Cover Story: Leonardo Aguilar

Here at Globant, our Globers represent and live our culture. Cover Stories are a space to feature recognized Globers. In this edition, meet Leonardo Aguilar, Web UI Developer and Accessibility expert in Globant Argentina. Read on for his Globant experience!

How has your career developed here at Globant?

In general terms, it’s been enriching. I started at Globant in 2013, as a Web UI Developer working on a project for an airline. There, I had the opportunity to work and grow with several teams.

One of the experiences that contributed the most to the start of my career was being a Tech Lead for one of the teams. I have learned a lot about Management and Web Accessibility, which allowed me to become a specialist in the subject and participate with other teams. I was also able to help other teams at Globant by giving support, talks, training, participating in some presales, among other things.

What do you consider your next professional challenge?

Today I am focused on getting more experience as a UI, and consolidating my expertise in the field of Web Accessibility. Fortunately, I have always found initiatives that facilitate this type of work, as is the case of Labs. Today I am working with other Globers to present different proposals that will enable the implementation of accessibility in the projects we develop.

What do you like most about working with people from other countries?

The opportunity to share experiences, learn from other cultures and internalize what happens in other parts of the world. That is something that I really like about Globant, diversity is part of our DNA.

For example, I am Mexican and I am in Argentina (Córdoba). Thanks to this diversity at Globant, I have been able to work with Spaniards, Venezuelans, French, Paraguayans, Colombians, Indians, and obviously, Argentines. All this without listing contact with our customers!

If you had to define yourself with a Globant value, which one would you pick?

Team Player. I firmly believe that being one is the basis of every good project. It is a value that allows us to share and acquire knowledge by empowering the entire team and generating excellent results.

What do you love most about your work?

The ability to create, build and innovate with solutions that will end up benefiting and being used by thousands of users.

What do you like most about working in PODs?

People, spending time together every day working towards a common goal; acquiring a certain identity as a team. Despite having been on the same account for years, I have been on 6 or 7 different teams. Fortunately, it is always a great experience. Each team is always special and leaves a mark.

What do you recommend someone who would like to join your team?

Be eager to work and have fun. People always shine and stand out when they do what they love.

How do you motivate your team?

I think, beyond generating a good atmosphere, that it is important to give everyone the opportunity to contribute and grow.

Why did you decide to work with accessibility? How did you get into it?

Initially, it was circumstantial. In mid-2016, airlines in the States had to start complying with Accessibility (Air Carrier Access Act) regulations. For that reason, my team began working to remedy the accessibility of the main flow within the project on which I was working.

Subsequently, as part of all the work we did, we had to ensure that all the equipment involved in the project took accessibility into consideration as part of the deliverable. Therefore, we decided to create an Accessibility committee as part of the account. To date, this is still working, not only for the PODs at Globant but for all the client’s PODs. It is an honor to mention that the committee is made up of four people, of whom three of us are Globers. This committee is responsible for ensuring that all solutions developed by the account are accessible.

Beyond what was mentioned above, I adopted Accessibility as a line of work because I consider that, today, it is a field that cannot be ignored. There is a significant portion of the population that is prevented from using the web for not having accessible sites and it is our duty as IT professionals to ensure that our products can be used by all, without distinction or limitation.

What differences do you feel working with accessibility compared to other types of approaches or technologies?

Actually, working with Accessibility should be something natural and completely incorporated into the daily work of a UI developer. Developing accessible products is simply developing products following best practices, regardless of technology. In the case of UIs, the final product almost always ends up being an HTML web product, whether it was built with a JS framework or not.

In the case of other roles, it can mean additional work, while being incorporated in the day-to-day tasks. The real job is to internalize how other types of users experience the web; be empathetic enough to understand the needs they have and thus know how to cover them.

If today you had to start back with technology, what language would you choose? Where would you start?

I think I would follow the same path; I really like UI technologies, perhaps I am more visual, I enjoy being able to develop things to interact with, and generating user experiences. Seeing them working is very rewarding.

I remember things we did in Turbo Pascal when I started programming while in school, and I was already looking to develop graphic things in pascal.

If I mention the following terms… what is the first thing that comes to mind?

Artificial Intelligence: The future became present. Everything we imagine or saw in science fiction movies is becoming a reality and, with it, a range of possibilities are opening up.

Favorite food: Grilling out. I miss Mexican food, but the Argentine barbecue is unique.

Team Work: Globant.

Has Globant been as you imagined?

It has been much better. I had always heard that it was a large company, with a very good atmosphere and great projects. Upon joining Globant, I realized that yes, indeed it was all I had heard. However, it’s also their values, carried out by each of those who are part of it, and the people that make a difference. I realized that it is also a company where you can innovate and carry out your own initiatives, and that’s really awesome.

Why Globant and not another place?

For its values, for what it brings to the industry, for the possibilities of career growth that it offers us, for its projects, its environment and its people.

If you had to describe how you feel working on Globant in one word, what would it be?

Happy.