Chronicles of a pine-y journey

(Para leer este post en español, siga este link)

There are some experiences that, as time goes by, continue to evoke our most sincere emotions due to how precious they were. Arriving at 10Pines, without a doubt, is one of them. This is my story.

It was late January 2014. I was heading to my third interview. I remember I got there pretty early, so I hit Café Martínez for coffee on the corner of Alem and Viamonte, literally next to the office.

I had graduated a few months before, and though I’d had some work experience, I was ready for a more serious job. I remember using Smalltalk to solve the exercise they had emailed to me after my first interview^[1]. And, pertinently, the defense was evaluated by Hernán Wilkinson^[2]. In blissful ignorance, for I was unaware of who he was.

At that time, there were approximately 14 members at the company, who called themselves “pines”, but still the group interview^[3] was pretty intimidating. I knew a few of them already, like Gise, who used to teach Interfaces at the UNQ (Universidad Nacional de Quilmes), and Nahue, a fellow student I shared many classes with, who encouraged me to take the interview in the first place. I’ll never forget Nacho pointing out that I didn’t know how to pronounce “Ruby” in English. As time went by I learned it wasn’t actually pronounced “Rabi”...

There’s another thing that I will never forget. The actual reason I decided to write this post. It was a question Igal asked me, without a doubt a third-interview classic:

“How do you see yourself in 5 years?”

Although I vividly remember that question, I cannot recall which might have been my answer. I know I said I saw myself being more professional, maybe even interacting directly with a client, both things I hadn’t had the chance to do yet but was eager to.

As time went by, the better I knew each pine, the more I realized 10pines wasn’t like any other place. And even though I didn't know many other software development companies, I was aware that things such as code quality or human quality were not commonplace, unfortunately. 10Pines was different.

Each time I perked up my ears and accidentally overheard the most minimal technical discussion about anything, I felt that I was learning. Not only from a technical perspective but also from a human one. It was impressive to see how each side had a point, and that the underlying intention was not to brag about knowledge, but rather how things could be done better. I never heard anyone proposing a solution that implied a downgrade in quality or a quick way out. After a few months, I understood that way of thinking, and of expressing, went beyond programming.

Roots, the name we give to the stable staff on the company, made me see that each individual in 10Pines had a human value that could not be quantified in the same way as their technical level. Each person is important and regarded as equal.
Anyone might say that I started my work here yearning to prove such utopia. Believe me, I was sure it was true from the start, without a shadow of a doubt. The recommendation came from Nahuel, one of the most honest, and truly devoted to programming guys I knew, so it couldn’t possibly be a fantasy.

Today is February 3rd, 2019. My fifth year anniversary has finally arrived, a milestone I was eager to reach. Fortunately, I can say that everything that captivated me from 10Pines when I started, is still here, stronger than ever. Evolved and enhanced. I can say without hesitation that I’ve achieved the goals I put myself when I answered that question. I’ve never had more certain proof of belonging, where my ideals are so clearly mirrored.
And I know that many people will ask: “What is 10Pines? How would you define it?” And… that’s a complex question...

I think the “10pines DNA” depends on many things. And they are so simple we sometimes don’t even notice them. It’s hard to find a working environment where you feel comfortable enough you want to go even on a Saturday, just to meet peers who want to implement some new crazy idea together. There aren’t many people lucky enough to say the term co-worker falls really short when talking about any of their colleagues. Or that any situation in their workplace feels enjoyable and fulfilling. It’s actually something I would have never thought possible on my student days.

Here I am, five years later… and this “impossible” place is a few months away from its ten years anniversary.
In the midst of this commemoration, it seems appropriate that this time it’s me who asks the question:

“10Pines, How do you see yourself in 5 years?”

Pablo Alegre
Pine