Why do I succeed? Lessons learned from a master student

Håkon Åmdal

Computer science, class of 2016

Complex computer systems

Nerd

Love programming!

Volunteering

University of Minnesota

2014-2015

Where model-driven engineering meets database technology

Norgesgruppen needs to analyze billions of transactions.

...and they have no clue what they are looking for.

From row-store to column-store

Memory footprint reduced by 70%

55362ms -> 25ms (2200X)

Where model-driven engineering meets database technology

...and the platform optimize the storage without modeller intervention.

So why do I succeed?

Network

Decent academic results

Dream job

Decent academic results

Hard work

Curiosity

Work smart

Exams are my cup of tea

Network

Volunteering

Serendipity and the "Yes"-man

One of my favourite words: Serendipity. It was actually voted the hardest word to translate in 2004. It means somehing like "finding out things witout being in search of them". for instanc, something really small event than might change your life. Had several occations of serendipity: - Landed my first job as a system developer in 2008 by saying yes to help out with bicycle race timing services - Found about Schibsted technologies by dropping by a friend when I actually was really tired and wanted to go home. And here is where the "yes"-man comes in. These things happens because you say yes! Saying yes means you get to meet a lot of new people and getting challenged with things that might change your life

Dream job

Network

Decent academic results

Preparation

Observations

The more you have to do, the more you do.

Hard work applied over time makes things easier

Tips and tricks

Grasp every opportunity to learn something new

Use exercise solutions actively and correcltly

Learn your tools

Read relevant material prior to or after lectures

Feedback to IDI

Encourage studying abroad

Representatives for social enviroment in class

IDI and Abakus collaboration

Questions?