Alessio joined Coges in 2023, fresh from completing his master’s degree in electronic engineering. From the moment he started working with us and dove deeper into firmware product design, it became clear that he not only possesses excellent technical skills but also has the ability to organize, lead, inspire, and manage. His can-do attitude and consistently positive approach to his work have played a significant role in accelerating our firmware development. After just six months, Alessio is now our FW Product Owner, effectively managing our firmware sprints—two-week development cycles that culminate in an integration test. He coordinates with our hardware, software, testing departments, and the PMO to ensure continuous innovation and progress in our products. Alessio has also collaborated with the Industrialization department on important upgrades and automation in our production process.

What motivated you to join Coges right after completing your master’s degree in Electronic Engineering, and how did your academic background prepare you for your role here?
It was partly by chance: I had just decided not to pursue a Ph.D., Coges was a great opportunity not too far from home, and I decided to take on this new adventure in a field I didn’t know. My academic background helped me develop a method to face challenges, avoiding panic at the first sign of difficulty. However, I’m very grateful for the more technical and practical skills I learned in high school at the Chilesotti Technical Institute, which introduced me to and ignited my passion for the fascinating world of electronics.

You quickly took on a leadership role (i.e., your role as FW product owner/backlog owner): What do you think helped you develop these skills so quickly?
For sure the great team I found at Coges: they were very helpful in guiding me through the study of the products and tools used. Then, of course, a bit of luck and company needs!

How has your mindset or approach to work changed since you started here?
One phrase that really struck me from Emilio de la Hita (my Team Leader) when I first arrived was: “Before developing firmware and creating something, you need to know your teammates well.” I think this is really meaningful in understanding the company’s focus on the people before the work itself, and I believe this has influenced me a lot.

What is one thing you are proud to have achieved at Coges?
I haven’t achieved anything particularly significant compared to what’s already been accomplished! I’m very happy to have worked with Fabio to simplify programming in production and to have experimented with some interesting functionalities for the Elysium sniffer.

What do you like most about your job at Coges?
I enjoy analysing problems and thinking through solutions, but I’m also thrilled when I have to look for new technologies to use and experiment with: electronics is an immense world, and there are truly incredible functionalities!

What’s something about you that we wouldn’t find on your resume?
I always like to point out that, even though it may not be directly related to my profession, a significant contribution to my personal growth and character came from my experiences with the parish and Catholic Action: I think they are excellent life training grounds, and many of my traits have been shaped by these experiences! In my free time (although lately, I don’t have much), I enjoy digging holes with the excavator or driving the tractor!

If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose and why?
If I could have a superpower, I would choose telepathy. It would be incredibly useful for better understanding the needs of clients and colleagues, facilitating communication and collaboration at work. It could also help me grasp technical problems more quickly by “reading” the necessary information from the minds of experts. Naturally, I would use this power responsibly and respectfully regarding others’ privacy. But my favourite superpower right now is ChatGPT, which answers these types of questions for me!

With Alessio’s leadership, Coges continues to develop new solutions in payment technologies, ensuring that innovation is always at the forefront.