The earthy scent of hot coffee, the hushed bustle of customers coming and going, carefully curated tchotchkes on the wall and the hiss of fresh espresso being steamed — the inviting ambiance of a local coffee shop is the perfect backdrop for a software engineer’s daily work.
For Alliant Credit Union Manager API and Platform Engineering Jigar Khatri and The Heico Companies Report Developer Sarah Zafar, a cozy coffee locale has become the cornerstone of a productive day.
“Whether engaging in work-related discussions with team members or reconnecting with former colleagues from Alliant after hours, the vibrant ambiance and top-tier coffee offerings at my local establishment consistently provide an ideal setting for focused work, productive team meetups or casual discussions,” said Khatri.
For Zafar, her go-to caffeine spot supports her social work life.
“My local coffee shop is where I meet my social circle and learn about different, new and improved technologies used in different industries, learn from others' experiences and gain important insights,” she told Built In Chicago.
But the perfect coffee shop workstation is just one small piece of fostering a thriving engineering practice. Built In Chicago sat down with Khatri and Zafar to find out the tools, company culture and community they lean on to innovate day in and day out.
Alliant Credit Union is one of the largest credit unions in the United States offering a suite of digital banking solutions.
Do your days follow a common pattern or tend to be full of surprises? What are the must-do habits or key moments of each day in your role?
In my role as the manager of API and platform engineering, each day is a balanced combination of routine and adaptability. My typical day begins with thoroughly reviewing emails and messages and prioritizing tasks based on urgency and deadlines. I start the morning with a team stand-up meeting to align daily objectives and address immediate concerns. Strategic planning is a significant portion of my day, where I focus on long-term goals and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on project timelines.
Team management involves conducting one-on-one meetings, fostering a collaborative culture and providing hands-on technical leadership to encourage continuous learning. Monitoring ongoing projects for alignment with business objectives is a daily priority. I dedicate time to retrospectives for constant improvement, identifying areas for enhancement in processes and team dynamics. Adaptability and problem-solving are integral to my role, allowing me to handle unforeseen challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities effectively.
Adaptability and problem-solving are integral to my role, allowing me to capitalize on emerging opportunities effectively.”
How do you set your personal and professional priorities each day? What project are you most excited to be working on right now?
As a leader, my daily priority-setting involves balancing personal and professional considerations. Each morning, I review tasks, considering project deadlines, team requirements and broader business objectives. I prioritize based on urgency and importance, ensuring alignment with our API team goals.
Cross-team collaboration is paramount. Regular communication ensures a shared understanding of project timelines and milestones, allowing for effective prioritization. Time is allocated strategically, emphasizing high-impact tasks that contribute directly to Alliant's success.
The project that excites me the most is re-platforming our in-house applications like OLB and Mobile Apps. The API team has a significant role to play in the success of this project. Aligned with long-term strategic goals, it represents a significant advancement in API strategy and platform development, too.
The project's challenges and potential for innovation make it particularly exhilarating. Leading a team in leveraging cutting-edge technology for a project that is pivotal to Alliant's success is professionally rewarding and personally fulfilling.
Do you have any local spots or organizations that are key to your daily success? A favorite coffee spot fueling your work? A tech org you partner with?
Since joining Alliant in 2011, the local Starbucks has remained my preferred locale for coffee and collaborative engagements..
The Heico Companies, LLC is a family-owned business with a diverse portfolio of manufacturing, construction and industrial organizations.
Do your days follow a common pattern or tend to be full of surprises? What are the must-do habits or key moments of each day in your role?
My days are so full of surprises and new challenges. Every day I work on something new and different, so the key is to learn. My tasks involve testing, maintaining, coding and building user-friendly, creative and detail-oriented applications that meet users' needs.
I try to solve problems and answer analytical questions through technology. A must-do habit in my role is to learn new technology and provide modern solutions.
Every day I work on something new and something different — the key is to learn.”
How do you set your personal and professional priorities each day? What project are you most excited to be working on right now?
Setting personal and professional priorities is crucial for managing my time and energy effectively and is very important for maintaining balance and achieving success in both areas of life. Firstly, I make a list of tasks and responsibilities on my whiteboard. I prioritize these items based on their urgency and importance. I also prioritize self-care and personal health; this includes five to ten minutes of exercise and coffee breaks between meetings.
I am very excited and looking forward to working on an upcoming Azure project. This project will help answer analytical questions using Unify and trusted data sources.
Do you have any local spots or organizations that are key to your daily success? A favorite coffee spot fueling your work? A tech org you partner with?
In my daily life, there are a few local spots and groups that are key to my success. I have also joined different WhatsApp and Discord groups sharing useful resources and articles on work and personal life balance, mastering your next move, what’s new in technology and so on.
