A Decade at Mindera with Diogo Borges

Diogo proves that a career in a company without a traditional ladder is possible through self-management, continuous learning, and adapting to new responsibilities.

Key topics include:

Career Evolution and Professional Philosophy Diogo joined Mindera in 2015 when the company was still a startup. He describes his initial experience as a "shock" that felt like a "social experiment" due to the company's non-hierarchical, flat structure. He emphasises the importance of autonomy, responsibility, and the ability to contribute strategically rather than just fulfilling assigned tasks.

Adaptability and Skill Development A central theme is the value of being a "polyglot" developer. Diogo notes that after a project was defunded in 2017, he was challenged to work with stacks he had never touched, which taught him that fundamentals are more important than specific languages. He recommends focusing on essentials because "frameworks will come and go".

Culture and Remote Work Diogo believes that even in a remote-friendly world, face-to-face interaction remains irreplaceable for building strong, long-lasting client relationships. He actively uses techniques to improve virtual connection, such as keeping the camera on and avoiding distracting background effects, to communicate openness and build trust.

Hiring and Mentorship Diogo reveals Mandera's "secret sauce" for hiring and scaling and stresses that mentorship is vital. He loves seeing former interns grow into senior roles and notes that becoming a parent helped him become more disciplined, focused, and efficient with his time.

Watch or listen below…

Look out for the next Mindera Yellow Box Podcast, coming soon…