Kai Langlie
Senior Consultant II, Philadelphia
I have been programming since 1999. At the time I was studying music and taking intro to engineering courses at a community college near Washington D.C. As a kid, I though that being an Industrial Architect would be a neat job to have. I loved playing with Legos and getting dirty outdoors, pretending to drive my toy vehicles around make believe towns in the snow, dirt, and sand. In middle school I learned to play guitar so thought that music might be a good career path. My family has always had computers around the house. A Sinclair, Comodore64, Amiga500, i386 clones and a massive filing cabinet-sized machine called the Ohio Scientific to name a few. I have always been into computers and technology in general, so programming naturally fit the bill for me, career-wise. Since learning to program I have enjoyed doing it on my own and for others. I believe that if someone shows passion in what they do, and the conditions are right, a superior product can be made.
If you had to describe yourself using four words, it would be…
- Thorough
- Reflective
- Sincere
- Adventurous
What is your favorite weekend trip?
In 2004 I went to Germany with a group of friends. We rode our bicycles on sections of the Radweg, a network of trails.
Sharing our core values is very important to us. What does Passion, Discipline, Innovation, Teaming and Integrity mean to you?
Passion: I am passionate about technology. I enjoy programming while striving to continually learn and grow. But more so hope that I can contribute something to the world that will have a long-lasting, positive effect. I try to enjoy the work I do, and in striving to do so, hope that it will help me grow and feel accomplished. For the people who rely on the code I write, hopefully it aligns with their goals and improves their lives in some manner. Discipline: Discipline to me means continually striving to achieve one's goals. We all like to sit down and take breaks. Maybe watch a little TV. But to be disciplined, one must make a continued, conscious effort at something. I have a small entrepreneurial spirit. It takes hard work and dedication to achieve any goal. Hopefully one day I will achieve mine. Innovation: To innovate is to draw on your experiences; to draw your own metaphorical picture, void of instructions or preconceived notions. To use the tools at hand and the snippets available around you to make something unique. Teaming: I try to be humble and not swayed by the negative. And try to look at things in an objective light. I am just one person. Many people, some with their own area of expertise, also play a huge role in the projects I have been involved with. It is near impossible to do anything IT-related, 100% yourself. Systems and data flow are just too complex to do it alone. I like to give credit where credit is due. And believe that having a good rapport with your Teammates is the only way to successfully complete a project and come out on top. Integrity: Integrity means standing by one's convictions. Not letting broadcasted opinions of some kind sway core beliefs. When I see a lack of integrity, I do my best to either help change an opinion or attitude in a positive way (if possible) or if not simply avoid it. We are bombarded every day with messages of all kinds. If you can filter through this consciously or otherwise, and stay steadfast of the opinion that most people are good, that is the best way forward.