Interview with George Saadeh

Master Consultant | FALAFEL SOFTWARE

Tell us a few things about yourself. Where did you study, where do you work?

Contrary to the popular belief that IT professionals start using computers at an early age, I neither favored computers nor did I possess any. In fact, my first computer was an undesired present at the age of fifteen.

I spent most of my time between basketball courts and coffee shops reading magazines about aircrafts, rockets and military strategy. It’s only after I started using Microsoft Access that I got into Visual Basic programming and developed my first software at the age of eighteen.

As unfortunate as it sounded back then, I did not have the chance to study Aerospace Engineering in Lebanon. Naturally, Computer Engineering was my second favorite, and the journey lead me to where I am today.

I am currently working as a Master Consultant for Falafel Software, traveling and working from hidden little corners around the globe.

What is your typical day at work?

After a substantial caffeine supply and a morning workout, I begin working on projects that do not require direct contact with clients. Since I often work during unusual hours depending on my location, I may end up meeting with a client from the far-east at 3:00 in the morning. As a consultant, I relish a remarkable contrast. While I may be working on Angular2 and the latest ASP.NET Core build for one client, I may switch to another project that is entirely Web forms and runs on a retired Content Management System. I also spend a significant amount of time speaking with new customers, recommending solutions, estimating the work and creating the architecture.

What inspired you to be active in the community?

In the race towards advancement and perfection, one can achieve very little by himself. I’ve learned the true value of community work when I started contributing to the ASP.NET and Telerik forums. I recognized how important it is to discuss ideas and make your opinion count. I am also a firm believer in open-source and the value it brings to various projects.

I recognized how important it is to discuss ideas and make your opinion count.

I wish I realized earlier the influence of words and intellectual conversations. Great ideas often remain imperceptible without words.

Are there any things you wish you knew at the beginning of your career?

I wish I realized earlier the influence of words and intellectual conversations. Great ideas often remain imperceptible without words.

Could you recommend some books, resources that young IT professionals might find useful?

You might dislike what you’re about to read, but IT books bore me. In fact, I find them intimidating and deterring. I favor tutorials, training videos and interactive experiences.

Therefore, I encourage young IT professionals to use services like Pluralsight. If you join the Visual Studio Dev Essentials program, you can benefit from a six month free subscription. Hurry before someone changes his mind!

What you do to “recharge your batteries”? What are your hobbies? Do you have time for them?

Since we spend most of our day gazing at a computer screen, our bodies need activity and a great deal of it. Therefore, I consider my workout to be my daily source of energy. I also enjoy traveling and road tripping. Since I can literally do my work from anywhere, that becomes a privilege I enjoy.

If you could go back in time and choose a different profession (outside of IT), what would it be?

If you think that I would choose Aerospace Engineering, your guess might be just right. But oddly, I might be a Freelance Photographer, not that I am good at it.

What do you think about ITCamp, and what brings you here?

Last year I did not know what to expect. I knew very little about the Transylvanian culture, and maybe less about the IT community. I can openly say, the experience exceeded my expectation in every aspect. I found local people to be genuine and eager to learn and grow, organizers to be very friendly and knowledgeable about what they are doing, and speakers to be very intelligent and diverse. I left Cluj with more friends than I had when I arrived, more knowledge and a few extra kilos. As a speaker, or an attendee, I knew I will come back this year!

As a speaker, or an attendee, I knew I will come back this year!