GROWING AS A PROFESSIONAL WHILE GROWING AS A PERSON
A senior software engineer with 10 years of experience as a .NET developer, Asif has been with Shell for over three years. He talks about how working at Shell has enabled him to indulge his varied pet projects and dreams, from setting up high-speed internet for his entire community to exploring his ancestral roots-
Graduating with a degree in graphic design from a university in Pakistan, Asif worked locally before moving to Houston in 2013 to pursue a related Masters鈥� degree. When he took stock of his career, he realised there was more demand for developers across industries. 鈥淚 decided to follow the market and switch up my skills, joining my first programming job with a civil engineering company in Houston. I鈥檝e even worked as an app developer for the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council before I joined Shell in 2019.鈥�
At the time, he says, he wasn鈥檛 surprised at Shell having a burgeoning software division. 鈥淚鈥檝e worked at grassroots companies and even they had extensive IT needs. My wife was already working at Shell at the time and had told me all about the culture, the work flexibility and the perks that come with the job. When there was an opening, I did not need any convincing.鈥�
Asif, Software EngineerWhen I joined, I had the drive to learn. My previous jobs only had me completing day-to-day tasks to keep existing systems running, and that bored me. At Shell, the challenge is refreshing. I don鈥檛 just come in and look at code, there鈥檚 something new for me to do every day.
Asif is currently part of a project that is part of Shell鈥檚 compliance initiative linked with the Dodd-Frank Reform Act. Though it鈥檚 a project that began in 2013, the complexity of the requirements involved means that Asif is still in the thick of development. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a high priority and high-risk project,鈥� he confides. 鈥淎side from this project, I鈥檓 working on a couple of other apps. It鈥檚 been a great learning curve for me, my team, and the company at large.鈥�
Despite the incredibly narrow margin for error in his role, Asif says he鈥檚 having the time of his life. 鈥淲hen I joined, I had the drive to learn. My previous jobs only had me completing day-to-day tasks to keep existing systems running, and that bored me. At Shell, the challenge is refreshing. I don鈥檛 just come in and look at code, there鈥檚 something new for me to do every day.鈥�
鈥淥nce I achieve a task I鈥檝e set, there鈥檚 no better motivation than the respect I earn from my colleagues,鈥� he beams.
When asked what he values most about working at Shell, Asif can鈥檛 emphasise enough how much he appreciates the flexible working hours. 鈥淭he pay and benefits are great of course,鈥� he laughs, 鈥渂ut the working environment, vacation time, and sick leaves all make this job so much easier to do. I was fine with working overtime when I was single. But ever since I鈥檝e gotten married, all of that has changed. My wife is pregnant, and we have doctor鈥檚 appointments and scans and other things to attend to. People just understand that this is my personal life and it鈥檚 important too.鈥�
Asif, Software EngineerAnother thing about working at Shell is that I now have more time for vacations. I also have more free time and energy after work to upskill myself in other areas.
So, what does Asif do with his spare time?
Apparently, watch a lot of video tutorials. 鈥淚鈥檓 building a home right now, so I鈥檓 really into it at the moment, watching video tutorials about construction and planning. The next project after that will be to better equip my home for security and networking. I鈥檓 currently also looking into a company that can set up faster Internet not just for me but my entire community.鈥�
鈥淥f course, another thing about working at Shell is that I now have more time for vacations. I also have more free time and energy after work to upskill myself in other areas.鈥� Asif also spends plenty of time with his wife. 鈥淪he also works at Shell, so we see each other around the office all the time. But, specifically, hybrid work is great because it lets me finish up the errands around the house while she鈥檚 still working.鈥�
So what does the future hold for Asif?
He鈥檚 not sure, but he has plenty of ideas. 鈥淢y career path has been fairly predictable so far, but who knows? I started as a software engineer, but maybe I鈥檒l move into machine learning or automation projects next. After that, maybe I鈥檒l set up a business of my own in the next 10 or 15 years. Perhaps it鈥檒l be a small IT, or I could emulate so many people from my community here in Houston and have my own Shell gas station one day.鈥�
Asif also has big plans for his family. 鈥淚 want to spend more time with my family and with my kids. I want to travel, meet new people, and most of all explore my ancestors鈥� hometown in Gujarat,鈥� he gushes. 鈥淚 know my dad was a farmer there, but I know almost nothing else about him. We don鈥檛 even have a photo of him, though our old house and lands are still right where my family left them in Siddhpur.
鈥淚 want to explore my roots, so I can one day tell my kids about their ancestors. Not just barebone details, but exactly what they were like.鈥�
