Today we celebrate something truly special journey!
Darius has been with Present Connection for 10 years!
From the very beginning of his career, Darius has brought not only his skills and dedication but also kindness, humor, and support. Darius has shaped our culture in many ways. He was the one who kicked off the Running Challenge at Present Connection, becoming its very first champion. He was also the pioneer of workation at our company. Back in 2016, Darius spent some time working from Spain. Who knows, maybe that little adventure even sparked the idea to establish Present Connection in Spain!
Reaching 10 years is more than a milestone, it’s a journey of growth, teamwork, and inspiration. We’re grateful to have Darius as part of the Present Connection family and look forward to many more years together.
To celebrate, we sat down with Darius for a special 10-question interview about his decade with the company:
Ten years is a long journey! How do you remember your very first day at Present Connection?
My very first day at work was actually canceled. On the way to the office, I got a call saying that my laptop wasn’t ready, so I had to come back another day. Other than that, I think the real first day went the same way as for most others, installing Windows and all the necessary applications. Nothing too special
What has changed the most in the company since you joined?
The company itself. It has evolved. In the beginning, it was just a couple of developers doing their thing, and now there’s real structure, branding, and planning in place.
Looking back, what are the moments or projects you’re most proud of?
That would be Simpel, a mobile service provider in the Netherlands. It was interesting to work on a corporate project together with Dutch developers. I still hope my code hasn’t been overwritten and that my name is still visible in Git blame.
You were the initiator of the running challenge. How did that idea start, and did you expect it to become such a big part of our culture?
Back in the day, when I used to run more, there was an app called Endomondo. It had a built-in challenge feature. Doing things alone can get boring, so I was looking for some extra motivation.
You were also the first to go on a workation at Present Connection. What inspired you to do it, and what did that experience give you?
The short answer is Covid. Everyone was sent to work from home. So why not work from Spain instead? Vitamin D is great for fighting viruses.
What keeps you motivated after 10 years at the same company?
It actually doesn’t feel like I’ve been working in one place. I’ve worked on quite a few different projects over the years, so I’d say it’s the new challenges that keep me motivated.
How has your role, or your skills, evolved over the years?
With every new project, I’ve had the chance to work with different technologies and tools, so my skills naturally evolved over time. My role hasn’t changed much, though. I’ve always been a developer. Currently, I’m taking baby steps into team leading, but most of the time, I still write code.
If you could describe your 10 years at Present Connection in three words, what would they be?
Run, ride, walk. Those are the sports challenges we have and that is a big part of Present Connection culture.
What’s one thing that hasn’t changed since the beginning and still defines Present Connection for you?
Richard and Peter, our founders . For some reason, they don’t age. I wonder what supplements they take.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their journey here?
Keep a good work–life balance. There’s a time to climb the career ladder and a time to enjoy quality moments with friends and family. And travel, the world is big and beautiful.
Thank you, Darius, for your hard work, positivity, and all the ways you’ve helped shape who we are today. To many more years together!
