Double Agent Profile: Alex Martin

Name: Alex Martin
Designation: Agent 0067
Double Agent Role: Senior Software Consultant
Special Skills: Ruby, JavaScript, Origami, Stir Fry
Aliases: GitHub, LinkedIn
Location: Greenville, SC
Favorite Emoji: :face_with_tears_of_joy:

What are you proudest of doing in the past year at work?

Making a bigger impact! I’ve worked on some really unique engagements this year that let me practice supporting others more than focusing on my own contributions, and it’s been a blast to see the positive outcomes.

Looking ahead, what has you most excited for the next year at work?

I love how much Test Double focuses on our growth, both as a team and as individuals. I’m looking forward to investing in myself and seeing how much more I can accomplish.

More practically, I’m excited to see what new business opportunities arise as a result of 2020. We’ve seen a lot of innovation in the market, and I suspect we’ll continue to see more, especially around both health and travel. It’s fun to contribute to these growing teams solving tough problems.

What is your favorite thing about being a Double Agent at Test Double?

I’ve already mentioned the company’s focus on our growth, which gets pretty high marks from me, but I also really love the team. We’ve worked hard to hire smart and kind folks with diverse backgrounds who are just as happy to teach technical skills as they are to share hobbies or personal stories. It’s great to have this broader support network outside our engagements, and I’m excited to see us growing through 2021!

What do you think makes Test Double unique?

Test Double’s a remote-first company. We’ve really figured out how to create a strong collaborative culture without needing to gather around a water cooler, and as other companies distribute and sort out what works best for them, we’re able to keep working as usual. I’ve talked with a lot of folks at both hybrid & newly-remote organizations, and I know from comparing notes that we stand out in this space.

What have you been thinking about a lot lately in software development, and why?

I’ve been programming for a long time and seen a lot of fads come and go, so I’ve learned to filter out a lot of noise. I’m particularly interested in what’s happening as some of the “newer” language communities, like Ruby on Rails and modern JavaScript, deal with enterprise adoption and community maturation. We’ve seen a lot of infighting recently over low-tech human issues, like licensing and social values. Only time will tell how these disagreements might affect growth, innovation, and community structure.

Tell me about something memorable that happened to you last year.

Professionally, I got to lead some internal training with a big tech company I admire! I love teaching, and getting to work with influential folks while helping them level up was incredibly rewarding.

Personally, my wife started her own coding journey in early 2021 and we’ve been working together to help her shift from being a fulltime author to a software engineer! I’m enjoying going through early-career projects with her, and it’s fun for us both to get a little nerdier every day.

What has you most excited this year outside of work?

Travel! We had lots of plans for 2020 that keep getting pushed back—I’m SO ready to get back on the road. More specifically: we purchased season tickets to a number of amusement parks around the US & Canada and really want to hit them all. Can we do it? We’ll find out!

What book/podcast/movie/TV show have you been thinking about a lot lately and why?

I just started reading Lara Hogan’s Resilient Management after having it recommended repeatedly, and I’m really enjoying how dense with knowledge such a quick read can be! I know this isn’t the last time I’ll be working through that one.

What are you looking forward to most post-pandemic?

Reconnecting with family & friends in close ways. I know we’ll cherish things we used to take for granted, like group dinners and close, quiet conversations.

What’s something interesting about you that’s not on your resume or LinkedIn?

I talk a lot about attending medical school overseas, but I don’t mention one of the cool perks as much: while there, my wife & I got certified in scuba diving! We’ve done some really incredible things as a result: hung out with whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium, raced dolphins on the ocean floor in Honduras, and enjoyed the effervescent “champagne reefs” in the Caribbean. Someday, maybe I’ll get to bring my passions together and do some programming underwater, too. :)

This interview is based on a recorded conversation with Alex Martin and Cathy Colliver. It may or may not self-destruct.