The podcast episode of Nearshore Cafe, hosted by Brian Samson, features Cesar DOnofrio, the CEO and co-founder of Making Sense, a software service company that focuses on user experience. In this episode, the two discuss the topic of scaling teams in engineering in Latin America.
Cesar begins by describing Argentina as an interesting mix of cultures due to its history of immigration from Europe. He shares his experiences of starting the company, emphasizing the importance of finding the right market fit and building a strong team. The competitive landscape of Argentina is also discussed, with local and multinational companies competing for software engineers.
Despite the ups and downs of the country's economy and government policies, Cesar highlights the resilience and talent of the Argentine people. He believes in investing in education to help junior developers contribute to the growth of the software engineering industry in Argentina.
The conversation delves into the rates in US dollars and international rates for developers, as well as the challenges of hiring and retaining software developers, particularly in Argentina and Latin America. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and the possibility of returning to the office are also touched upon, stressing the importance of office culture and communication among team members.
Scaling operations and hiring protocols are discussed, with an estimated need for 100-150 team members, including managers and HR personnel. The significance of cultural fit and attributes like hard work and intelligence in recruiting team members is highlighted.
Lastly, Cesar mentions the benefits of having a US headquarters, such as closer relationships with clients in Latin America.
He highly recommends having strong connections with clients and potential opportunities. He also discusses the trend of companies and individuals from Argentina moving to the US for economic and political reasons.
In terms of cultural assimilation, Cesar talks about his own experience and the similarities and differences between Argentina and the US.
Cesar expresses his excitement about going back to Argentina and enjoying pizza, different types of cheese, gelato, and empanadas. He also suggests buying souvenirs like mate, leather jackets, knives, dulce de leche, and wine from Argentina.
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Cesar's LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cdonofrio/
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