Forem: Ludovic Gilbert

Employee Spotlight: Rachel Low

Ludovic Gilbert — Fri, 21 May 2021 03:43:07 +0000

Employee Name: Rachel Low

Role: Junior Software Engineer

Questions

1. Why did you want to intern at Pixium?

I want to intern at Pixium Digital because I wanted to try something different from the tried and tested path, smaller-in-size company. I also wanted to try working in a fast paced environment. From my interview process, I realised how approachable and helpful the management team was. After spending a few years at university, I wanted to continue learning throughout my internship. I knew that working at Pixium would allow me to continue to grow and learn as I would be constantly exposed to new technologies. I also knew that working at Pixium could be challenging at times, but the time would be worth it.

2. What advice do you have for prospective interns?

My Advice: Always Stay Open, Humble, Initiative & Curious (OH IC)

3. What was the largest obstacle you faced during your onboarding?

During my onboarding, the largest obstacle I faced was that I ain’t able to apply my theoretical knowledge independently. I was aware that I needed to learn PHP Yii framework and I had also found tons of resources to learn it. The main barrier was when I needed to write new code code for certain functions or to solve a certain problem. That’s why I was stuck and don’t know how to apply my theoretical knowledge to solve the problem. This was a skill gap.

4. How did you overcome this challenge?

I overcame this challenge by starting to study a closed to completion project, and I tried to break the project into smaller parts. When I started implementing the small features myself, it was easier for me to implement the logic. If I didn’t understand the logic, I checked for how my feature was connected to the other parts of the app and how I could break the features back into smaller chunks. This way, I could find the solution to my problem. Not to mention, the guidance that I got from the awesome team!

5. What has been your favorite experience interning at Pixium?

During my Advanced Technology Attachment Programme (ATAP), a full-time 6 month internship programme at Pixium Digital, I have weekly meetings with the team to address barriers from last week and questions for the upcoming weeks. I like how the bosses ensure that everyone is on the same page and has the same information. Besides work, I also have get-togethers to share ideas about life and my individual progress. These sessions made my experience fruitful and positive. Although I am just an intern, I can reach out to my bosses for help. I like how the bosses take the time and effort to understand my needs. Due to the size of the company and the nature of the projects, I am able to work with everyone in the team at least once. They are very open-minded. I was given a lot of opportunities to be a part of the various projects and discussions. I like how my bosses and supervisors are receptive to my feedback.

6. What are some of your responsibilities as a junior software engineer intern?

Some of my responsibilities include the following:

Conduct feasibility studies on the possibility of implementing technologies within Pixium Digital engineering workflow

Write software that will be used in production and have a meaningful impact on the project

Give and receive technical feedback through code reviews or design discussions

Work with senior engineers to find ways to optimise the front-end / UI testing workflow and process

Support the entire system development lifecycle from requirements gathering through design and development to delivery

Support the team on existing and new projects

7. What are your plans or goals after interning at Pixium?

After interning at Pixium, I hope that I can still stay connected with the team. I will continue with my studies at my current university. I would like to take time off to reflect on the skills that have helped me succeed and the areas where I have struggled to excel. By defining what I am good at, I can better communicate my skills and expertise to future employers. Also, by identifying areas that can be improved, I can challenge myself to develop and achieve new goals.

8. What is the one thing that should be taught in school that isn’t already?

One thing that should be taught in school is the code review process. In school, they only taught us about the fundamentals concepts, tasked us to implement them during our practical lab sessions and graded us. However, there was no-one around who we can question or address what is exactly right or wrong with our code. Code review is very important as it helps the code base stay current. It also helps prevent unwanted, unnecessary, or incorrect code from entering the codebase, especially working on complex projects for the clients.

9. How are employees empowered to help shape or participate in the office culture?

The bosses give the team and even interns permission to act and make decisions:

Delegate to develop

Set clear expectations

Give employees autonomy over assignments

Provide necessary resources

Give constructive feedback

Accept ideas and input

Communicate the vision of the organization

Recognise employees for hard work

Employee Spotlight: Lennel Chua

Ludovic Gilbert — Wed, 05 May 2021 07:41:39 +0000

Employee Name: Lennel Chua

Role: Junior Software Engineer

Questions

1. Why did you want to intern at Pixium?

I decided to intern at Pixium for 2 main reasons. Firstly, the job scope outlined by them was very much aligned with my course of studies and as such I felt that Pixium would be able to provide me with an environment where I get to practically apply skills that I was taught in school.
Secondly, after doing more research about the company, I was particularly impressed that they offered such a diverse range of services to their clients. This led me to believe that interning at Pixium would enable me to become more proficient in my technical skills and grow in my knowledge and understanding of the ever-changing technological industry.
What advice do you have for prospective interns?
My advice to prospective interns is simply to approach your internship with an open mind and with a posture of humility. I feel that being teachable is a crucial trait in determining how well you will improve and grow. After all, you can’t learn if you aren’t humble enough to realise that there are in fact things for you to learn. So, come with the excitement to learn and with the expectancy that there will be things that you don’t know.

2. What was the largest obstacle you faced during your onboarding?

The largest obstacle I faced during the onboarding process was probably having to pick up new technologies and methods of doing things that I previously had no experience in. This however, is very understandable and common because of the sheer depth and breadth of the IT industry. New technologies are perpetually being introduced and existing technologies are constantly being improved. As a result, there will definitely be incongruence in the technologies that are utilized and the methods that are adopted by different companies.

3. How did you overcome this challenge?

Firstly, my more experienced colleagues and supervisors at Pixium really played a significant role in tutoring me and in breaking down concepts that were foreign to me. They were also very encouraging and patient with me whenever I was unsure of things or when I had to keep asking them questions.

Secondly, I had to put in the due diligence to learn and research on my own as well. During my onboarding stage, my supervisors gave me the room and time to familiarize myself with the technologies and methods that I had to pick up. That being said, the onus is on me to really take ownership of my own learning as much as my supervisors were more than willing to guide me. Some of the sites I frequented to aid me in my learning were Stack Overflow, W3Schools and Youtube.

4. What has been your favorite experience interning at Pixium?

My favourite experience interning at Pixium is undoubtedly the culture of the company. If I could describe the culture of the company in three words, they would be Professional, Candid and Accepting. I will elaborate on each of them.

Professional: The leaders and frontrunners of Pixium are exceptional in what they do. Not only are they highly competent and skilled in their technical capabilities, they are equally adept in the way they communicate and lead. They know how to motivate the team to a higher level of performance and they model what it's like to be an efficient and effective worker.

Candid: At Pixium, there is a strong sense of accountability where we keep one another in the loop of what we are up to. This makes it possible for us to assist one another in our tasks and push one another to become better at what we do as we can be honest about our difficulties and opinions on matters. When there is encouragement to be given, it is given. Conversely, when there is feedback and critiques to be given, they are done so respectfully and constructively.

Accepting: At Pixium, you have the unique opportunity to work with people of different nationalities and cultures. No matter what race each of us are, what countries we are each from or what practices we each have, we accept one another and treat one another with respect. We often also try to educate one another about our own cultures over breaks as it helps us bond and understand one another better. In addition, the team puts in effort to organise get-togethers and cohesion activities to build more camaraderie within the company.

5. What are some of your responsibilities as a junior software engineer intern?

My main responsibilities were generally to assist the company in whatever projects they had ongoing. For most of my internship, I primarily operated as a web developer.

6. What are your plans or goals after interning at Pixium?

A more relevant goal for me in the near future is to obtain a degree in a technology related field of studies, preferably computer science or information systems. My plans for the long term involve me being able to create or start something of my own. It doesn’t have to be a big business or product but more importantly, I just want to have something that I can call my own and be proud of. Of course, If I get the opportunity to be employed by Pixium again in future, I would be more than happy to work for them.

7. What is the one thing that should be taught in school that isn’t already?

Just a disclaimer that what I mention here may not necessarily apply to all schools but is solely based on my own schooling experience. I personally think that live deployments is something that should be more heavily covered in school. For myself, I mainly worked on school projects locally and the assessment for these projects are conducted in a manner where I would demo my application to the lecturer on my laptop. With the exception of my Final Year Project where I had to learn how to deploy an application on my own, the concept of live deployment was not taught in school. I feel that having the knowledge of different types of servers (VPS, Cloud, Shared Hosting) and understanding concepts like DNS, Domains and SSL are crucial to every developer preparing for the workforce especially because they deal with the final execution of the projects/applications

8. How are employees empowered to help shape or participate in the office culture?

As employees of Pixium, we are always encouraged to give our feedback and opinions on projects regardless of our status. This was something that I really admired about this company as all the members' points of view are valued. Being a part of Pixium, we also get the chance to organise activities with the purpose of bringing the team together, whether it be sports activities or just a meal, we try to find a common activity that everyone can enjoy doing. The management of Pixium also regularly updates the team on the direction the company is heading in and on what future plans there may be. I feel that this is something that can be easily overlooked or undervalued in other companies but in actuality, it plays an important role in establishing alignment amongst the team as everyone is clear of a common goal they can work towards in unity.

Thank you very much Lennel, Understanding each of our teammates' unique interests, skills, and experiences not only keeps our minds open but helps them unlock their true potential. Stay tuned for more Pixium Employee Spotlights!

Pixium Digital partners with VeChain to drive innovation using Blockchain Technology.

Ludovic Gilbert — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 04:07:34 +0000

Pixium Digital is thrilled to announce today that it has entered into a partnership with VeChain through which Pixium Digital Pte Ltd will work with VeChain to support supply chain initiatives as a "VeChain Global Solutions Provider."

This partnership will combine Pixium Digital extensive expertise developing robust IT solutions, with VeChain ToolChain™ SaaS offering, the two companies will collaborate to achieve common goals. It is through such partnership that among many significant business values, Pixium Digital finds another agile and prestigious Partner in Asia.

VeChain ToolChain™ is a comprehensive blockchain application platform backed by the VeChainThor blockchain. VeChain ToolChain™ enables businesses of all sizes to leverage blockchain technology to enhance brand perception and value, as well as to expand into new business models. Services available to subscribers include product lifecycle management, supply chain process management, data collection, data verification, and process verification.

In addition to blockchain proficiency, Pixium Digital contributes expertise in IoT, edge computing and machine learning to complement the VeChain traceability stack. Plus, as a full-stack IT solution provider with decades of experience, Pixium Digital can help organizations, SMEs and startups build complete solutions atop VeChain ToolChain™ and develop custom smart contracts to enhance client initiatives.
Pixium Digital and VeChain share a common vision with regard to supply chain operations, process and data verification. Together, the two companies expect to boost innovation and industry adoption of blockchain-enabled solutions.

About Pixium Digital

Founded in 2015, Pixium Digital Pte Ltd is an agile software development company with their headquarters located in Singapore focusing on shaping client projects from ideas to successful project launch.

About VeChain

Launched in 2015, VeChain Technology is a global leading enterprise-friendly blockchain company which aims to connect blockchain technology to the real world by providing enterprises with blockchain-enabled solutions suited to their business needs. VeChain has international offices in China, Singapore, Luxembourg, Japan, France, Italy and the United States.