Mentorloop’s Senior Software Engineer and longest-serving team member, Durga Narayan Shrestha, reflects on his 5-year journey working at Mentorloop. He shares why it’s never too late to go for your passions and dreams and how, with a little help from your mentors, you can achieve your goals even if you feel underprepared to take them on.
A Slow Start
I’ve been lucky enough to have been at Mentorloop for 5 years now, having celebrated my 5-year work anniversary in February 2023. Five years is a long time but I can genuinely say I’m enjoying my time here. Building software that helps people make human connections that can change their lives is exciting and has been a pleasure. However, it didn’t always look like I would get here.
Before joining Mentorloop, I had been working in the hospitality industry for over seven years. And while I enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the industry, I knew that my true passion lay in technology. However, like many out there, I found it challenging to land a job in tech after graduating. I lacked experience in the field and had a 7-year gap in employment in the tech space. I faced numerous rejections and disappointments. And while I chose to work in another industry in the meantime, I refused to give up on my dream of working in tech.
My persistence paid off when I was offered an internship at Mentorloop in 2018 through the Outcome Hub internship program. I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and took it as my chance to prove myself and gain valuable experience. It was the boost that I needed to affirm my belief that I belonged in tech. I went in every day determined to make the most out of it.
Cementing My Place in the Team with the Help of Mentors
When I started working at Mentorloop as an intern, I faced a fair few challenges. It was overwhelming. My lack of industry experience meant I had knowledge and skills gaps in crucial areas that I haven’t been exposed to. I also had to adapt to this new working environment while learning the ropes in a new role.
So, I worked hard. I took online training courses, sought feedback from colleagues and mentors, and just reinforced these through practising and applying my new learnings and building skills. I took the time to observe and learn from colleagues. I even took notes and documented processes and procedures to help me remember key details. I was determined to learn as much as I could from my new colleagues and mentors.
I had the privilege of working alongside Mike who proved to be an exceptional mentor and guide. From day one, he took the time to patiently explain basics to me and helped me write cleaner and more efficient code. As I progressed, Mike’s support extended beyond the basics. He generously imparted his extensive knowledge of best practices, code architecture, and a myriad of other essential concepts. He had an unwavering commitment to helping me succeed and a willingness to share his expertise and experiences. These have been invaluable in developing my skills and growing my confidence.
Another person I have to thank for guiding my development is our former CTO, Mark, who demonstrated exceptional knowledge and expertise in our code base. Through his guidance, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of how to approach complex problems and find effective solutions. One of the most valuable lessons I learned from him was the importance of thinking at scale, even when building small components or features. Mark’s emphasis on considering the bigger picture when making decisions and his commitment to maintaining the integrity of our code base was truly inspiring to me and something I still practice to this day.
Lucy and Heidi, the founders of the Mentorloop, were also a constant source of support and encouragement throughout my internship. Their commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive work environment made me feel valued and supported. Their belief in my abilities helped me to push myself and take on new challenges. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with such dynamic and visionary leaders, and I carry the lessons I learned from them now and will continue to do so throughout my career.
Despite the challenges, with the help of my colleagues and mentors, I persevered. And later in 2018, I was offered a full-time position as a Junior Software Engineer. But it wouldn’t have happened without my mentors supporting me. Until now I’m truly grateful for their faith in me, their guidance, and their generosity. All of them had a great impact on my development as a software engineer.
Embracing My Role As A Mentor
Over the years and as I got more comfortable working at Mentorloop, I continued to take on more responsibility. I got to play a bigger role in the product’s development and work on more challenging projects.
In 2020, I took on a bigger role in building video integrations for Mentorloop via Microsoft Teams. The goal was to provide customers with a seamless video conferencing and collaboration experience. We wanted to enable them to quickly initiate and join meetings, share screens, and collaborate in real-time – all without having to switch between apps or platforms.
The project was a major success. It was so rewarding to see the significant impact it had on our customers. Not only were they enjoying the newly added functionality, but these integrations also improved their productivity. It also provided the flexibility to maintain good mentoring relationships from any location, at any time, and on any device. Additionally, it was great to get feedback that the integrations I worked on helped businesses save costs by eliminating the need for separate subscriptions and hardware for video conferencing and collaboration tools.
Throughout this process, I was also given the opportunity to mentor the junior engineers that have joined Mentorloop. I found that teaching and supporting others by sharing my knowledge and experiences is an excellent way to solidify my own understanding of concepts and best practices. Watching others who I’ve supported grow and develop into skilled software engineers was, and continues to be, incredibly rewarding.
Looking to the Future
Today, I’m still working at Mentorloop as a Senior Software Engineer, collaborating with other senior engineers and product managers to lead the development of Mentorloop’s core platform and our product roadmap. It’s been a thrilling experience to work with a team of talented individuals who share my passion for technology. Building a product that has a significant impact on people is also a source of pride and a great motivator for me. It’s also incredibly humbling to now be working on what the future will look like for the organisation that took a chance on me 5 years ago.
I’m now working with a growing Product & Engineering team at Mentorloop and it has been nothing short of exciting and fulfilling. In my new role, I have the opportunity to collaborate with some very talented team members. I am constantly learning from their expertise while also sharing what I’ve learned along the way.
It’s also such a joy to work in a team that faces challenges in the way that we do. Just in the last 12 months, we’ve had to work on scaling the product, optimizing performance, and integrating new technologies. It goes without saying that these weren’t easy. But with effective leadership, clear communication, and a supportive team culture, we’re finding that we’re able to come together and overcome any challenge as a team.
Additionally, watching the entire Mentorloop team grow has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me. As employee #5, I’ve had the opportunity to witness firsthand how the company has evolved and improved over time. The growth of the Mentorloop team has enabled us to achieve more and make a bigger impact on people’s lives through our product. I feel privileged to be part of that and to work with such a dedicated and talented team. Being part of this motivates me to contribute more to our collective success. It has also been inspiring to see how our team has grown, not just in size but also in diversity. It’s exciting coming to work and seeing how each member brings their unique skills and perspectives to the table. I’m proud of how far we’ve come, and I’m excited to see where we go from here.
My Advice To You
My five-year journey at Mentorloop has been a remarkable experience. I am grateful for the opportunities and growth I’ve had and continue to have here. And if there’s one thing that working at Mentorloop has taught me, it’s that it’s never too late to pursue your passions and achieve your goals.
To anyone who may be facing challenges or setbacks, my advice would be to never give up on your dreams. It’s never too late to pursue what you want and achieve your goals. It’s easy to feel discouraged and defeated when faced with rejection and setbacks, but you must keep trying. Persistence and dedication can take you a long way, no matter what your background or experience may be.
Having good mentors and colleagues around me has been one of the most beneficial experiences in my life. Their guidance, advice, and encouragement have helped me grow both personally and professionally. Through their insights and expertise, I have learned invaluable skills and gained knowledge that I would not have otherwise. Peer mentors have provided me with a support system that has helped me navigate the challenges of my career, while also offering a fresh perspective and new ideas.
The presence of these connections in my life has inspired me to be a better version of myself and I wish for others to also have this in their lives. I’m excited to continue to pay it forward by being a great colleague and mentor to others as I advance in my career.
