Meet Nikita Kosolev, Lead Software Development Engineer at Mastercard.

Nikita's interest in technology was sparked by a curiosity about how things work, influenced by his father's background in computer science and a love for science fiction. Despite financial challenges, he pursued a career in tech, ultimately becoming a software development engineer at Mastercard.

In this episode we discussed various aspects of hackathons and their significance in fostering innovation and community engagement. Koselev shared his experiences with Mastercard's internal hackathons, emphasizing their role in inspiring creativity and potential product development. He also highlighted the importance of diversity in hackathon teams. Our conversation touched on the impact of AI in development, stressing the need for human skills and active listening to enhance development velocity. Koselev advised new developers to focus on community involvement and personal growth