Iris Kariotelli photograph

“This is the happiest I’ve ever been at work, and these are some of the smartest people I’ve ever worked with.”

Typical Day

First Things

  • Make a cup of tea, as is my duty as a naturalised Brit

  • Check emails and Slack to see if anything has arisen

  • Morning meetings, and opening up my team’s chatline for discussion

 Mids

  • Typically, I’ll go for 1 to 1 ½ hour outdoor cycle

  • Make lunch, and do some reading

  • Afternoon meetings with the New York team

Last Things

  • Do some coding and code review

  • Wrap up with my team

  • Cook dinner for my husband and I

  • Finish the evening with some Xbox

Creating my Own Path

 At Beacon, I am a Senior Financial Engineer. I joined Beacon about two and a half years ago, during the early stages of the company. I didn’t come in with a particular title or role in mind. I started as a developer and oversaw the UI and UX team. Today, that is still a part of my position, as well as working directly with our clients and developing our front-office applications. I would say 50% of my job is managing my team, and the rest is a mix of Javascript and Python development on the financial end of our platform.
 

Connections Between Work and Personal Life

I’ve always had an interest in computers. My dad was a software developer, and by the time I was 5, I was learning to code. I’m quite analytical in my thinking and enjoy problem-solving. I really enjoy what I do, and think it fits well into my life.
 

Great Startup Opportunities

Making an impact and effecting change is easier in start-ups. Coming from over a decade in companies such as Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, and Goldman Sachs, big companies have a particular way of doing business from a technical perspective. I wanted to grow and succeed as a technologist, and I now have the opportunity to work and develop without too much overhead. If you want something done at Beacon, you have the ability to just do it.
 

What Motivates Me

Being a people oriented person, I love working in a team. Seeing them succeed is so rewarding for me. I think that’s why I enjoy managing. Creating an environment where they are satisfied but also challenged motivates me. Also seeing our clients use what we built is really fulfilling, and pushes me to do my best work.
 

Fast Trivia:

Sports

Cycling, Climbing, and Snowboarding

Art

Theatre, Hamilton was great!

Music

Rock, Pop-Rock, Indie Rock

TV

Comedies

Geography

Anything in the Mountains

Food

Fish, going to Japan on my honeymoon was a dream

Favorite Things

Travelling, Snowboarding, Climbing

Joined Beacon

October, 2017

Education

Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial University

Hometown

Athens, Greece

Work Location

London, U.K.

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