We have interviewed Lead Developer Boris Cruchet about his job in Yapo in Chile.
Why do you work in Yapo and what is it like?
I was eager to grow professionally when I started working in Yapo, and realized that this job came with lots of opportunities to do so. Today, after having been here for more than two years, I feel very happy and satisfied.
Creating the best online marketplace in Chile requires a determined and dedicated team. Every day at Yapo starts with a stand-up meeting.
Which part of your job do you enjoy the most?
That is easy to answer. I’ve been a developer for 15 years and find that everything related to the development process is a lot of fun. Although I now also have other tasks related to managing the developer team, I still work closely with the technical stuff.
Good coffee and a friendly chat while programming are key ingredients in a normal – but fun! – day at work.
The Yapo team last December, celebrating 1 million active classifieds ads.
Tell us about a challenge, positive or negative, that you have overcome either in your job or private life, and how you did it.
In September 2013 I was on vacation with my family in San Antonio, a small town on the Chilean coast. One night, when we were walking along the waterfront on our way back to the hotel, we were involved in a bad accident. My wife, my four year old daughter and I were hit by a car. My wife suffered some minor injuries, while my daughter had a fracture in her head. As for me, I almost died.
For ten days I was at risk of dying, and I was in a coma for three weeks, with brain damage and more than 50 fractures in my head. The biggest challenge for everybody was trying to understand the possible extent of the neurological damage I might be left with at the end of the process.
During my recovery my family received a lot of support not only from our friends, but also from my colleagues. My work mates were very attentive to my wife, my two daughters and my family. It was a truly difficult period, since no one knew what would happen with me.
Fortunately, I was released from the hospital two months later, totally recovered. I went back to work in December. Today I am the same that I was before the accident. At the end, I only lost a pair of teeth, ha-ha!
Celebrating one of the team members’ birthday with a big lunch.
What do you do when you’re not working?
I spend all my spare time with my girls: my wife Mitzi and my daughters Camila (15) and Meiling (5). We love to watch TV series and play Wii. I also read and study stuff related to programming and computer science.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I don’t know if you can call it a hidden talent, but I play the violin. I learned it when I was a kid and studied it for six years. Last Christmas my wife gave me a violin and I play it at home.
Tips for others who would like to work at Yapo/Schibsted Chile?
In Yapo we have a very nice work environment; we’re like a big family. We value the small conversations over a cup of coffee in the kitchen. It is often better to take some time to actually talk face-to-face with someone about something, rather than sending an email with questions. And you must be willing to repair the coffee machine if necessary.
