Ilias Bartolini
Curious Developer and Team Impact Apprentice
Hi, I'm Ilias.
I'm a curious software developer and technologist passionate about free & open source software, open knowledge, digital rights, continuous learning and Agile.
I grew up in Italy as a computer geek. Since my University years I've always put a lot of effort in contributing and participating in many volunteering groups, associations and software communities in the Open Source and Free Software ecosystem.
I unsuccessfully tried to learn how to play 3 different musical instruments; totally failed to get a second master in physics; drove in the cockpit on one of the most advanced vehicle simulator while working as a F1 software engineer.
During the day I'm currently enjoying the feeling of sharing my desk with great teams of Thoughtworkers helping our clients in adopting and embracing Agile and Lean values. I've been a tech lead and trainer but most of the times I still write code with all sort of technologies. I believe in humility, honesty and I like to support others in their journey.
I've been lucky to live and work in 4 continents meeting different cultures and slowly understanding some of the privileges and the stereotypes I grew up within; almost unintentionally I found myself participating aside of Occupy London and the Brazilian Vinegar uprising.
When I was a kid I tried to escape from my parents to meet a lion in the savannah. When I grew up I got lost in the oldest favela of Rio at night and got angry with myself because I felt really afraid in that situation (I got angry because that feeling represented my privilege and unrespectful, not for getting lost).
Recently living in the Global South is where I embraced a new path of social justice radicalisation and I am unable to turn back.
In Thoughtworks I'm trying to contribute as much as possible in building our 3rd pillar: "Social Justice" and looking more broadly at our impact as a company trying to look at society from the eyes of the unprivileged.
I spent the last couple of years trying to understand anarchism, social psychology and ethics. More often I get angry against injustice.
I'm looking for people to work with and help us organize and searching how can we amplify our impact for social justice.
How can we use technology to change the world?
How can we help each other with limited structures of power?
My personal mantra comes from the back cover of one of the diaries of Anne Frank: "Soit gentil et tiens courage" (Be kind and be brave).
I usually write here: http://iliasbartolini.name/