Most of us start our careers waiting for a green light. We wait for a manager to tell us what to do, how to do it, and when to start. It’s familiar. It feels safe. And in many environments, it’s exactly what’s expected.
For Daryl, that was the only way he knew how to work, until he joined a team where waiting was the one thing holding him back.
Taking a Different Path
Daryl didn’t start out in tech. He studied law in university, but also took a minor in computer science. But even as he went on to pursue a career in the legal field after graduation, he found himself more interested in computer science.
That curiosity stayed with him.
Eventually, he made the decision to leave law behind and explore a different path. After realising that balancing the intense demands of a legal associate role while pursuing coding was almost impossible, Daryl quit his job without a backup plan to focus on learning and finding a role in tech.
The transition wasn’t easy. His first-ever tech interview was with Titansoft and he admitted it was a completely new and nerve-wracking experience. He left the room convinced he had failed, unable to perform to his own standards.
Unexpectedly, he got the job offer and joined Titansoft in 2022. Daryl’s interviewers saw beyond his background and technical experience, recognising his eagerness to learn and his strong potential, which Titansoft believes are qualities that matter more than formal qualifications.
From there, Daryl’s goal was simple: pass probation and be competent enough to keep up with others.
A Different Way of Working
Coming from the legal industry, Daryl was used to structure and hierarchy. Decisions were made by senior partners from the top and every piece of work went through multiple layers of approval.
At Titansoft, he encountered a completely different structure. With a flat hierarchy, discussions were open. People spoke up, challenged ideas, and contributed regardless of title.
In the beginning, Daryl found himself holding back. His first instinct was to think things through quietly rather than speak up. It felt safer that way. But his seniors kept encouraging him:
“Ask more questions. Speak your mind.”
His team provided a nurturing environment that changed everything. They gave him constant reassurance, helping him see that he was on the right track even when he felt unsure.
Over time, through regular feedback and conversations with his team, he began to understand that he didn’t need to have all the answers from the start. He just needed to be part of the conversation while figuring things out along the way.
This nurturing experience early on became the blueprint for how Daryl now interacts with the fresh graduate under his mentorship. Handbooks can describe culture, but its true power lies in being passed on.
Learning Beyond the Familiar
As he settled in, Daryl started taking on opportunities that pushed him out of his comfort zone, looking forward to growing in knowledge and skills. One of those opportunities was Project A, where he worked with a different team in Titansoft’s Taiwan office.
He quickly realized that technical skill is only part of the equation; without bridging the language and communication gap, the project stalls. To keep the project going, Daryl had to adapt. He simplified how he explained things, was more intentional with his words, and made sure understanding went both ways.
“You can have great ideas. But if you can’t communicate them, then it’s the same as not having any ideas at all.”
Once he worked through that challenge, everything else began to fall into place. Collaboration improved, discussions became smoother, and he found himself more confident navigating unfamiliar situations.
Stepping Into the Gaps
That confidence carried into Project B, a complex collaboration involving teams from Singapore and Taiwan, each contributing to different parts of the product. Alignment was critical, and clarity made all the difference.
To prevent any issues in communication, Daryl naturally stepped forward to lead as the main point of coordination between the two teams, drawing on his experience from a similar project in the past. He worked closely with the teams to keep timelines on track, made technical decisions, and onboarded new members.
Along the way, one of his most impactful moves was creating documentation to make domain knowledge more accessible, easing the onboarding process for both existing team members and newcomers.
The completion of Project B is now Daryl’s proudest accomplishment.
A Shift in Perspective
Looking back, the biggest change wasn’t in what Daryl worked on, but how he approached his work. As he grew more familiar with Titansoft’s products and gained experience within the team, his mindset gradually shifted from focusing on individual tasks to taking full ownership.
With the support of a nurturing team around him, he became more confident in how he contributed. Speaking up, asking questions, and making decisions once felt daunting, but have now become second nature to him.
Where It All Begins
When asked for advice for those starting their journey, Daryl’s answer is simple:
“Be as curious as possible.”
In his early days, what helped him most wasn’t having the right answers, but being willing to look for them. This Value Driven approach meant he never just checked off a task, he pushed himself to understand the “why” behind the work.
At Titansoft, we believe that growth doesn’t come from waiting to be told what to do. In a place where roles don’t define you, taking initiative starts with how you think, by asking questions, exploring beyond what’s given, and taking ownership of your own learning.
This mindset is at the heart of why we believe Everyone Can Be A Leader, by choosing to explore beyond the boundaries of your role and stepping forward to make things work better.
T.8ytes by Titansoft 