Ihtisham Zahoor – Admin Guy Turned Web Developer

MY name is Ihtisham Zahoor and I’ve been working at Centangle Interactive since the last year now. I am an aspiring Web Developer with a focus on the WordPress platform; an introspective by nature, a WC speaker/Organizer, aspiring writer, and an enthusiast of JavaScript and Open-Source.

I have a story to share. A story about faith, honest intentions, the courage of thinking out-of-the-box and trusting in the notion that everything is possible in life. It is my story of joining Centangle Interactive; a digital agency and my academy, where I make cool digital stuff after breaking them over a hundred times.

I have always had a knack for technology. I still remember the summer of 2006 when I brought a PC for the first time. I would try to install Windows XP many times so to make Windows work smoothly but without any luck. It was those stubborn viruses, which would only be removed by running a virus scan, not a fresh Windows install, something I figured out later.

So, after my MBA back in 2015, yes, you’ve read it right! I graduated with a specialization in finance. At the same time around I started learning WordPress while still working in an administrative and support capacity at an organization in my hometown.

It was WordPress that not only introduced me to the world of web technologies but also helped me realize the importance of the free and Open Source Initiative and most importantly, the WordPress Community. Over the years, I have made really humble friends through the WordPress community. I have also contributed to the platform and worked as a WordPress developer.

It was until recently that I chose WordPress development as my only full-time profession. While being a self-taught developer and belonging to a small city. Soon, I realized the importance of professional growth and its impact on an individual’s career. That is why I decided to apply for a full-time Web Developer position. Fast-forward, after a few applications and interviews, I received a call from Centangle Interactive, and from that very moment, everything changed for me regarding my professional life.

What really has inspired me about my company is how six young and motivated geeks, who were fresh-out-of-college, without any real experience on their resume, except their resilient commitment and hard work, went on to build a company, which is not only providing jobs to numerous people but also providing them the opportunity to grow in their careers. It’s been just five years since Centangle Interactive started providing services and today, it has a presence in 3 countries and providing both services and products to hundreds of clients all over the world. One of Centangle’s products called Sajil ERP has recently been launched and it is already creating footprints in the industry while another product called Shopober POS is going to be launched on a bigger scale in a few months.

My experience so far at Centangle Interactive has been a roller coaster ride for me, in an excitingly good way. I have learned a lot about the overall field of Information Technology and have realized how much I have still to learn.

I would be missing the opportunity here if I don’t mention the life at Centangle Interactive. Every person working at Centangle, regardless of their experience, is super supportive and helpful.

Now, what’s up next for me? and what the future holds. Well, no-one can be certain but I am sure that I’m going to explore and learn more about WordPress, PHP (WordPress loves PHP), JavaScript ecosystem, leading to a path of Full-Stack Developer while enjoying my time working at Centangle Interactive and not forgetting the Open Source contributions.

Thank you for reading my reflection of the experience working at Centangle Interactive.