In the Spotlight: Fabian Miranda

Name: Fabian Miranda
Title: Studio Manager | Veeva Tech Lead
Location: San Jeronimo, in the mountains of San Jose, Costa Rica
Favorite Quote: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.“ – Nelson Mandella

What does a usual workday look like for you? 
We always kick off the morning with our daily team meeting to get caught up on who is working on what and the projects we have in the pipeline. Then, I get to coding! Between the tons of lines of code I’m writing each day, I may be developing applications, attending project meetings, or hosting interviews with potential technical hires to see if they’re a good fit for certain assignments.

On any given day, I’m constantly having to pivot quickly and efficiently from one job to the next. I can never just block out one day for a single project because the priority of tasks drastically changes all the time. And I have to be able to shift my focus to match the different nature of each project. When I’m developing a website, I’m completely focused with a structural mindset, but when a banner project needs attention right away, I have to flip to a creative mentality. It’s challenging and exciting at the same time.

What are some of the skills you’re known for on the Assemble team?
My versatility. The biggest advantage I provide the team is my capacity to adapt to different situations and tasks whenever it will benefit the client. Even if I don’t know a certain technology, I rarely say no to a challenge. Instead, I’ll go seek as much technical knowledge about it as I can, and if there’s the slightest possibility I can make the project happen, I’m on it. That’s my super power. 🙂

How would you describe your job to a bunch of kindergarteners? 
I’d say I spend all my time creating the applications that you and your parents use each day on your phones and computers — I make things you see on the internet. 

What is a struggle that clients or marketers typically have to deal with that you want to improve?
Assemble actually does a lot of this as a team. When some of our clients are fairly new to the different languages and technology available or how they can use them, we don’t just work to create the solutions, but also to explain why we choose certain paths to get there. They come to us to bridge this technical gap that exists between production and design, so we are constantly looking for ways to educate the teams we work with and make this collaboration stronger and more seamless.

What do you love about working for Assemble? 
First and foremost, the team! Everyone is so open to feedback, so humble, and friendly. You can ask anyone for help, and you’ll be warmly embraced. Anyone who may come on board will feel completely accepted and appreciated from day one, and this type of culture is so important to building a successful team.

But in regard to my specific role, I also have to mention having the opportunity to participate in such a variety of projects in terms of the approach and technologies. When you work for a larger company like I have in the past, you’re often stuck with very specific tasks that require the same language and formulas. At Assemble, I feel like I’m constantly growing professionally as each new project allows me to choose different means to find a solution — which also allows us to expand the capabilities of the whole company. Assemble is truly an environment that embraces innovation!

What motivates you professionally and personally? 
My children (Elena, 10, and Luciana, 7). I’m always pushing myself to grow professionally and become better at what I do because I know the impact it will have on them as they grow up. My motivation is driven by my ability to create a better future for them.

I also just love to learn. If any task — whether it’s technology related or even a household chore — is an opportunity to teach myself something new, I’m happy to do it. I enjoy feeling like I’m growing; this sense of constant evolution fulfills me.

What are you usually caught doing in your free time?
I’m most likely spending time with my kids and my girlfriend. We enjoy going to the movies, trying out different restaurants, or just watching something on Netflix or YouTube. During the weekends, I wake up early in the morning and cut the grass and do a little gardening — it gives me a feeling of calm and a chance to relax. 

What is one thing you could talk about for hours
Oh, there are too many things to choose from, but I’ll go with Science Fiction. Since the fourth Matrix has just been released, I could talk about it forever — as long as the person on the receiving end has a general interest in it too.

And soccer! Ricardo Chamberlain and I share this interest, so we’ll chat about the National League here in Costa Rica, or international tournaments like Champions League in Europe because we both love it and root for the same teams.

If you could only have one meal the rest of your life, what would it be?
Breakfast is the best meal for me. We have a dish in Costa Rica called Gallo Pinto. It’s rice and beans with onion, sweet pepper, and cilantro, prepared in a particular way; so simple, but so delicious. Add some scrambled eggs to it, and I could eat that every day.

Who is someone you really admire? Why?
I admire people with the vision and leadership to create a path designed for everyone else to follow; like Steve Jobs. He wasn’t an engineer or designer, or even the most tech savvy guy, but he had the vision to build a team that could and led them to create revolutionary products.

Elon Musk too. He’s revolutionizing the automobile industry with energy sources that will eventually power houses in the future, and better our world. These guys introduce revolutionary tech designed to make our lives easier and have the vision and leadership to make it a reality. Those are the types of people I admire.  

What advice would you give your younger self?
If you have to do something, just do it! And if you’re scared, do it anyway. Face your fears. In the past, I have definitely passed on certain things I wanted to do because I was too afraid to do them — even simple things like talking to the girl I liked in high school. And I think about how many good moments I could have missed out on because of it. It’s ok to be scared, but don’t let it stop you. The important thing is to face it and move forward.