We are particularly proud of having five employees that propel us toward success for the past 15 years. Those employees have been with us from the beginning and are responsible for many milestones, happy clients, new colleagues, and more. To celebrate this fantastic number we decided to feature those five employees and ask them about their journey so far, but more importantly, ask what keeps them in the company for so long.
15+ years of working experience in a company that exists for almost 19 years means being with that company from its beginnings. During that time, you get to experience a lot of career changes, growth, challenges, achievements, and more. So, looking back at your beginning, what made you become part of ⋮IWConnect?
Looking back, 15 years is a long period, but when you consider how these years passed and the journey we embarked on together, it feels like it went by in the blink of an eye. This period was filled with ups and downs, challenges, and opportunities, as well as a lot of socializing and making new friends and connections along the way.
But, to get back to the main point, I joined the company because at the time it was the biggest IT company in Bitola and the chances for growth were immense. As the years passed the company grew even more and I grew along with it. It turned into a medium-sized company present in multiple locations, with strong values, mission and vision aligned with my personal goals and values. Furthermore, I’ve had the opportunity to work with talented and dedicated teams, and I have been able to grow and develop my skills and abilities in my role.
Overall, I believe that staying with a company for more than 15 years is often a result of combining personal and professional factors, such as finding fulfillment in one’s work, feeling supported and valued at work, and as I mentioned aligning one’s career goals with the mission and goals of the company.
In the end, I have to say that being a part of this company has been a truly rewarding experience and I am proud to be here. I am also very proud to have been a part of this company because together we have made a significant impact in our industry and community. Our innovative approach to problem-solving has led to the development of new technologies and processes that have greatly benefited both our clients and society as a whole. Additionally, the company is dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the workplace and community, which is the perfect match for my personal values and has been a source of pride and fulfillment for me.
What was the first project you worked on?
The first project I worked on was the development of a Generic Exception Handler (GEH) for an EAI architecture. I was part of the team that worked on the design and implementation of an exception-handling mechanism that allows for graceful recovery and management of exceptions throughout the entire EAI architecture. I was responsible for coding the front-end and back-end GEH business logic related to message execution, data collections, and exception recording using TIBCO/BusinessWorks. It was my first opportunity to work on a real-world project in the field of software development, and I learned a lot about software development and best practices while working in a team. It was a great learning experience for me, and it helped me develop my skills and instilled confidence in me as a developer.
During these 15 years you have worked in many teams and on many projects, can you share the one that changed you as a professional?
One situation that significantly changed me as a professional was when I had the opportunity to lead a project for a major client. I had always been a team member in the past, but I have never led a project. Bearing that in mind it is safe to say I had limited management experience and skills. The project was challenging and required me to step out of my comfort zone, but it was also incredibly rewarding. It gave me the chance to develop my leadership skills, learn how to effectively communicate with clients, and understand the importance of time management and delegation. Through this experience, I grew both personally and professionally and it helped me to become a more confident and capable professional. In other words, it helped me become the man I am today.
What is the one thing that kept you part of ⋮IWConnect for so long?
⋮IWConnect is a safe place to make mistakes, which allows us to try new things and approaches while learning indirectly from our mistakes. This allows us to have continuous improvement and professional growth, and it creates an environment in which everyone can voice their opinions and become valuable members of the team.
Two of the company’s core values are “Adventurous Growth” and “Unconditional Contribution” and they foster a unique and collaborative environment, where individuals are empowered to grow and speak up and contribute their skills and ideas to the team. These values differentiate us from competitors and help us become better every day while never forgetting to give something in return.
