Connector Spotlight: Shay Siddiqui

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Adventurous, ambitious, and focused is how Shay Siddiqui, Software Engineer here at Connected would describe himself. We couldn’t agree more with that and would also add explorer to the list considering the number of countries he has travelled to including Turkey, Pakistan, England, and France. When he’s not working on interesting software projects, you’ll find him strolling by the shore or rock climbing. Find out what Shay’s favourite product is and how the mini-version helps him when he’s travelling!

Tell us a bit about the projects you’re working on?

Currently, I’m working on a project for a well-known fitness equipment manufacturing company. My most recent work was dedicated to building out a web application for their fitness equipment.

What’s the most interesting challenge about the project?

I’ve never worked with hardware before so it’s been quite interesting! What’s especially intriguing is that this hardware has touch aspects, so there are different challenges compared to traditional web applications. One has to actively think about things like ‘is this text too small for the user to tap on?’ Normally, on a computer we have a mouse for fine control, but with hardware the experience is totally different.

Where did you work before Connected?

Prior to Connected, I was at Deloitte for about two and a half years where I worked in various roles and capacities. I grew at Deloitte in a professional manner and was able to identify what I aspired to do.

What achievement are you most proud of in your career to date?

In my most recent project, I jumped into an environment that had essentially no groundwork, and in an ecosystem that was foreign and obscure. I undertook a leadership role where I recommended the technology stack, described architecture, implemented CI/CD, as well as established the development and staging environments. 

I was proud to have performed at a tech lead level despite the foreign environment. It was less about the technological implementations and more about navigating a foreign environment successfully.

Do you have a mantra you live by?

“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Tim Notke

This quote speaks to me because it signals that you, the individual, hold the power. If you work hard, you can really achieve whatever it is you want, and I find that very empowering.

What do you love to do outside of work?

Outside of work, I love to travel and have been all over the Middle East, to Turkey, Pakistan, England, France, and am currently working abroad from Portugal. You can find me rock climbing at Rock On Climbing located in downtown Toronto and playing some of my favourite pieces including Nuvole Bianche by Ludovico Einaudi and Comptine d’un Autre Été by Yann Tiersen on my piano. I also love going on a stroll to the shore where I toss a frisbee with my friends and hosting barbecues at various parks with my friends as well.

If you were stuck on a deserted island, what album, movie, and book would you take with you?

Album – HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I by Michael Jackson

Movie – Papillon

Book – The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Describe yourself in three words. 

Adventurous, ambitious, and focused.

And finally, what’s your favourite product and why? 

The humble shoe horn. What a marvelous invention! Are you tired of breaking your fingers every time you slide your feet into a pair of shoes? Do you want to protect the backs of your shoes from you forcing your feet into them every time? Then the shoe horn is for you! I even keep a small one just for travel (yes, that’s how much I love it).