SustainLab’s Post

We're thrilled to spotlight our longstanding Senior Software Engineer Kyle Olson in this week's “Inside ConData” employee spotlight! Here's a little more about what makes him a valuable part of our community. What is your title and how long have you worked in your role? I'm a Senior Software Engineer, and I’ve been at ConData for almost 18 years. How would you describe your role at the company in a few sentences? My role is to develop software for streamlining the extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) of data to our internal processing system. I also contribute to the development and maintenance of internal tools, enabling our team to view, edit, and maintain claim data efficiently. What do you find most rewarding in your current role? The reward lies in creating software solutions that empower others in their roles. It's heartening to see others find value in something I’ve built or contributed to. Which of ConData’s company values resonate with you the most, and why? "Innovate Passionately" resonates with me because it embodies the spirit of giving it your all every day. It's about seeking innovative, efficient ways to accomplish tasks and being open to constantly learn, refine skills, and grow. Do you have a favorite quote or motto? There are two that I often remind myself of: "Progress, man’s distinctive mark alone" – Robert Browning "Cultivation of the mind is as necessary as food to the body" What is your favorite hobby? My favorite hobby is cheering on the best hockey team in the world, the Detroit Red Wings! Join us in celebrating the dedication and passion our Senior Software Engineer brings to work every day! #EmployeeSpotlight #ConData #PeopleMakeOurProcess

Who Needs a Fancy Office When You Have a Team Like This? It’s late at night, freezing cold, and we’re outdoors—yes, outdoors—hunched over laptops, troubleshooting after a testing failure. No fancy office, no heaters, just passion, determination, and a sky full of stars (okay, maybe a couple of clouds). This is what it’s like working with Hrishi and Zeyad. Hrishikesh Sudhir is the kind of person who sacrifices his comfort, his weekends, and maybe even his sanity to make things happen. The results? Always spectacular. Zeyad Karima is the guy whose eyes literally sparkle when a tricky problem lands in front of him. It’s like watching Sherlock Holmes solve mysteries—except with code. We might not have all the experience or resources in the world, but we’ve got something better: heart. We push harder, think differently, and refuse to give up—even when it’s late, cold, and the odds are stacked against us. Failures? We take them as lessons. Long nights? We make them count. And I have no doubt that with this level of dedication, SLANT Sustainable Technologies will deliver our pilot product by summer. Here’s to late nights, big dreams, and a team that doesn’t know the meaning of “giving up.” Let’s make it happen! 🚀

In my journey as a software engineer (albeit a short one, but filled with great memories 😊), I've come to appreciate the power of open collaboration and knowledge sharing within organizations. Holding onto information can be the worst curse, stifling innovation and hindering progress. Instead, I've found that building a pool of solutions and making it readily accessible fosters a culture of growth and continuous improvement. One of the best practices great organizations adopt is to create an open repository of solutions, where ideas can be critiqued and refined over time. This not only accelerates problem-solving but also fuels creativity, as diverse perspectives contribute to the evolution of solutions. We have all witnessed firsthand how a simple search algorithm can transform into a robust system with multiple optimized solutions, enhancing speed, efficiency, and sparking new ideas along the way. As knowledge workers, our greatest asset lies in democratizing knowledge within our organizations. By making information readily available and encouraging open dialogue, we empower teams to tackle challenges more effectively and seize opportunities for innovation. It's about breaking down silos and fostering a culture where knowledge flows freely, enriching everyone's capabilities. Moreover, to all people hiring or promoting talent within, another underrated skill set to evaluate is to recognize those who go the extra mile to share their insights and expertise with others. Let's champion openness and knowledge sharing to unlock boundless potential together. 😎

How my script was flipped between 2020 and 2024. 2020 Me: Stuck in the corporate maze, thanks to an acquihire. Begging overworked devs for favors they couldn’t squeeze in. Politics over coffee, and not the fun kind. “Enjoying” work trips that felt more like detours. 2024 Me: Connecting with brilliant people globally on innovative projects. Leading a dream team of 80+ amazing individuals, each a legend in their own right. Crafting not just projects but meaningful, lifelong bonds in my industry. Home in time to be the bedtime story hero. The Glow-Up: Four years. That’s all it took to flip the script. From navigating the corporate labyrinth to meeting brilliant minds, building a powerhouse team, and making irreplaceable friends in the trenches of an industry I’m all in on. Here’s to life's journey and how fast and unexpectedly it can turn!

💡 Happy people, happy production. It’s more than just our catchphrase—it’s a guiding principle 📖 When people are happy, they produce higher-quality work. It’s simple: a positive mindset leads to better outcomes. At Futurice, we believe that well-maintainable software plays a big role in this. When systems are easy to manage, teams can focus on what they do best, which keeps everyone engaged and satisfied 🤩 And let’s not forget about our culture. Futurice’s supportive and collaborative environment is designed to foster happiness and, in turn, drive success. Happy people truly do lead to happy production, and we’re committed to making that a reality every day. 🌟

At Reiz Tech, autonomy is how we grow. 🌍 We believe in giving our team the freedom to take ownership of their work and make decisions. It’s about trusting each other to bring ideas to life, work independently, and take responsibility for what we do. With trust and transparency at the core, everyone has the chance to contribute in meaningful ways, shaping projects together. Autonomy, for us, is about collaborating to achieve better, bolder outcomes. How does autonomy show up in your work? 🎥 Lukas Kalinovas

🌍 Grateful for the incredible opportunity I've had moonlighting with Optimize IS, one of the top Airtable partners. Over the last few months, I’ve had the privilege of account-managing multiple projects, gaining invaluable exposure, and connecting with an extraordinary team. Working with such a talented, global crew who all “speak the same language” in low-code and visual development for large enterprises has been a breath of fresh air. From day one, I’ve felt trusted by Ben Green and Charles Melendez, working in tandem with Kelly Williams, Jessica Tenzer, Yousuf Idris, and Miguel Ferrando, who have all encouraged me to jump in and flourish. Lastly, the adventure of leading developers like Arthur Tutt, Craig Polk, Jared Wright, and Alisha Sadeski has been enriching and I've learned a lot about how to protect your technical team, and empower them to do their best work (I've still got learning to go!) 🕺My takeaway: This experience has taught me a lot about how I want to work and how I work best. Having consulted primarily on Airtable projects for the past two years, I find myself naturally embedded in clients’ businesses. While fulfilling, I realize it’s left me less time for personal growth and meaningful deep work. 🚀So, I’m now looking for a new chapter: a chance to fully commit to one vision and mission and wear one team’s jersey. If anyone wants to chat about how Airtable (a tool I’ve championed since 2015 thanks to Cor Schutte introducing me to it in his garage soup and salad bar in downtown Cape Town) could transform workflows, streamline processes, or bring fresh structure to their organization, please DM me or drop a comment. I’d love to brainstorm and even build out a Proof of Concept! 

Ever wonder why some software teams seem to steamroll challenges while others get stuck in endless loops? 🤔 The secret sauce often boils down to the composition and dynamics of the team. A balanced blend of skills, perspectives, and work ethics can turn ambitious goals into reality. It's not just about hiring top talent; it's about assembling a group that complements each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Just like in an orchestra, where the harmony created by different instruments produces mesmerizing music, in software development, a symphony of diverse technical skills and creativity leads to breakthrough innovations. So, next time you’re looking to expand your team or feel stuck on a project, take a step back. Evaluate not just the individual capabilities but how your team works together. Are you fostering an environment where different voices are heard and valued? The collective power of a well-rounded team can be your biggest asset in navigating the complex landscape of technology. Let's create more spaces that value diversity in skill sets and thought processes—because when we do, we unlock potential that can change not just our projects but maybe even the world. What has been your experience with team dynamics affecting project outcomes? Share your insights below!

Our vision in Starflow is «Energy perfection», and it applies to our technology, people, and culture. Obviously, we will never reach it, and thats what makes it so awesome! By attracting, hiring, and onboarding the right people. We will try to create the greatest work environment the world have ever seen. A culture that allows people to grow into their full potential, and that inspires them to become better human beings. We want to prove to people what us human’s are capable of, when we are surrounded by like minded people that works towards the same mission and vision. My claim is that if you get the hires and expectations right, you can get the culture right. If you get the people and culture right, and if you put the right strategy on top of that. There is no limit to what you can achieve, the possibilities are endless. Enough talk, lets get to work!😄❤️🙏🚀

Recently, I had the chance to support some incredible colleagues on a spontaneous project for Hoffman Building Technologies. Just wanted to share this email that captures what makes working with the Critical Technologies Team at HBT so rewarding. In this message, Lizzy recaps the recent project and highlights the amazing teamwork, dedication, and resilience that brought everything together. This project truly demonstrated the strength of our team's talent, support, and cooperation. Big shoutout to Lizzy Zink, who led the charge despite facing several technical and personal challenges on the trip. She showed incredible grit and determination to persevere. Even with those obstacles, she managed to keep everything on track, and I was grateful to be there to lend a hand. Her determination kept us all moving forward, and it was great to see her finish strong. A motto of our Critical Technologies group is “Fortitudine Vincimus – By Endurance We Conquer,” and it's inspiring to see our team living up to that mission. Zach Carroll delivered a solid initial code and was on call for all of Lizzy’s questions. Jeffrey Compton from HBT’s Core Team stepped up to keep things moving and was a key player in getting the job done. It’s a great feeling to be part of a team where everyone steps up to support each other, no matter the challenge. Knowing we can rely on each other makes all the difference and reminds me why I’m honored to work with such talented, dedicated people. Moments like these remind me how lucky we are to work with such a supportive, skilled team. We tackle every project together, and when challenges arise, we know we’ve got each other’s backs. Proud to be part of this team! 💪 (Shared w/ Permission) #Teamwork #BuildingAutomation #CriticalTechnologies #TipOfTheSpear #HoffmanBuildingTechnologies #CompanySupport