Hello, my name is Marek Beniak. I create agile adhering environment where working code is regularly deployed. I have experience with 200M pg/month web applications, 3TB databases, transitions to microservice architecture, and all that comes with caring for 60 FTEs. I also bake great cookies.

Contact

Buzzwords

Experience

Common Product Owner | DrMax BDC, s.r.o.

June 2020 - present

TL'DR

In my most recent role as a Common Product Owner at Dr.Max Group, I embraced the challenge of project and product management. Migrating 5 countries to common eshop platform. Looking after backlog, prioritizing, taking care of conversion rate, usability and search in close cooperation with UX, developers and many stakeholders.

What was happening

We created one platform for 5 countries and migrated their existing solutions to it and then continued their improvement. Collaboration with 3rd parties (WMS, CRM, ERP...) and navigating the legal specifics of different countries. We focused on UX and speed as well as introducing CI/CD, concept of devops and overall change management in large company in highly regulated field of online pharmacy.

www:

Chief Research and Development Officer | MyQ Solution, s.r.o.

June 2019 - present

TL'DR

Managing R&D department of more than 20 developers, testers, product owners creating print solution. Taking care of people, hiring, firing, making sure deadlines are met and quality high.

What was happening

Creation of processes and operating structure was needed. We changed teams from technology based to product based to introduce transparency and better effectivity. Introducing longer-term planning.

www:

Director of Engineering | Ataccama Software, s.r.o.

September 2017 - July 2018 (11 months)

TL;DR

Approximately 60 strong development team consisting of developers, UX designers, UI designers and technical writers. Migration to microservice architecture and SaaS distribution. Budgeting, security and work methodology.

What was happening

We created missing structure at 60 head department, which took care of DQ, MDM and Data profiling applications from design to delivery. We made big progress in self organization, onboarding, application architecture and implementing DevOps approach.

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CTO & CIO | Heureka Shopping s.r.o.

January 2014 - February 2017 (3 years and 2 months)

TL;DR

Head of 30 person department consisting of developers, operations and IT. Development and operation of web site with 200 millions pageviews/month. From 30 to more than 120 employees and final sale in the biggest e-commerce transaction of the year on czech market.

What was happening

Intensive growth created lots of challenges both technical and personal. From hiring and decentralization of development, creating ties with local communities to implementing microservices, creating redundant infrastructure so our administrators can sleep at night.

As CIO I was responsible for migrating internal services and security.

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Scrum Master | Heureka Shopping s.r.o.

October 2012 - December 2013 (1 year and 3 months)

TL;DR

Scrum implementation and growth, developer hiring, team creation and decentralization of development between Prague and Liberec.

What was happening

I was responsible for Scrum implementation and consequent improvement of development methodologies. Heureka grew from 30 to more than 70 employees within one year. We opened development department in our second office in Prague, which created big challenge to make both offices cooperate. Which was solved by code decentralization and microservices.

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Online | Profimed

December 2011 - September 2012 (10 months)

TL;DR

Project management of new eshop, online marketing strategy.

What was happening

New eshop from ground up was needed as incremental development was not viable. From tender documentation to evaluation.

www:

Project Manager, Developer, Designer, Photographer | Freelancer

September 2009 - November 2011 (2 years and 3 months)

TL;DR

Small web and photography projects.

What was happening

Freelance project management of small web projects, cooperating with freelance designers and developers.

Marketing | Aaron

2007- November 2009 (2 years)

TL;DR

From new eshop to marketing strategy, execution to reporting.

What was happening

We started with new eshop. I was responsible for SEO, marketing (mainly online some offline).

Hobbies

I have many. Lately I am enjoying 3d printing, microcontrolers, sewing, baking, cooking. Should you want to start a conversation, try combining those. Example: "Did you try to sew bread bag with controlled humidity?"

Family

FAQ

What is your favorite text editor?

I love simplicity. So it is VIM. It is on every decent computer and joy to use. Currently running inside InteliJ Idea.

Do you have preferred languages?

I don't have much time left for development so mainly JS (preferably vanilla) as I can be productive in it. C++ when it comes to arduionos and other microcontrolers.

Do you prefer remote or office?

I can work in both environments. My flat features office with doors and everything I need to be productive, but going to office is not an issue if it is in reach of Prague.

What do you need to be productive?

Do you speak Jira?

I used to administer our company Jira. Never especially liked it but did not find anything to replace it. Unfortunately we moved to Azure Devops and after that my respect for Jira grew.

Do you know Azure Devops?

Honestly I wont work somewhere where Azure Devops is used for software development. It is like doing taxi in a trabant. You technically can, but it is not worth it.