Welcome to our new employee spotlight series Stuck in the Lift*. The people at Vaadin are at the core of our business, and with this series we want to celebrate their contributions. Plus, Vaadiners are quite a diverse and interesting bunch, so we thought you might be curious to know who’s behind the scenes at Vaadin helping you build your web apps. Every few weeks we'll feature a different member from our team of smart, fun, and quirky #Vaadiners.
Probably one of Vaadin's most known faces, Alejandro is a software engineer, published author, and Developer Relations Manager. Originally from Colombia, Alejandro builds bridges between the company and existing developer communities, and between members of the Vaadin community. He is also the author of Practical Vaadin, Data-Centric Applications with Vaadin 8, and Vaadin 7 UI Design by Example. Alejandro splits his free time between his passion for the electric guitar and the photography world.
Describe your role at Vaadin in 3 words.
More engaged users.
What is your most memorable facepalm moment at work?
I arrived late to a live webinar once. I had a good reason and my entrance was well received after all (an original one, at least), but still… facepalm.
What surprises people the most about you?
That's a good question... Here in Finland, that I'm Colombian!
Why is UX important for workplace apps?
It determines user acceptance. Without good UX, users just switch to better options.
Where is your happy place?
Coding Java of course!
Name your superpower.
I can code… oh wait, many can, I guess many have that superpower then.
How do you relax outside of work?
I enjoy playing the guitar, practicing photography, riding a bike, exercising, having a beer from time to time, and spending time with close ones.
*As a company founded in Finland, there is nothing more awkward to a Finn than standing in a lift and having to make small-talk ;)