A Tech Journey: Across Two Continents
Since when have you been working at KPN and how did you join the team?
"Since April 2022. I participated in the Tech Talent program and thus landed in the DE Streaming team. Originally from New Orleans, I pursued various studies in the US, including a bachelor's and master's in computer science. After completing my studies, I moved to the Netherlands."
"They gave me such a good vibe that I was immediately sold."
Why did you choose KPN?
"Once in the Netherlands, I started looking for a suitable job. The telecom sector seemed like a logical place for a software developer, so I reached out to the largest telecom company in the Netherlands. I had some enthusiastic conversations with smart people working at KPN Techbase. They gave me such a good vibe that I was immediately sold. I was also very intrigued by the idea of platform engineering, helping developers and guiding technical solutions for the entire company."
What makes your work interesting?
"I think it's cool to be an expert in something very technical. In this case, it's Kafka, the streaming data platform that the team uses. A former colleague in the US was very enthusiastic about it, and this felt like my chance to really dive into it."
What are you proud of?
"I'm proud of my interaction with engineers from other departments and how I solve their problems. But I'm also proud that I can understand complex technology and contribute to the whole."
"KPN really makes an effort to offer new career paths and challenges."
How do you continue to develop in your field?
"As a software engineer, you're constantly learning. You have to realize that you never have all the knowledge yourself, but you can always ask your colleagues. So, I acquire new knowledge by asking questions and brainstorming with the team. At KPN, you can also reach out to other teams via Slack."
What’s next?
"No idea, I'm still young. Yet, one thing's for sure: in five years, I'll still be a software engineer with expert knowledge in complex technology. KPN really makes an effort to offer new career paths and challenges."
