Staff Spotlight – Pablo Gómez 

 

 

In this series, we delve behind the scenes to spotlight some of the individuals at Sparta who may not always be in the limelight, giving them a moment to shine!

Today, we sit down with Pablo, our dedicated Engineering Team Manager. With over three years steering the ship, Pablo has been an instrumental force in Sparta’s growth. Join us as we explore the person behind the role, his evolution in the IT industry, and the key ingredients that make him an indispensable part of the Sparta family.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE COMPANY?

I’ve been around for three years and a half since August 2020. In July the first three developers were hired and soon they realised they needed someone to keep track and manage their work.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR ROLE?

As a Team Manager my focus is to ensure the delivery of value for our clients while keeping the team health high. I work closely with the Product Manager and the Staff Engineer to manage the day-to-day work centred on the short-term goals and removing possible blocks. I run the Scrum team meetings and I also have regular meetings with each team member.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE INDUSTRY?/CAN YOU GIVE ME A RUNDOWN OF YOUR CAREER PATH UP UNTIL THIS POINT?

I started working in IT more than twenty years ago, mostly as a technician and customer support with some management roles, until I had the opportunity to work in a scooter sharing start-up here in Valencia where I oversaw the development of the mobile application and control consoles.

From there the start-up environments journey started and I had the chance to implement Scrum in a small team in another small start-up that was developing a communication application with enhanced security, and after the Sparta journey started.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF WORKING AT SPARTA?

At Sparta I’ve had the opportunity to do my work in a way I truly believe, caring about the people and the culture and building a great product from there. Understanding that we are all human beings and not just pieces of a puzzle.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?

Earning the trust of the people I work with every day.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE OUR COMPANY CULTURE?

In Sparta we behave like the kind of person we would like to work with and treat everyone as we like to be treated. We want to be the company people look forward to coming to work every morning. We are building the company we would always like to work in. Anything else is not worth doing.

WHAT DO YOU THINK SETS OUR COMPANY APART FROM OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY?

Sparta stands out in the industry because our commitment to excellence extends beyond just our work culture. We take immense pride in delivering a superior product that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of our clients. The dedication to craftsmanship and innovation sets our product apart, making Sparta a leader in the industry.

WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING PROJECT YOU’VE WORKED ON HERE AT SPARTA?

The first MVP was quite challenging for me because I had no prior experience in this industry. Everything was entirely new, and the initial technical discussions with one of our founders about the blender proved to be a tough test. After that, tackling the ARBs table felt like an even bigger challenge!

WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

Perfection is an enemy of the good.

HOW HAS YOUR ROLE EVOLVED SINCE YOU’VE BEEN HERE?

In the past, my role was diverse—I was responsible for writing tickets to track the work, managing tasks, implementing Scrum within the company, and conducting manual QA. Over time, our roles have become more defined, leading to significant evolution. It has been a remarkable journey.

WHAT’S THE MOST VALUABLE LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?

To be a good leader you need to be a good person. You can have an incredible skill set, tons of knowledge, and they will have zero value if you are not someone who people can trust.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS/YEARS?

Continue evolving and become a better professional, there is always room for improvement. 

IF YOU HAD THREE WISHES, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

I just want to live in a house with a garden and swimming pool in a peaceful place with pets and near nature. 

The other two I will ask my parents and let them choose, as they have been the ones who have given me the opportunity to be here.

WHAT’S THE LAST SONG YOU LISTENED TO?

At this moment ‘Temple of The Dog’ – Hunger Strike is playing, I always have music on.

WHAT, IF ANYTHING, ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGE-WATCHING OR READING?

The Thought Gang, by Tibor Fisher. 

WHAT’S ONE THING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY WOULD BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT?

My first job was working as a professional photographer for three years, before I switched to IT. 

WHAT’S ONE THING ON YOUR BUCKET LIST

Write a science fiction book.

Pablo Gómezis our Engineering Team Manager here at Sparta and can be contacted at
pablo@spartacommodities.com

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Sparta is a live, market intelligence and forecasting platform that enables oil traders, refiners, banks, hedge funds and wholesalers to have access to real-time and global actionable insights to capture market opportunities before others.

To find out how Sparta can allow you to make smarter trading decisions, faster, contact us for a demonstration at sales@spartacommodites.com