A fullstack developer from Argentina whose investigative mindset helped solve complex technical problems and a long-standing family mystery.

Born in La Plata, Argentina, Manu began his relationship with coding around 11 years old, when he started playing around with the “really ugly” QBasic. But it would be the humanities he pursued when he began his college education, choosing to study psychology.

For what it’s worth, the surrealists, including Magritte, were deeply fascinated with psychology and the unconscious mind as well. When Robin Westhaver, Mission’s Operations Manager, and I met with Manu via Zoom one afternoon, an illusory painting based on Magritte’s work (done by the contemporary artist @LeanDIY) hung on the wall over his left shoulder. What attracted Manu to the print is the industrial craft on display, with its hand-painted gradient, having had some professional printing experience while in college.

This line of work brought Manu to Argentina’s CONICET — the National Scientific and Technical Research Council. It was there that he learned research techniques and processes that would later help him as a fullstack developer at places like PayPal and PWC.

The problem had been a source of anxiety in the company for at least a year before Manu joined. He decided to approach the issue just as he would a research challenge at the CONICET.

The method paid off. Before long, Manu had determined that an extension was causing the problem, and although they couldn’t say exactly which was doing so, “We knew the problem was not ours and not as big a deal as we first thought. And that was enough for us!”

For what it’s worth, the surrealists, including Magritte, were deeply fascinated with psychology and the unconscious mind as well. When Robin Westhaver, Mission’s Operations Manager, and I met with Manu via Zoom one afternoon, an illusory painting based on Magritte’s work (done by the contemporary artist @LeanDIY) hung on the wall over his left shoulder. What attracted Manu to the print is the industrial craft on display, with its hand-painted gradient, having had some professional printing experience while in college.

This line of work brought Manu to Argentina’s CONICET — the National Scientific and Technical Research Council. It was there that he learned research techniques and processes that would later help him as a fullstack developer at places like PayPal and PWC.