Six Incredible Years in Medellín

In 2016, globally trusted digital commerce specialist Astound Commerce decided to expand its business to Colombia, opening an office in the country’s economic capital Medellín.

Throughout the years, the Medellín team has contributed immensely to the organizational progress of Astound, pioneering innovative ecommerce solutions for major brands like L’Oréal, Boohoo, Halfords, FLOR, TOMS, and Crocs.

Gradual Growth

Six years ago, six exceptionally talented individuals formed Astound’s first Medellín team. Determined to help revolutionize commerce from Colombia, the small yet formidable team hit the ground running, opening with major projects for brands SkinCeuticals, Shu Uemura, SalonCentric, and Oakley.

“Working for Astound has exceeded my expectations,” says Jose Julian Betancur Nieto, Senior Front-End Developer at Astound Commerce Medellín. “I have grown in many ways as a developer and a professional, mostly by reviewing code with my colleagues.”

Having grown significantly in skill and size since 2016, the Medellín team plays an integral part in helping accelerate Astound’s journey toward its North Star goal: to become the global market leader in digital commerce.

“I want all applications working perfectly in different languages— like Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese—for all kinds of devices that exist right now,” Julian continues. “And here at Astound, I can put that love of perfection to use: facing challenges every day, adjusting to new requirements, and leveraging new approaches and technologies.”

According to Dixon Labarrera, Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer at Astound Commerce Medellín, working at Astound is a constant learning experience. “I have improved a lot of my skills—communication being one of them, which is important in this kind of work environment,” Dixon explains. “Sometimes, what comes naturally to you might be foreign to others, and it is important to be adaptive, especially when working with such an immense team.”

“In terms of hard skills, I realize that there is something new to learn every passing day,” Dixon adds. “For the moment, I am still learning as much as I can about SFCC [Salesforce Commerce Cloud], web technologies, and quality assurance on a daily basis.”

Before joining the company, Dixon had successfully completed an Astound QA boot camp program, a training course that allows anyone outside the company to learn the basics of quality assurance engineering within a three-month period. Those who pass the final test receive a chance to join Astound as full-time employees.

At the forefront of IT education, Astound regularly offers expertly designed JavaScript and QA boot camp programs where participants delve into the world of software development, engaging in professionally led practical sessions, working on multi-level tasks based on Astound projects, and exploring innovative ecommerce technology.

“Participating in the boot camp was a life-changing opportunity and experience,” says Jose D. Cardona, Senior Web Developer at Astound Commerce Medellín. “I come from a non–computer science background and have a mechanical engineering degree, so even though I had some basic knowledge of programming, my JavaScript and web development skills were not strong.” He adds that the boot camp helped him significantly improve his IT skills, consequently landing him his dream job at Astound.

Career Advancement

Astound Commerce cares about the professional growth of its employees and offers countless opportunities for each team member to enhance their skill set, including training and certification programs, career progression, mentoring and knowledge sharing, professional language lessons, and more.

“The company motivates its team members to succeed by investing in their career development,” notes Jose. “I have regular calls with my functional manager to discuss any personal or career development topics, and I am receiving performance feedback and coaching accordingly.”

The management team ensures all employees feel supported in their ambitions, conducting in-depth performance reviews every six months and fostering a culture of mentorship and collaboration.

Medellín team member Juan Pablo Roldan Uribe agrees that Astound encourages its employees to follow their passions, a principle that has helped him achieve many of his professional goals. “It has been a learning experience for me since the start,” says Juan, who went from Office Manager to Engagement Manager in under two years. He is now Project Manager at Astound Commerce Medellín.

Astounding Culture

The Medellín team values the power of teamwork and embraces Astound’s cultural diversity, understanding that different perspectives lead to creative solutions.

“The most important thing at Astound is its people, astounding people,” says Felipe Chaves, Project Manager at Astound Commerce Medellín. “Everyone is willing to support you to succeed, regardless of their position in the company.”

To support the team in the successful delivery of all projects and initiatives, Astound’s Project Management Office developed the Astound Way Solution Framework (AWSF). AWSF is a combination of multiple solution development life cycles (SDLCs) and different process models. This system allows Astound to match the diverse needs of its clients by combining SDLCs with the supporting process models, ensuring projects of various complexity are delivered optimally and on time.

“It was nice to see that we have this great framework that helps us stay organized and on track,” Felipe comments. “We have also been provided with great communication and project management tools, which allow us to work efficiently while working remotely.”

By creating an environment where collaboration and inclusivity are encouraged, Astound helps team members feel confident and supported in everything they do. “I have never felt alone at this job, but part of an excellent company with great colleagues,” continues Felipe.

In addition to providing employees with the tools to succeed in the workplace, the company also ensures everyone enjoys a healthy work-life balance so they can thrive at work, at home, and at play.

For an inside look at the Astound life, make sure to have a look at the company’s Instagram page.

Additionally, Astound Commerce Medellín is always ready to welcome new talent to the team. Visit the Astound Careers page for more information and an always-updated list of available positions.