It’s a marathon, not a sprint. But for AdCellerant, it’s a marathon and a sprint — a two-week sprint, to be exact.
Local tech communities are powered by people, and at AdCellerant, a Denver-based adtech firm, its software engineers are at the forefront of creativity and collaboration. For them, each day of a project sprint is different, right up to the finish line. Because of this, the company empowers its employees with the flexibility to customize their work routines.
Whether it’s tackling coding challenges at the crack of dawn or diving into late-night coding sessions, engineers have the autonomy to work in a way that suits them best. This is complemented by a strong team ethos, with cross-functional teams working together to foster knowledge-sharing and collective problem-solving.
Recently, Built In Colorado sat down with Senior Software Engineer Spencer Steers to learn what sets their work routine apart and the role collaboration plays in achieving success.
AdCellerant provides businesses access to high-quality digital marketing technology and solutions through partnerships with media companies and agencies.
Do your days follow a common pattern or tend to be full of surprises? What are the must-do habits or key moments of each day in your role?
My days are pretty typical. In the mornings we have daily standup where the team and I will give our updates on how the sprint is going. If someone has run into issues and needs help, I like to work with them as soon as possible so that we can keep to our sprint commitments. Otherwise, you will find me cranking away at the work we have planned.
How do you set your personal and professional priorities each day? What project are you most excited to be working on right now?
In engineering, we’re constantly planning and prioritizing all upcoming work. Every two weeks is the start of a new sprint and our product managers keep a backlog of work prioritized. On the first day of the sprint, we plan who does what and how much we think we can accomplish during that time frame. Once things get rolling, I like to knock out the tasks I can complete quickly so I can stay focused on the more involved work. Having said that, unexpected things always come up, but as a lead of the sales pipeline team, I consider it my responsibility to take on these interruptions so the rest of the team can stay focused and avoid getting caught in the weeds.
I consider it my responsibility to take on interruptions so the rest of the team can stay focused.”
Right now, I’m most excited about proposals. We are building something awesome, and it will be a great tool for everyone in sales and for our partners.
Do you have any local spots or organizations that are key to your daily success?
I’m a bit of a homebody. I love my home office — maybe too much — and have lots of windows and plants to make the space cozy. I do share the office with my cat who tries her best to distract me, but I like to think she understands my commitment to the work. She gives me just enough space to stay productive.
