Technologist Spotlight: Ammar Jivraj
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Reliable: Whether it is being there for the people I work with, my family, or someone I have never met I have always found myself to be a very empathetic person. It is this attitude that I channel to evolve from a shoulder to cry on to someone that anyone can come to with a problem, an idea, for an ear, or even simply a conversation. A preconceived notion of computer scientists is that they’re not able to put themselves in the shoes of the user but it is through having an undeniable inkling for others' stories that is helping me break this stereotype step by step.
Curious: Growing up I have constantly been fascinated by the world around us and the many wonders that come with it. One of my main motivations for entering the world of technology is that tech is one of the greatest catalysts of our ever-evolving world. It is through understanding technology, and therefore the world around us, that fuels my thirst for knowledge
Passionate: I believe this word is a good summary of who I am as a person. My other two words I think can be considered subcategories of this one. My unrelenting drive to explore who I am as a person has exposed itself in my love for the arts and technology. It is this passion that has allowed me to pursue higher education in what many would consider polar opposites. I want to do what I love for my career plain and simple. Discovering the marriage of art and tech as well as spreading the gospel of digital literacy as we plunge into the new digital revolution is one of the many fires that burn strong in my heart.
Why did you join Strategio’s Simulator?
I joined Strategio’s simulator as it was a great opportunity to quench my thirst for knowledge as well as set me up for success. Strategio offered a unique solution to someone in my shoes who had experience in the world of computer science but had taken some time off. An 8 weeks paid training to then be placed with a great client was a very attractive opportunity to get back into the workforce and not exhaust months of my time only to get my feet wet. On top of this Strategio’s training covers a breadth of useful skills and tools to properly equip me to be confident on the job.
What were you doing before you joined Strategio?
Before joining Strategio, as a recent graduate I had finished a contract working in the blockchain space doing front-end development for the NEAR Protocol. The NEAR Protocol is a Level 1 blockchain (meaning it is its own chain, not built on top of another) whose contributors are passionate about digital and financial literacy in the new age of technology. The NEAR Foundation, much like Strategio, places an emphasis on diversity within tech, creating organizations such as The Minority Programmers. I also acted as a community advisor in their DeFi (decentralized finance) space helping to spread digital literacy in the recent technological revolution. After the contract, I moved from my home in Florida to Dallas, TX for family. It was here that I had to take some time off. During this period I worked on personal projects building web apps or bots for NFT and art projects I was interested in both out of passion and to keep my skills sharp.
What are you most excited about this year?
This year I am very excited to flex my tech skills in a work environment again. I’m also looking forward to all I will be able to learn and contribute both at Strategio and its client companies. Having the opportunity to learn new technologies that create an impact on the world around us is something I will always cherish as it allows us to gain a greater understanding of how the world around us works. Aside from work, I am anticipating putting all the discipline and consistency I’ve been working on building into action. One example of this is creating something every day whether it is a work of art, a program, or a new recipe I would like to cook. Some other things I’m excited about are growing my art collection and learning to play the drums.
What made you decide to get into tech?
Growing up in what I like to call the next technological revolution, we’ve constantly been surrounded by tech. Knowing that we are plunging into an ever-evolving technical world, having technical knowledge is more important than ever before in understanding how the world around us works. Both to satisfy my curiosity and to make an impact on the world around us, tech was the biggest disruptor AND mystery in sight. Additionally, I enjoy being able to work with and talk to the machines that affect our world so much.
What do you like to do during your spare time?
As much as I have a passion for tech I also have a great passion for the arts. I play a few instruments in my spare time, am always listening to music, and attend concerts as well. The same is true for the visual arts as I love creating, collecting, and discovering great art and artists alike. I look at this as an alternative to getting to know the world around us. These things give us a peek into how humans work and think, an exploration that is a favorite of mine. Other than that I enjoy researching innovative digital technologies and have recently taken up cooking!
What is your favorite cultural value at Strategio?
My favorite cultural value at Strategio is easily “be unapologetically yourself.” This is a value that has always resonated deep within me and has only grown as I’ve gotten older. I don’t think anyone should have to dismiss their beliefs or change who they are for a person, job, title, or whatever it may be. Being true to yourself is something I believe can lead to one's happiness and Strategio places a huge emphasis on this idea so it was an obvious choice for me.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
If I could travel anywhere right now I would choose Japan. I took Japanese for 4 years throughout high school and have always been interested in the culture from a young age. I have been blessed to have been able to travel to a number of places in my time but I have yet to step foot into Asia so Japan is the obvious choice for me. From its vibrant cities to its luscious environment, Japan is a land ripe for exploration in my eyes.
What’s your favorite restaurant?
This one is easy. If you’re ever in Miami make sure to check out El Mago De La Fritas. I am constantly on the hunt for the best local spots to eat wherever I go and after living in South Florida for a large majority of my life I can tell you with confidence this is THE spot. Ask any of my friends whom I have all forced to come with me at least once. Here is the order:
- Make sure to go on a Saturday early afternoon (this is the only day they have chicharrones)
- Order a Frita A Caballo (Frita with an egg) with everything on it
- Order chicharrones
- Make sure to mix the special sauce and the in-house hot sauce for a dipping sauce and on top of the Frita
And that’s it! If you’re lucky you’ll run into El Mago himself “The Magician.” You can thank me later.
What are you looking forward to learning/gaining during the Strategio Simulator?
Thanks to everyone who read up to this point for being interested in me and my life! If you want to keep up with my blogs make sure to follow me and keep an eye out for the next edition.
