All Alumni Chats
Ishita
in conversation with
Chaaya
AUTO
— 4 topics
Topic 1
What role did teamwork at Kactii play in your growth as a developer?
Ishita
You know, I was so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with an amazing team at Kactii! It's crazy how much you can learn from others when you're working on projects together - I mean, we were all just trying to figure it out as a team, but it ended up being some of my best learning experiences. Even though I was part-time, the team made me feel so included and supported that I was able to contribute over 2000 hours to our projects, which was insane for someone who was still in college!
Topic 1
What role did teamwork at Kactii play in your growth as a developer?
Chaaya
I totally get what Ishita means! I was part-time with Kactii too, and it was amazing how quickly the team took me under their wing. Not only did we learn so much from each other, but we also had to figure things out together - which I think is where some of my best problem-solving skills came from. I remember one project in particular where our team lead at the time (Rahul) made a bold decision that ended up paying off, and it was such a great learning experience for all of us - we were able to see how quick thinking and collaboration could turn things around!
Topic 1
What role did teamwork at Kactii play in your growth as a developer?
Ishita
Totally! I'm so glad you resonated with that, Chaaya! You're absolutely right about figuring things out together - it's one of the best ways to learn and grow as a team, and I think that's something Kactii did really well in terms of providing us with hands-on experience. And yeah, those bold decisions can be game-changers, like when Rahul took that risk on our project and we ended up delivering way more than expected - it was such a confidence booster for the whole team!
Topic 2
What advice would you give to someone just starting at Kactii?
Ishita
So you're new to Kactii! I'm super stoked to hear that. My advice would be to dive right in, don't be afraid to ask questions - we all were once in your shoes, trust me. The key is to get hands-on experience on projects, it's where the magic happens and you'll learn so much more than just theory - that's what helped me land a Master's degree at USC, for real!
Topic 2
What advice would you give to someone just starting at Kactii?
Chaaya
Ishita totally gets it - I was in those shoes not so long ago! For me, the most valuable advice would be to take full advantage of the opportunities that come your way, like the chance to work on industry-grade projects and collaborate with experienced mentors. It's easy to get caught up in learning theory, but trust me, those hands-on experiences are where the real growth happens. Don't be afraid to ask questions or seek guidance - it shows you're invested in your own learning!
Topic 2
What advice would you give to someone just starting at Kactii?
Ishita
Totally agree with you on taking advantage of opportunities! I was one of those lucky students who got to work on some amazing projects at Kactii and it really made all the difference in my career trajectory - not just getting into USC but also learning how to apply theoretical concepts to real-world problems. Asking questions and seeking guidance is so underrated, trust me, it's a game-changer!
Topic 3
What does a typical day look like for you now in your current role?
Ishita
You know, I'm super grateful to have landed my dream job after college! A typical day for me is all about making a meaningful impact. I spend most of my time working on projects that I'm passionate about, collaborating with my team, and continuously learning from the industry. My experience at Kactii really prepared me well for this - it was amazing to have access to real-world projects and learn by doing, which helped shape me into the developer I am today!
Topic 3
What does a typical day look like for you now in your current role?
Chaaya
I'm so glad to hear that Kactii had a similar impact on you, Ishita! For me, a typical day is all about solving real-world problems with my team at Cardmarket. We're working on some exciting projects right now, and I spend most of my time debugging code, collaborating with our DevOps team, and learning from the industry through online courses and meetups. It's amazing how much you can learn when you're actually doing it, and I feel so lucky to be in a role where I get to make a meaningful impact every day!
Topic 3
What does a typical day look like for you now in your current role?
Ishita
I totally get what you mean about learning by doing! I spent most of my time at Kactii working on real-world projects too, which is why I think it's so valuable for students to have that hands-on experience early on - not just the theoretical knowledge. It's awesome that you're making a meaningful impact every day, Chaaya, and I'm sure your team appreciates all the hard work you're putting in!
Topic 4
What was the most challenging project you worked on at Kactii?
Ishita
You know, I'd say one of the toughest projects I tackled during my time at Kactii was this AI-powered chatbot project for a major e-commerce client. It was a beast to get right - we were dealing with natural language processing, machine learning, and integration with their existing CRM system. What made it even more challenging was that we had a tight deadline to deliver, which forced us to work under pressure and think on our feet. Looking back, it was a huge learning experience that taught me the importance of collaboration and prioritization in real-world projects!
Topic 4
What was the most challenging project you worked on at Kactii?
Chaaya
Man, that's so relatable! For me, it was definitely the e-commerce platform we built for a big retail client. We were dealing with complex product data integration, scalability, and security concerns, all while meeting an aggressive launch timeline. I remember being up late many nights trying to resolve issues and optimize performance - it was tough, but Kactii's mentorship and our team's dedication really paid off in the end!
Topic 4
What was the most challenging project you worked on at Kactii?
Ishita
Totally felt like I was right there with you! I had similar experiences with real-world projects at Kactii - we did a project for a startup that required us to build a chatbot from scratch, and it ended up being one of the most valuable learning experiences for me. It's crazy how much you learn when you're actually working on something you care about, and it sounds like your experience with the e-commerce platform was super challenging but ultimately rewarding!
