What is the eTeeru software about? What did you personally contribute to this project?
eTeeru is a digital wallet based in Bhutan that allows people to transfer and receive money, popular among young children who are not legally allowed to own a bank account. I was part of the team that helped build the admin portal of eTeeru.
What technologies or tools did you get to use during those projects? Anything you enjoyed working with?
I worked with React on this project. Since it was my first tech job, there was a steep learning curve. The codebase introduced me to new ways of working and thinking about software development.
Were there any interesting challenges you faced while working on those projects? How did you go about tackling them?
Initially, I faced challenges acclimating to a new country and dealing with cultural barriers. Over time, I learned the Indian concept of Jugaad, which involves finding frugal and clever solutions to problems. Building a good rapport with my team members and creating temporary, cookie-cutter solutions until permanent ones were found helped me navigate these challenges.
How was the experience of collaborating with your team members? Any memorable moments or lessons learned?
This role required a strong learning mindset and the ability to make do with what you have. One memorable moment was when our server crashed and needed at least two days to fix. Our team had to deliver the UI in that time frame, so we simulated data responses from the server and built our UI based on this dummy data. Once the server was up, we connected our UI and resolved any minor issues, avoiding project delays.
What were the outcomes or results of those projects? Anything you're particularly proud of or found surprising?
The project had a significant impact, helping to digitalize financial transactions for nearly 100,000 unbanked citizens of Bhutan. I’m particularly proud of the role we played in accelerating digitization in the country.
When it comes to writing code, do you have any personal approaches or strategies you find effective?
When writing code, I find it helpful to zoom out from a problem and avoid overthinking. Writing down ideas and concepts on paper can provide clarity. Discussing issues openly with senior team members can also lead to effective solutions.
Can you think of a specific problem or task that was particularly challenging, and how you approached solving it?
We faced an issue with a library integrated into Tableau that wasn’t working. We quickly researched alternative libraries, listed three possibilities, and weighed their pros and cons. By consulting with colleagues who had experience with these libraries, we chose one with a smaller learning curve, speeding up our development process.
Were you involved in any aspects of project planning or management? How did you handle deadlines and prioritize tasks?
Our project planning was more verbal and progress was communicated and documented through meetings rather than a defined planning system.
Looking back, what have you learned or gained from those experiences? Any skills or insights that have stuck with you?
I learned that with a good team and clear communication, you can achieve a lot through constant collaboration and temporary solutions. Clear communication can speed up learning and help everyone on the team.
Is there anything you'd do differently now, based on what you've learned from those projects? Any feedback or advice you've taken to heart?
If I could do things differently, I would focus on developing a specific style of communication and organizational skills tailored to the team. Understanding the team dynamics helps deliver the best product while ensuring high satisfaction among team members.
