Kanata North is home to some incredible talent. In our People of Kanata North series, we’re chatting with locals to find out more about why they love living and working here.
Today, we’re chatting with Fernando Gonzalez at You.i TV.
What attracted you to work at You.i TV?
How would you like to get paid to hang out with incredible people and watch TV all day? That was basically the sales pitch — and boy did it deliver. As an experienced software tester and an avid television enthusiast, I was intrigued at the opportunity to work in the TV streaming industry. The logos in You.i TV’s portfolio really got me excited. And while I came for the work, I stayed for the fun — The culture at You.i TV is energizing and I love coming to work every day.
What is your role at You.i TV? Can you tell us a bit about what you do on a day-to-day basis?
I am a software tester and a team lead. I find bugs in the software and collaborate with the development and design teams to make the apps better. I also act as a team leader to all the other software testers.
What are some of the ways that you keep your skills sharp in an ever-changing industry?
We are very privileged to be working with external partners, and every project has their set of challenges. I am constantly on the lookout for learning opportunities to work with new platforms.
What advice would you give to someone who is trying to gain employment in the high-tech sector?
Surround yourself with smart people and constantly seek opportunities to learn new technologies.
What is your favourite thing about Kanata North and the high-tech sector here?
It feels like a close-knit community where everyone knows each other. Whenever we’re hiring, chances are I already know someone who has worked with the applicant, which makes the selection process much easier.
Just for fun: What’s your one geeky hobby or interest?
Hard to pick one! I like to cook, in fact I have a cooking channel online and a self-published cookbook. I also like to sing, and I’m currently acting as the lead singer of our office band 🙂 I love working out so I practice Crossfit, Muay Thai and also run the bootcamp program at You.i TV. I’ve been known to paint, code, build stuff, and even sew. Right now I’m super into playing a card game called Truco, so much that I made a website to track player and team statistics.