We’re talking to Software Developer Rok Petrovčič Vižintin this month, an important member of our product team and a guy who thrives in a start-up environment.
With a product that focuses on streamlining the complex process of Charge Point Planning (CPP), it is integral that we get it right. Rok Petrovčič Vižintin has been working with our CPP platform for the last three years, currently taking care of the application used by our customers every day.
Rok talks to us about his various roles with Dodona Analytics over the years, why he finds start-up life so uplifting, and what inspires him outside of work.
Hi Rok, thank you so much for your time. Let’s start by hearing a bit about what you do here at Dodona.
I started out as a front-end developer but over time I’ve started doing many things, from dev-ops to back-end development and everything in between. Most of my time is still spent in the front-end and UX realm however.
What does your department do at Dodona?
We take care of the application itself, the part that our users log into and interact with.
What is your favorite part of working at Dodona?
The culture and the team. The air of camaraderie and collaboration is unlike anything I’ve seen at companies where I worked previously. It’s really easy to get things done as a team, ask around if you’re stuck, get new ideas, etc. And on top of that, everyone is very relaxed and easy going, not to mention very skilled in their respective fields. I usually like to keep my private and work life separate but this is a team I really enjoy spending time with outside of work as well.
What general career advice would you give to other professionals like you who are starting out, especially those wanting to work with a start-up?
Soft skills, soft skills, soft skills. Hard skills are important up to a point, but nobody wants to work with a genius that doesn’t know how to communicate or collaborate. Also, a passion for learning, especially in a start-up. I think it’s good to be great at something, but in a fast paced environment with a smaller team, it really helps that you can do and are knowledgeable about a few other things as well. Plus, it helps you grow as a professional and also as a person.
What do you like to do outside Dodona?
I’m a very creative person. I’ve been a musician since I was 12, playing drums in various bands. I'm in two at the moment of writing this. I also learned a bit of piano and some electronic music production skills along the way. Most recently, I spend a lot of time watching theatre and also performing in plays as an actor.
When I have the time, the willpower and a good recipe (hungry guests optional) I love to cook.
I also like to stay active, I go to a rock climbing gym once or twice a week and on the occasional bi-yearly surf trip.
What are you reading, watching or playing that we should try?
I recently finished the first four Dune books. The first truly deserves its status as a Sci-Fi classic. The next three books get more philosophical and political so they are a bit harder to get into, especially coming from the first book, but I’d still recommend them.
I’ve also just finished the second season of Severance and it’s a great show so far. I hope they can keep up the quality in the following seasons.
Who do you nominate for our next Meet the Team interview?
I nominate my front-end brother in arms, Anže Matelič. He’s someone I work with very closely. Much of how the application behaves and looks is coded by the two of us. I’m sure he will have some interesting insights to share!