FTAPI Diaries: Meet our Scrum Master Theresa

Theresa has been with FTAPI for almost six years. She started as a working student in development and now works as a scrum master while pursuing a part-time master’s degree in computer science at a distance learning university.

What is your role, and how have you developed at FTAPI?

I started as a working student in the development department when we were still a relatively small team of fewer than 10 developers. My role was broad at the time, working in frontend, backend, and Android app development, contributing to our product platform, and programming smaller features. I also wrote my bachelor’s thesis at FTAPI on the topic of two-factor authentication and implemented dual-authenticated registration in our product.

After completing my bachelor’s degree, I started as a full-time employee and gained further experience as a full-stack developer. During this time, our development team grew continuously. At the end of 2021, I transitioned to a four-day work week to begin my part-time master’s degree in computer science at a distance learning university.

What happened after you decided to pursue a part-time master’s degree?

At the beginning of 2022, we reorganised our entire team due to continuous growth and changing requirements in our product development. We adopted Scrum and split our previously large development team into three smaller cross-functional Scrum teams. During this transition, I moved away from a developer role and took on the role of scrum master.

I received significant support, opportunities for further training, and above all, trust from my manager, Michael. In fact, it was Michael who encouraged me to consider the role, recognising my strengths and interests.

The role change was a huge challenge for me. Restructuring an entire department into a new framework and work mode felt a bit like being thrown into cold water. It worked so well largely because my manager supported me throughout, our development team handled the change exceptionally well, and we were all determined to succeed together. I initially supported the three teams as the sole scrum master while we adjusted to the new working model. It was an intense but invaluable experience for me.

Now, nearly two years later, I hope to successfully complete my master’s degree soon. I’m looking forward to welcoming new colleagues and tackling shared challenges and goals with our team at FTAPI. 😊

What’s your advice for people starting a career in development?

Just go for it! If you’re motivated, curious, and passionate about software development or product design and evolution, be bold and give it a try.

Our industry is full of career changers. A degree or training in the field is, of course, valuable and provides a solid foundation, particularly for beginners, but most of the learning happens on the job, through teamwork, and in real-world scenarios.

I’ve learned that finding your niche in development can take time. For me, it took a while. At FTAPI, we have various roles and areas within our department that are all crucial to successfully developing and maintaining a product for our customers.

I started as a developer but gradually discovered my strengths and interests, which are better reflected in my current role as a scrum master. And who knows what the future holds? In our field, there’s always room for growth.