked the progress that the company achieved in only 5 years. A group of smart and ambitious people learns from their mistakes every day, trying different solutions and raising the e-commerce standards. It is very much aligned with my vision and how I approach things.
Q: Working for a Dutch company involves also interacting with people from another culture. Do you think this is a positive experience? If yes, why?
Every interaction with people working in the same field is already a knowledge transfer. I was very curious about how my international developer colleagues approach coding, and the trip we had recently was very insightful for us. It made us more united.
Q: What do you like most about working with AskPhill?
Interacting with my fellow developers from the Netherlands. Everyone makes an effort today to become a better developer tomorrow. I also like interacting with AskPhill clients. They are so happy when we deliver new features or build an app from scratch for them. This makes me proud.
Q: What is your definition of “team”?
A team is a group of people who work hard, contribute to making the company/product thrive, and help each other.
Q: Do you think business trips to the Netherlands would be necessary in order to keep the spirit between teams alive? If yes, why?
Definitely a big YES! First of all, traveling to a new country is already a step to keeping the team spirit alive. Seeing new places and sharing our thoughts is already like a teambuilding by itself.
The AskPhill office is located next to one of Amsterdam’s canals, which gives it even more charm and appeal. Traveling to Amsterdam is generally a breath of fresh air. Also, our international colleagues are very friendly. Btw, I was impressed by the fact that they have a cook in the office who prepares food for them on a daily basis and they have a food-sharing tradition. This is a great opportunity for colleagues to interact and get to know each other better.
Q: What makes a Good Developer Team Lead an Effective Leader?
Experience, skills, personality, and willingness to contribute.
Q: Who/what drives you forward today?
The progress that I’ve achieved so far in my career makes me feel valued. I enjoy what I do and I am curious about what is waiting for me in the future.
Q: What are you most proud of from your time in this role?
I am proud that I can make developers participating in interviews enthusiastic about AskPhill. When you believe in the company, project, and team, you can convey this feeling to the outside. That’s how I got to have only motivated, positive people on the team who are willing to experience something new and proud to work for AskPhill.
Q: If you can turn back time, would you choose the same path?
Absolutely! And I can’t wait to see what the future brings me.
Learn more about them here.