Santhana is a lead Android developer at Venuetize, working closely with his colleagues on framework design and identifying third-party integrations.
Why do you do what you do? What led you to this career?
I’ve always been interested in technology and earned a, engineering Master’s degree with a focus on communications systems. Initially, I planned to work mostly in networking and telecommunications, but as mobile application development started emerging in early 2007, I made the move to mobile apps, starting with developing lifestyle applications in J2ME and Blackberry technologies. I got started working with Android in 2010 and from that point onwards, I’ve been focused on Android and Java.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
My most rewarding experience I think is working with and managing geographically dispersed teams. Altogether working with any team under Venuetize is exciting.
What are you passionate about outside of work?
I volunteer in a school run by Tamil Sneham where I teach the Tamil language to kids of Tamil community in Tampa Bay. We go as a family every Friday evening and my kids learn our native language while my wife and I volunteer there as teachers.Tamil Sneham is a non-profit organization intended to promote friendship and serve the social and cultural interests of people of common (Indian) cultural heritage in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I also play volleyball on the weekends, as it was a passion for me from my school days.
What’s something very few people know about you?
I love drawing pencil sketches and also enjoy running 5Ks and half marathons. When I lived in San Diego, I used to do lot of trekking, especially the iconic Potato Chip Rock and 3 Sisters Falls.
What’s your favorite escape?
Now that we live on the East Coast, our family loves driving to Miami and enjoying the beach and other family activities. When we lived on the West Coast, we loved driving to Yosemite.