Meet Alex, our Head of Software Development here at KUDO. Alex leads a team of software engineers here who all look up to and admire both him and his work. We asked Alex a few questions about himself and his development into his role today.
What do you enjoy most about working for KUDO?
Every day is different. We are given opportunities to learn from and work across different roles and departments to see the business from all angles.
What was your career path to the role you are in now?
I originally studied Biochemistry at the University of Stirling, before going on to complete a post graduate diploma in Information Technology. I’ve worked my way up from Support Analyst roles to Head of Software, gaining a varied range of experience, from working in large banking organisations to developing my own mobile app at home.
What career advice would you give someone wanting to be in your role?
Value learning opportunities outside of your chosen sector. Studying Biochemistry first instilled in me strong interdisciplinary thinking and is where I first learned to think analytically, interpret data, and identify patterns, which have been vital skills as part of software development. Experiencing a diverse group of people has given me the ability to lead multiple roles and bridge the gap between technical and non-technical teams, and so my education in both has undoubtedly helped me get to where I am.
What’s an accomplishment in or out of work you’re proud of?
Completing the Ironman Triathlon was a huge achievement for me personally. I have been a competitive swimmer since I was at school, but adding two more events to my training took a lot of commitment and discipline, so the sense of accomplishment was really rewarding.
What is an after-work hobby of yours?
Competitive swimming, I train 5 days a week in the pool and 3 times a week in the gym and compete in Masters swimming events across the UK. I hold a number of Scottish age group titles across a variety of different events.