Not every victory comes with a trophy.
When the previous company hackathon ended, the team Data Wizzards didn’t walk away as winners on paper.
But they walked away stronger, sharper, and more confident. And that is the kind of win that lasts.
With another company hackathon happening this weekend, their story feels more relevant than ever. Not as a reminder to win – but as encouragement to show up, challenge yourself, and grow.
Because sometimes the real success is not the result.
It’s who you become while getting there.
A Team With No History, And a Lot of Courage
Data Wizzards weren’t an experienced team with years of collaboration behind them.
They were:
- A brand new group
- With unfamiliar tools
- Under serious time pressure
- Learning everything as they went
But somehow, they made it work.
Marijana Duli Veljanova: Building From Zero, Learning From Everywhere
Marijana discovered something powerful:
“We were a completely new team. No shared tools, no experience with PySpark or Microsoft Fabric – but we had good energy and a lot of curiosity.”
None of them had used these technologies before.
Still, they built something.
With the help of AI-generated code, trial-and-error, and a lot of problem-solving, they created a working solution from scratch.
“We didn’t just try. We learned, we built, and we delivered.”
And that, in her eyes, already felt like a win.
Biljana Jonovska: When Collaboration Becomes Your Superpower
For Biljana, the biggest lesson was clear:
“Working with different personalities and backgrounds forces you to think differently – and better.”
Under intense time pressure, communication became everything.
So did flexibility.
“We had to adapt fast, combine ideas, and support each other when something didn’t work.”
What made her most proud?
Seeing their idea come to life.
“Watching our concept go from talks on paper to a working demo – that was special.”
Not because it was perfect.
But because it was real.
Petar Trajchevski: Leadership Doesn’t Come With a Title
Petar took one of the deepest lessons from the weekend:
“Being senior doesn’t automatically make you a leader.
What mattered was having a shared vision.”
True leadership, he realized, is about:
- Showing up
- Staying committed
- Keeping the team moving forward
And he did exactly that.
“I stayed all day and all night to deliver something real.”
No shortcuts.
No excuses.
Just effort.
Andrej Brova: When Everything Comes Together
There was one moment Andrej won’t forget:
“When we finally connected everyone’s work into one solution – that was it.”
Different parts.
One system.
One goal.
“That’s when I knew our organization and delegation really worked.”
The hackathon proved one thing to him:
With the right people and the right tools – a lot can happen in a very short time.
What Data Wizzards Taught Us All
1. You Don’t Need History – You Need Trust
Teams are not built by time.
They’re built by openness, courage, and listening.
2. Learning Faster Beats Knowing More
Nobody knew the tools.
Everyone learned anyway.
That’s growth.
3. Leadership Is Action, Not Position
The strongest voices were not always the loudest.
They were the most committed.
4. AI Is a Tool – People Are the Power
Tech helped.
But mindset built the product.
Another Hackathon is Coming
This weekend, a new hackathon begins.
And if you’re joining:
Come curious.
Come open.
Come ready to fail, and learn faster.
Not everyone will win.
But everyone can grow.
Because Success Isn’t Always a Moment…
Sometimes it’s:
The courage to try again
- The confidence to learn new tools
- The pride of shipping something imperfect
- The respect built with teammates
- The mindset you take with you after it’s over
