About Varis
From Wrong Choices to Lead Software Engineer and Global Mentor
Hello, I'm Man (a nickname my uncle gave me because he wanted me to be as great as Superman). My journey into technology started from childhood. In middle school, my father surprised me with our first computer. I still remember that excitement vividly. He said he wanted me to be familiar with technology because he believed the tech market would be in demand in the future. During summer break, he sent me to learn web development, which I didn't know would change my life forever.
Me as a child at my father's graduation ceremony
After finishing high school, I was interested in multimedia. Fortunately, I joined a university project and successfully presented it, earning a quota to enter without taking competitive exams. But when I entered the graphic design job market in Thailand, I found the income insufficient. I remember sitting in taxis, constantly glancing at the meter, afraid I wouldn't have enough money to pay. By month-end, I had to survive on instant noodles, which made me decide I had to change this life.
Eventually, I decided to quit my old job and start anew. I enrolled in Thailand's first coding school, using all my savings. This was my first time working as a Developer, and I knew I was on the right path. But at that time, the tech industry in Thailand wasn't booming yet. I knew I had to go further. I decided to study at a Coding Bootcamp in Malaysia for 4 months, won first place in the graduation project, and even signed a contract with Air Asia. But then my work visa was rejected. I was very discouraged, but finally, I told myself I wouldn't stop here.
Me with company colleagues on a boat trip at Victoria Harbour
After that, I worked with Pomelo, which dramatically improved my coding skills. I knew this was the right path. So I applied for jobs in Hong Kong, Asia's financial center. Despite applying to over a hundred places, I finally got my first job in Hong Kong.
I brought my master's degree gown to take photos in Thailand with my father
because he refused to come to my ceremony in Hong Kong
Working there opened doors for me to work with major organizations in Hong Kong like HSBC. I decided to pursue further studies for a Master's degree at HKU, Hong Kong's top university. Studying there gave me a career leap. I got the opportunity to work with Manulife, a global financial company from Hong Kong.
Working as a Lead Software Engineer here greatly developed my skills, and eventually, I got the opportunity to work in Germany, a country where competition to enter is extremely high as it's the center of the EU. Beyond my career path, I began looking for new passions in sharing my knowledge with others. I started as a Mentor through ADPlist for students from Nigeria interested in technology careers but lacking access to education.
After teaching for a while, I became more widely known. More international students from Hong Kong, Germany, and Thailand applied to study with me. One of my students got promoted within a month after completing the course, and another got a job at a major American company.
In 2022, I founded Varis Lab to create a space for consulting and developing new developers. The success I'm most proud of is seeing students grow and change their career paths with confidence, ready to face challenges in Software Developer careers.