First, it’s essential to build a strong foundation by developing deep expertise in one discipline. From there, we shall set aside regular time - even just an hour a week - to explore emerging trends, focusing on those that align with our core skills rather than chasing every hype. Engaging in cross-functional projects also helps expand our knowledge naturally, exposing us to new areas, concepts, and technologies.

Surfing and tech share a lot of similarities:

Adaptability: In both, conditions are always changing – ocean swells or tech trends – and success depends on how well we can respond in the moment

Flow state: Both can lead to deep focus and immersion, where we lose track of time solving problems or riding a wave

Continuous learning: Neither can be mastered overnight. Both require practice, patience, and respect for the process

Humility: The ocean, like technology, constantly reminds us that there’s always more to learn and that control is often an illusion

One challenge that helped me level up recently was working with Kubernetes. Coming from a background in traditional virtualization, Kubernetes was a completely new paradigm - more dynamic, distributed, and tied to microservices. I had to learn on the job within a microservice-oriented architecture, which meant not only grasping the theory but also applying it under real conditions. I spent a lot of time practicing, tuning performance, tightening security, and diving into documentation and articles to solidify my understanding. That hands-on, iterative learning process elevated my skills to a new level and positioned me at the forefront of one of the most significant and relevant trends in modern IT infrastructure.

I thrive in a bottom-up team dynamic where ideas and input are encouraged from everyone, not just top-down. A strong sense of commitment, shared responsibility, and genuine teamwork bring out my best. I find that agile approaches, when applied beyond just process and into mindset, really support this - promoting collaboration, continuous improvement, and ownership across the team.

I stay energized by doing sports every day and enjoying weekends to recharge. When work gets tough, having a supportive team motivates me. Facing challenges together, keeping a positive spirit, and celebrating both the hard times and the wins with fun and a toast make a difference.

Best swell ever.