Improve Your Business through Personal Development
If you’re an avid reader of our new monthly ‘What’s News’, as we assume you are, consider this month’s read as Part II where our employees reflect on unexpected growth and opportunity around them.
Six years ago, during a tech podcast I frequently listen to, the host, Paul Thurrott, touted the language learning app Duolingo. Intrigued by the challenge of learning Spanish, I downloaded the software. This seemingly insignificant action would initiate a lifelong journey absorbing a new language and culture. I soon outgrew the boundaries of learning from a computer and initiated a friendship with an international language partner who had a mutual interest in learning English. While we continue to meet regularly, I knew I was ready to be immersed in regular face-to-face conversation. Meanwhile, it was 2020 and as life has a funny way of opening doors, ASI hired its first “Amoeba” employee, Edgar Zarco.The Amoeba program is an entry-level educational curriculum we coined at ASI. The program strives to build programming professionals out of the programming equivalent of single-celled creatures. Edgar’s drive and aptitude gained him a full-time programming job at ASI as result of graduating the program. In addition to appreciating his programming abilities, I was thrilled to learn Edgar’s family is from Mexico and speaks fluent Spanish.
Edgar agreed to turn the tables and become the teacher, and I the single-celled creature. Each week we walked away from programming to discuss a variety of planned topics – in Spanish, of course. After a few weeks, we covered our interests in viajar (travel), mascotas (pets), and pasatiempos (hobbies). Recently, we traded favorite foods – sweet bread he offered, and chocolate cookies baked by yours truly.
As a tech company, ASI understands the world is in a constant state of change. Accordingly, I encourage our employees to invest in themselves with ongoing education. My challenge to readers this month is to pursue growth, career or otherwise, and make it a lifelong journey. Mentorships turn into friendships and friendships can turn into opportunity. I imagine Edgar would agree – our unexpected collaboration effectively reimagines the amoeba program and the way we communicate among our team and customers. Externally, we offer mentorship and education in the form of assessments. For a fixed cost, our developers partner with leadership in your organization to uncover ways to increase efficiency and productivity.
