What does it take to juggle a senior engineering role, run multiple developer communities, speak at 13 conferences in a year, and still maintain work-life balance? Meet Santos V, a senior software engineer at Solonos in Germany, Google Developer Expert for Angular, and co-founder of the "This is Learning" community.
In a recent podcast conversation, Santos shared his journey from a .NET developer in India to becoming a community leader in Germany, offering valuable insights for developers looking to expand their impact beyond just writing code.
The Evolution of a Developer's Career Path
From .NET to Angular: Making Strategic Technology Choices
Santos's journey began with traditional Microsoft technologies before discovering Angular. His transition wasn't random—it was strategic:
"I tried a little bit of React, but Angular was adopting TypeScript at that time and Angular was the first framework. When I tried TypeScript, it felt like home because .NET is a typed language."
This highlights an important career lesson: when choosing new technologies to learn, leverage your existing knowledge base. Santos's .NET background made TypeScript feel natural, giving him a competitive advantage in the Angular ecosystem.
Key Takeaway: Don't abandon your existing skills when learning new technologies—find connections that build upon your current expertise.
The Path to Technical Expertise
Santos didn't just learn Angular; he became an expert. Here's how:
- Started actively contributing to the Angular community in 2019
- Became a Google Developer Expert for Angular
- Achieved Google Developer Star status (first Indian GDE Star)
- Joined the Deno Champions program
- Co-founded developer communities
This progression shows that expertise isn't just about technical skills—it's about community involvement and knowledge sharing.
Building and Leading Developer Communities
The Birth of "This is Learning"
Santos co-founded "This is Learning" with a clear mission: promoting open learning and free access to knowledge. The community emerged from a principled stand:
"We were both big advocates for open learning and open source... when the community decided to take another way and make it paid, we were not very vocal about that because we wanted to promote free stuff."
Community Structure and Impact
The "This is Learning" ecosystem includes:
- Two Publications: "This is Learning" (general tech) and "This is Angular" (Angular-specific)
- 130+ Writers: Including notable contributors like Ryan Carniato (creator of SolidJS)
- Podcast: "This is Tech Talks" with 54+ episodes
- Open Courses: Available on GitHub for free
- Annual Conference: Virtual event covering multiple time zones
Community Leadership Lessons:
- Have Clear Values: Open learning and free access drove their decisions
- Start Small: Began with writing, expanded to podcasts and conferences
- Collaborate: Partnership with co-founder from different geographic location
- Stay Consistent: Regular podcast episodes and content creation
The Reality of Time Management and Burnout
Honest Struggles with Time Management
Despite his impressive output, Santos is refreshingly honest about time management:
"One thing which I'm really bad at is time management. Whenever someone asks me how you manage time, I have no idea. Somehow it works, somehow I'm able to do all these things."
This honesty is crucial—many successful people struggle with time management. The key is finding systems that work for you, even if they're unconventional.
Learning from Burnout
Santos experienced burnout but learned valuable lessons:
"I have gone through mental burnouts for sure, and of course I learned my lesson that pushing myself too much is not good."
Burnout Prevention Strategies:
- Reduce conference speaking from 13 to 4-5 per year
- Take intentional breaks (2-week vacation)
- Maintain family time and hobbies
- Work for companies that prioritize work-life balance
Work-Life Balance in Practice
The Power of Remote Work
One of the most touching moments in the conversation was Santos describing his daily routine with his daughter:
"When my daughter was born, I had to take a lot of loans and I was under a lot of debt, so I ended up working like crazy for four years... I missed four years and she was four suddenly, so I felt bad."
Remote work allowed him to reclaim that time. His viral video of his daughter "dropping him off" at his home office represents a deeper story of prioritizing family.
Work-Life Balance Tips:
- Set Boundaries: Even with flexible schedules, maintain routines
- Include Family: Make work arrangements that allow family involvement
- Learn from Past Mistakes: Use previous regrets to guide current decisions
- Choose Supportive Employers: Work for companies that truly value balance
The Conference Speaking Circuit
From Fear to 13 Conferences a Year
Santos transformed from someone scared to speak publicly to delivering 13 conference talks in a single year:
"I was always scared to speak to people, so it's not like it came naturally... but coding is my first love, and when I came back to coding from management, that was the time I realized I should share my knowledge."
Getting Started with Public Speaking
Steps to Begin Speaking:
- Start with Passion: Share topics you're genuinely excited about
- Begin Small: Local meetups before major conferences
- Prepare Thoroughly: Practice and refine your content
- Build Gradually: Increase speaking frequency over time
- Set Limits: Santos scaled back to prevent burnout
Practical Advice for Developer Career Growth
Technology Selection Strategy
When choosing technologies to learn:
- Build on Existing Knowledge: Like Santos leveraging .NET experience for TypeScript
- Consider Market Demand: Angular's enterprise adoption was a factor
- Evaluate Long-term Viability: Look for technologies with strong communities
- Don't Chase Every Trend: Focus deeply on fewer technologies
Why Community Participation Matters:
- Skill Development: Teaching others deepens your own understanding
- Network Building: Connections lead to opportunities
- Industry Recognition: Become known as an expert in your field
- Career Options: Opens doors to speaking, consulting, and leadership roles
- Personal Fulfillment: Contributing to others' growth is rewarding
Managing Multiple Responsibilities
Santos's approach to juggling multiple commitments:
- Flexible Scheduling: Adapt to energy levels and interests
- Batch Similar Activities: Group recording sessions, writing time
- Collaborative Partnerships: Share workload with co-founders
- Regular Evaluation: Periodically assess and adjust commitments
The Future of Developer Careers
Expanding Beyond Pure Development
The conversation highlights how modern developer careers extend beyond coding:
- Community Leadership: Building and maintaining developer communities
- Content Creation: Writing, podcasting, video creation
- Event Organization: Conferences, meetups, workshops
- Mentorship: Helping other developers grow
- Technical Advocacy: Representing technologies and tools
Global Opportunities
Santos's move from India to Germany demonstrates the global nature of tech careers. His remote work arrangement shows how geographical boundaries are becoming less relevant for skilled developers.
Key Takeaways for Your Career Journey
- Identify Your Niche: Choose 1-2 technologies to focus on deeply
- Start Contributing: Begin with small community contributions
- Document Your Learning: Write about your experiences
- Network Actively: Engage with others in your technology community
- Set Boundaries: Plan for sustainable long-term growth
Long-term Career Development
- Build in Public: Share your journey and learnings openly
- Develop Teaching Skills: Ability to explain complex concepts clearly
- Create Systems: Develop processes that scale your impact
- Maintain Balance: Success shouldn't come at the cost of health or family
- Stay Adaptable: Be ready to evolve as the industry changes
Conclusion: Beyond the Code
Santos V's journey from a .NET developer in India to an Angular expert and community leader in Germany offers a blueprint for modern developer career growth. His story demonstrates that technical expertise alone isn't enough—the ability to share knowledge, build communities, and maintain work-life balance creates lasting career success.
The most important lesson from Santos's journey might be his honesty about struggles with time management and burnout. Success doesn't require perfection; it requires persistence, community involvement, and the wisdom to learn from setbacks.
Whether you're just starting your development career or looking to expand your impact beyond coding, Santos's approach offers a roadmap: build deep technical expertise, share your knowledge generously, contribute to communities, and never lose sight of what matters most in your personal life.
Remember, as Santos's story shows, the path from developer to community leader isn't just about career advancement—it's about creating value for others while building a sustainable and fulfilling professional life.
Want to connect with Santos V or learn more about "This is Learning"? Reach out on LinkedIn or Twitter to join their community of 130+ writers and contribute to open learning initiatives.
Watch the Full Episode
Listen to the full episode for more insights from this conversation.
