This post was updated on May 13, 2020.
Haven’t heard from us in a while? That’s because we’ve been very busy adding to our growing team. On that note, we’d like to formally welcome Felix, Maria and Sandra. They’ll be utilizing their expertise in the QA, Software Development and Growth departments.
“Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” – Steve Jobs
Felix Kiss — Backend Developer
My Background
I knew I wanted to become a software developer ever since I was 12 years old. That was when I first started learning about HTML/CSS/JS, PHP and a little bit of C, mainly through the internet and books. I attended a technical high school that focused on IT, and then obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Software Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences in Vienna. My professional experience varied over the years — I’ve worked as a freelancer, I worked for a few small consultancy firms; I also co-founded a company that developed a web application for private medical practices, where I was responsible for the REST API as lead backend developer. After four years, I decided that it was time for a change of scenery, so I joined the backend team at Meister!
My Role at Meister
As a backend developer at Meister, I’ll be responsible for making improvements to systems that are currently used by both products and by all users, such as user/team management and billing. This involves a lot of backend development with the occasional bit of frontend.
About Me
I’m a huge fan of hockey, gaming and software development. In an effort to combine my three favorite things, I’m a system administrator for the European EA Sports competitive NHL Series. I participate in tournaments in a team of six. I appreciate word play (every pun is a good pun) and clever humour. Aside from that, I enjoy listening to podcasts and goofing around with my best friend.
Maria Cygan — QA
My Background
I actually got into IT in a bit of a roundabout way. I have a degree in Linguistics from the University of Warsaw, but my career started off behind a service desk in my hometown, Łódź. After that, I worked as a technical writer at Fujitsu R&D and then made the switch to QA. I just recently moved to Vienna to further my career, and that’s when I joined the QA team at Meister.
My Role at Meister
I started at MindMeister in May as a quality assurance officer. My job is to make sure that MindMeister remains a fun tool to use and is completely bug-free. I do this by performing manual tests as well as updating and designing new test cases. I’m also looking into finding new testing tools and methods.
About Me
You can nearly always find me reading something. My favorite genres are fantasy and science fiction, but I won’t say no to a good crime story, or learning more about history, archeology, paleontology and linguistics. When my nose isn’t in a book, you can find me cross-stitching or playing RPGs (computer as well as pen and paper ones) and board games.
Sandra Merkel — Data Analyst
My Background
I come from Leipzig, Germany. I studied International Business in Dresden and spent time in St. Petersburg, Nice and Vienna. After completing my studies, I started working in online marketing and that took me to Berlin. Soon after my arrival, I accidentally became a “data person” (this is probably because data is on the rise everywhere). This is when I discovered that python can be more than a snake and that some cookies cannot be eaten. After five years in Berlin, I heard Vienna calling and now here I am..
My Role at Meister
As a data analyst at Meister, I will focus on gathering, blending and displaying data to empower other team members to make good decisions. My main focus will be to first build up the business intelligence area at Meister. I’ll be working closely within the growth team to create a centralized knowledge base that will house all data, from several sources, in one place. In addition, I will try to bridge the gap between marketing and tech. My role will also be to understand the user journey.
About Me
I like good food and drinks with friends. I’ve always been into sports and have done a variety of different things, like Taekwon-Do and ballroom dance. I recently discovered CrossFit, the perfect sport for anyone seeking to have a near-death experience. Anyone keen to join?