MOHAMED TAMAN: ТHE CODE OF LIFE

The IT Industry nowadays is the most fast paced area of the economy, that shows tremendous development in many sectors. We see companies mature and invest in different regions of the world, opening opportunities for a vast number of specialists to grow, learn and excel in their passion for technology. 

Many companies invest in our country in search of quality employees with both experience and expertise. Effortel is no exception. The virtual mobile operator is located in Bulgaria with two offices that gather top talents from all around Europe, allowing them to develop their skill sets, explore new opportunities, and learn from the international know-how that the Effortel office represents. 

To dive into the knowledge of Effortel, we met with Mohamed Taman, who is Chief Solution Architect in the company. He has vast experience in software development and Solutions architecture. He has the opportunity to travel and live worldwide, learn and see many modern technologies and innovations.

What does Chief Solution Architect mean? Explain your day-to-day work with a few words? 

The Chief Solutions Architect (CSA) plays a critical role within the organization. CSA encompasses business, system, information, security, application, and technology architecture. If we zoom out and look at the bigger picture, the CSA reports to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO). They work with other Executive Management staff to develop and manage new solutions and their implementation to address business challenges and improve customer service.

At Effortel, we have an Enterprise Architecture Board (EAB), and we are collaborating to have the best of the best solutions for our customers. 

My position is the bridge between IT and business operations to ensure everyone is aligned in developing and implementing technical solutions for business problems. I am responsible for evaluating the organization’s business needs and determining how IT can support them by leveraging software, hardware, or infrastructure. My day-to-day job involves a lot of different tasks and roles, which is what makes it a challenging but exciting job. 

And if we zoom in a bit and look into the details, my daily responsibilities include leading brainstorming sessions to develop potential solutions for business needs or problems. I also identify opportunities for process improvements and identify areas where IT can support business needs and goals.

Working with business units to develop IT strategies and improve current IT implementations is crucial to ensuring we always give quality work to our customers. Building and migrating software and services across the organization, working with product and delivery teams to develop scalable solutions and products, and communicating and consulting with clients and internal stakeholders to develop appropriate solutions are also part of my job. So, as you can tell, it is a lot of responsibility, and the role requires excellent structure, tight scheduling, dedication, and focus. 

If you could go back in time and meet with your younger self, what advice would you give him?

I will keep doing what I was doing. Each age has circumstances and experiences. However, I can advise my younger self first not to waste time and think wisely about spending it. Second - keep the quality of learning as much as you can.

You are always in the public eye, speaking at different conferences and events, but what do people don’t know about Mohamed Taman?

I am a simple person. I love to get closer to the community I live with and get to know the people in the country I am visiting. I like to explore places, socialize with local people and learn about the language and the culture of the country I live in. 

I also like cycling, walking, driving, and swimming. And as drawing was my hobby, and coding took over this part, I learned how to photograph as a kind of drawing digitally to further develop my passion for creativity.

Finally, I like adventures and trying new things, as I always say: “You will never know unless you try.”

What would you advise a young person that is just now starting to build their career in the technology field? Do you have a success formula?

Everyone has their success formula that suits their character and circumstances, so my successful scenario doesn't need to fit someone else, but the steps - may be yes.

My advice is to take care of your time and how you spend it. Learning and investing in yourself will pay off in the long run. The theory doesn’t work without practice, and from here, experience comes. 

In addition, try to listen as much as you can. Analyze, think and take what suits you. 

I cannot miss the usual “wake up early, exercise,” but believe me, this is important not only to keep your precious health but to bring you more energy and a better mood. 

It is also important to accept feedback and try not to be emotional. Take it and analyze it. People are different. 

And last but not least - don’t be shy to ask and express your opinion.

How do you see technology change in 10 years? When should we expect the next big step technology-wise, and what do you think it would be?

We are already in a significant technology shift, the data era, where data is the new wealth. We see AI and machine learning taking place everywhere, and therefore robots are becoming advanced enough to take care of everything. And a quick, fun story to back this up. I often travel to Serbia, and nowadays, I mainly depend on my autopilot in the car - where it is suitable and safe, of course. 

What is the message behind the code?

There are many messages we can have behind the code. However, I have one rule that I apply to everything in my life and my work: Time is the most precious free asset to waste, and we should spend it on valuable things. 

We are developing innovative solutions to satisfy our clients’ needs and serve the customers in the most flexible, fast, and secure way. The most important message behind the code is to bring your best in everything you do with outstanding quality and efficiency and focus on the next significant innovation to come. 

What does being a speaker at so many events bring to you? Tell us more about how these experiences affect you on a deeper and professional level. 

Besides my day-to-day job, I work with the international community. As a Java Champion, Oracle ace, Jakarta EE (Enterprise Edition) Ambassador, and Java Community Process member, I participate in the creation of new technology, setting the trends, especially in Java and its ecosystems. 

Based on that, I speak about what is new and upcoming in Java and ecosystems at conferences worldwide, to teach students, developers, and others the best practices, and share our knowledge with them about new things and the future of technology, so they are better equipped in their day-to-day jobs and decisions.

The effect of all that on my professional life is enormous. It is a win-win situation. I am lucky to peek behind the curtains from a high tech point of view, which sharpens my knowledge. I also learn from the audience's questions and feedback as I teach. From other speakers as well, as they are experts in different areas. All this helps me become even better at what I do and gives me the ability to add more value for my team; with the learning sessions and workshops, and we have to be better and better at solving our daily problems. 

You can find more and connect with Mohamed Taman on his social media: LinkedIn, Twitter and GitHub.