The Journey of a Lifelong Learner: From Curious High School Student to Seasoned Software Engineer

In the early days of the internet in Georgia, a young student in high school discovered a new world that would soon become his passion. Alongside a couple of close friends, he spent hours diving into the depths of the web, experimenting with the nascent technologies of the time. IRC scripts, ActionScript for Adobe Flash, and the basics of HTML and PHP filled his evenings. What began as a hobby soon turned into a profound interest in programming, sparking a lifelong journey of learning and innovation.

During his high school years, he was part of an experimental group focusing on mathematics and physics. This rigorous environment honed his analytical skills and prepared him for the challenges ahead. He excelled in his final exams, achieving the highest possible scores in both mathematics and Georgian literature. These achievements led him to Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, where he chose to study in a field that would allow him to delve deeper into his passion for technology.

University life was a balancing act between academic excellence and a growing interest in real-world applications of his studies. For the first two years, he maintained perfect scores, earning a university stipend. However, in his third year, the allure of practical experience beckoned, and he began working alongside his studies. This shift allowed him to focus on courses that truly interested him, while also gaining hands-on experience in the industry.

As he transitioned from student to professional, his early career was marked by a series of significant roles that demonstrated both his technical prowess and leadership abilities. He began as a Software Engineer and quickly became Senior and a Team Leader, where he led a team of 10 members. His leadership was not just about managing people—it was about fostering an environment of growth and innovation. He established the ITDC training center, a testament to his belief in continuous learning. He also spearheaded the development of a Learning Management System (LMS) for one of Georgia’s largest universities, ensuring that education remained at the forefront of his contributions.

As his career progressed, he took on roles that allowed him to explore a wide range of technologies and projects. At Shift Technologies, Inc., he embraced the challenges of working with a remote team and learning Go. These experiences not only broadened his technical skill set but also reinforced his belief in the importance of adaptability and continuous improvement.

One of his most impactful roles was as the Principal and Lead Software Engineer at FortuneJack and SkyTech Enterprises. Here, he balanced hands-on coding with high-level architectural decisions and being a top tier manager. He spent 3-4 hours a day writing code, but as projects matured, his focus shifted towards code reviews, ensuring that quality and consistency were maintained across the board. Leading a diverse team of 20 engineers, including frontend, backend, and data specialists, he cultivated a culture of collaboration and excellence.

His journey also included entrepreneurial ventures, such as his role as a Co-Founder and Software Engineer at MyDoc and Radium / MedSpace. In these startups, he was the driving force behind all product decisions, from UI/UX design to backend architecture. Working solo on the technical aspects while his co-founders focused on sales and marketing, he demonstrated his ability to turn ideas into fully functional products. His approach was always iterative—starting with a simple, straightforward solution, then refining and optimizing as the project evolved.

Throughout his career, he has been guided by a philosophy of continuous learning and experimentation. He is always on the lookout for new tools and technologies that can enhance his work, even if they fall outside his immediate area of expertise. For example, when he learned Dart/Flutter and built a mobile app, it was a completely new experience that expanded his skill set and opened up new possibilities. In his latest project, MedSpace, he pushed the boundaries by using a new IDE, the latest version of Go, and experimenting with frontend tools like htmx and templ’s template engine. For him, every project is an opportunity to learn something new without compromising the project’s timeline.

Looking ahead, he is eager to continue this journey of growth and discovery. He is particularly interested in deepening his knowledge of WebAssembly (WASM) and exploring the world of edge computing. These technologies represent the cutting edge of software development, and he is confident that his background and passion for learning will make him successful in mastering them.