Reality bytes

Being a software engineer is what set GXSer Davide Schembari’s life on the remarkable journey he has been on. But life could have been very different for this Italian whose first passion is biology and who would have pursued that path if not for the very real reason that he did not see any viable opportunities in the field.

So we asked him:

How did you end up with a career in tech?

Growing up, my dream was to become a biologist. But in Southern Italy, opportunities in that field were scarce. Luckily, I had a backup plan! As a teenager, I started experimenting with Pascal, a very old programming language, and that sparked my interest in software engineering. But even then, it wasn’t smooth sailing. After studying computer science in university, I struggled to find exciting job opportunities until 2005, when I got the call that changed everything. 

A leading mobile phone manufacturer was looking for a software engineer in England. Despite the initial shock to my family, I took the leap and said yes. Thank goodness I did! Not only did I find a fulfilling career, I also met my wife at work. We spent many wonderful years in England, welcomed our first child, and later moved to Singapore, where our second child was born. I’ve always found the Singaporean accent very cute and now, they are growing up as “proper” Singaporeans and I couldn’t be happier!

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Was making the decision to move abroad a hard one?

Telling my parents I was moving to London was tough. As an only child, they hadn’t imagined me leaving home, let alone the country. But life is full of changes. Almost 20 years later, my mum is now on her own, but I’m grateful my job allows me to work remotely and visit her twice a year.

Deciding to move abroad involves tough questions: Will you like where you’re going? Can you leave your home, family, and friends? But if you focus too much on these worries, you might miss out on incredible opportunities. Sometimes, you just have to take the plunge!

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What advice do you have for people looking to try something similar/jump into the unknown?

Adaptability is key! I’m Italian and love Italian food, but when I’m abroad, I embrace the local cuisine and culture. For example, when I first came to Singapore in 2008, I was surprised by the breakfast options. Spicy noodles and pigs organ soup for breakfast! Now, after six years here, my favourite breakfast is fishball noodles from my go-to spot in Ang Mo Kio.

The secret is to make these new experiences your own. Whatever challenge you’re facing, make it less foreign and eventually, it will feel like home.

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‍What does an aspiring biologist bring to the tech stack?

Artificial intelligence is a hot topic right now, and while it’s exciting, it also brings fears about job replacement. But I see technology as a tool to make our lives easier. At GXS Bank, where I’m a lead mobile engineer, we focus on a human-centric approach. Our GXS Bank app is designed to be engaging and user-friendly, making banking a fun and seamless experience. We’re a digital bank, so our app is the primary way customers interact with us. Every feature is crafted to be clear, readable, and enjoyable, breaking away from the traditional, often frustrating banking apps.

This attention to detail extends to the colour scheme which is fun and not boring! When’s the last time you saw such a cool bank app?

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