Different Country, Same Passion @ Scout24: Meet Javier Moro Sotelo
Javier Moro Sotelo is originally from the Spanish region of Galicia and made the move to Germany for a new work opportunity in 2013. Since then, he’s held various positions at the widely known, Groupon, and later joined us at Scout24 in 2017, now holding the role of VP of Platform Engineering.
Hi Moro, In your career so far, you have had many different experiences, including working in Spain as an Engineer for the world’s largest fashion retailer, Inditex, and moving from Spain to Germany for work. What made you choose to move to Germany? How has your experience been so far in Berlin?
Moro: When my partner and I decided to move from Spain, we didn’t have a fixed destination. We got lucky, and we ended up in a position where we could choose where to move. What attracted us to Berlin was how eclectic, open, and diverse the city is. It doesn’t matter what you are looking for, you will find it in Berlin. It is a fantastic place to live in.
You started at Scout24 as the Director of Engineering for Site Reliability Engineering. How did the recruiting process work for you back then? In hiring for your team now, what do you focus on and see as important qualities for candidates to have?
Moro: When I interviewed with Scout24, something that fascinated was the marked focus on mindset and values. That still holds true today. We believe that skills like empathy, collaboration, and having a growth mindset are essential to unlock our full potential and achieve amazing things.
You recently changed roles at Scout24, taking on the role of Vice President of Engineering. Please tell us more about your role and responsibilities. And what do you enjoy about your job and working at Scout24?
Moro: As VP of Engineering, I lead the Platform Engineering organisation at Scout24. Therefore, I have the privilege to work with a diverse set of teams that focus on helping people boost their productivity through the use of technology. Our areas of focus are employee technology, developer productivity, data, and AI.
One of the things I have enjoyed the most about my time at Scout24 is how natural it has become for me to take on new challenges that fall way outside of my comfort zone. Sure, it’s scary at first, but having a network of supportive peers provides enough confidence to navigate any challenge. Having the opportunity to grow into your role while you learn new things and see how your work makes an impact is tremendously rewarding.
As you’re in a leadership position, what do you think distinguishes leadership at Scout24?
Moro: Scout24 has a broad and diverse set of leadership styles, and we use that to our advantage to learn from each other and bring different perspectives to the table. One common denominator, however, is being people-centric. We — and not only those in a leadership position — genuinely care about people. From well-being to career development and personal growth. We believe in hiring amazing people, giving them responsibility, but also power, trust, and space to do what they do best.
Working in the tech industry, how does Scout24 differ from other (tech) companies? Which areas do you feel Scout24 is leading the way?
Moro: We are a digital company, and part of our mission is to bring the offline world online. Technology is at the heart of what we do. One aspect that keeps positively surprising new Scouts is how smooth things are during onboarding. Things just work right out of the box, independent of your role and even location. Our technology strategy enables us to work anywhere. That enabled us to smoothly transition to work from the safety of our homes and help flatten the curve at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis.
Describe working at Scout24 in 3 words :)
Moro: Make it happen.
If you're interested in moving to Germany to work at Scout24, check out the latest job opportunities on our website.
