Q. Let’s go back to the very beginning. Can you remember your first computer? 

I don’t remember the specifications. But I do remember that it was a desktop custom build. I started using it with Windows 3.1 and the installation process involved using a bunch of floppy disks. I think there were around eight of them altogether!

I also remember that had the most comfortable mouse. It was a trackball I believe. It was incredibly complicated for everyone else to use but I thought it was the best.

I do remember the first computer we had at our home house. It was a Macintosh Classic in the 90’s!

Q. You have almost two decades of domain experience in the international FinTech and software space. What first drew you into software?

About 20 years ago, I was working in a financial institution where I had to implement a new piece of software. A software company installed the software but it was the first time I was exposed to the whole software development process and got to understand how it all works. i.e. going from an idea to development and taking into account all the things that are needed for everything to function properly.

After a couple of years I landed my first software development job. It just so happened to be the very same software company that installed that software, all those years before. I started with a few different roles and learned from a lot of different people that I’ve met along the way. 

Q. Can you tell us some of your career highlights to date?

One of the things that stands out would be unblocking all the implementations that were blocked by my previous company’s product department. That was an interesting project. I also loved the task of creating different processes for the product team. 

On a personal level, moving abroad with my family has been a real highlight. In doing so, my wife and I are allowing our kids to learn new things, visit cool places and become citizens of the world. This is something that really means a lot to us.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about what it’s like to work in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is a really nice place to work. One of the great things that we have here is that education is free from kindergarten all the way through to college. In 1995 Intel moved here and since then a lot of other companies have followed suit and moved their operations to Costa Rica (here’s a link to a Harvard Business Review about the topic). This has had a very positive effect and created a huge amount of job opportunities. It is the reason why having a second language in our country is very important.  

Costa Rica has become one of the fastest growing software developer communities in the world. We have access to high-speed internet anywhere in the country. This allows us digital nomads to work from multiple locations, which has been really great.

Costa Rican work culture is also very special. There is a really high standard of education. The quality of work, attention to detail and overall professionalism is excellent as a result. 

Q. What do you think are the most interesting trends in FinTech right now?

There are a lot of great things happening in this space. I would say one of the most interesting trends is how AI and blockchain are becoming part of the day-to-day.

Outside of that, it’s fascinating how the FinTech industry is removing physical barriers and moving everything to the cloud. 

Q. What are you enjoying most right now in your role at Keeper?

There are two different hats that I’m wearing for Keeper Solutions! 

The first role is as Service Delivery Manager. This is a very interesting role, one that I’ve never done before. In the past I’ve had to manage products, stakeholders and teams. However, I’ve never had to manage the service relationship with another organization. This can be tricky as I need to ensure that we are delivering as expected, and have the right information at the right time. This is something that is really fun to do when you are working with a great team and people, as we are with Keeper Solutions. 

The people we work with are the best! I love what I do and hope that I’m helping others to do their best work, and enjoy themselves while doing so.

My second hat is as Costa Rica Hub Lead. This role is something that is only just beginning. As we continue to grow, this will become a much bigger part of my job. This role keeps me on my toes. I have to ensure that the team here has everything they need and there are no blockers.  We have a great group of people working here in Costa Rica and I’m excited to watch our team grow.

Q. What do you like to do most that’s not related to computers?

I like to spend time with my family. For me, spending time with them is a hugely important part of my day. Outside of this, I love to cook. I enjoy making new sauces for pasta and being creative in the kitchen. Sometimes it works out well, sometimes not! I also love to travel and to get involved in different cultures. 

Q. What motivates you?

I would say that my wife and kids are what keeps me motivated. Mariella is my wife, Alessandro and Bianca are my two beautiful kids. But I guess all parents say that! 

Professionally, it motivates me that I’m helping someone else to learn, grow and evolve. As a parent, it’s nice to see that Alessandro is starting to show an interest in following in my footsteps.

Knowing this spurs me on to be as good as I can possibly be in my career.