Shliakhov Kostiantyn, MWDN full-stack developer

• Age: 36 y.o.
• Position: Full-stack developer
• Years in the company: 1.5
• Children, pets: daughter 12 years old and son 3 years old
• City: Kharkiv
• Education: Degree in Medicine, Degree in Engineering

How did life take you from medicine to mechanics and then to full-stack development? You have quite an interesting background!

I started studying to be a doctor on my grandfather’s advice. He passed away a year before I graduated. I wasn’t happy working in such a corrupt system, so I left after just a couple of months during my internship. I then read two books about testing and got a job as a tester, but I didn’t enjoy it, so I left after two weeks.

Since I was always good at fixing things, I decided to work as a plumber. After six months, I was hired as a locksmith in a technical lab. Thanks to my efforts, initiative, and a bit of luck, I quickly became a test engineer, specializing in non-destructive testing. Over time, I also became a technical expert in industrial safety, an auditor in technical regulations and labor protection, and eventually, the head of the lab.

After four years, I opened my own high-voltage testing lab, but again, I ran into the same issue with corruption. After three years of trying, I closed my company.

I then took a small course in Golang and got an internship at a large company—the same one where I had worked as a tester a decade ago. They even still had my record in their database! While continuing my main engineering work, I studied hard and finished my training project at the top of the course. I was hired right away and, within a month, landed a fantastic project in the medical field, where I worked for two years.

Looking for new challenges, I found a job in a more senior role with a new auditing project. It’s amazing to think of all the life’s twists and turns that brought me here.

Have you been involved in sports since childhood, or did your interest in physical activity develop later?

I’ve been active from a young age. I joined the folk dance ensemble “Kvitka” when I was 4.

At 7, I started ballroom dancing, and by 15, I got into the gym and hip hop. At 16, I began working in a show ballet to make some money while studying. By 18, I was doing Go-go dancing in the biggest clubs in Kharkiv—Bolero, Misto, Kompas, and Radmir. Because of that, I’m pretty familiar with most of the nightlife figures in the city!

Which of your physical hobbies dominates now—running, swimming, Muay Thai, tennis? If you had to give up something, what would you never give up?

Muay Thai “stretching” and shadow fighting dominate right now. Due to current commuting problems, I barely leave the house, so all I can do is stay in shape at home. It’s a bit depressing, though. I haven’t swum in almost a year, and I’d love to cover a few kilometers. But I wouldn’t give up Muay Thai. The exercises are flexible enough that I can still keep fit, even indoors.

Why Muay Thai? 

While working in clubs, I met two dancers who were also titled Thai boxers. They showed me firsthand how slow and stiff someone is who just spends time in the gym. (They didn’t beat me, though—actually, they challenged me to try and beat them.) Since then, I left the gym and started training at my favorite Muay Thai section. I’ve never felt so energized and strong. I’ve never regretted it.

Have you participated in any tournaments? 

Yes, I’m a silver medalist in the Ukrainian ballroom dancing championship from 2003. In 2006, our funk team also became silver medalists at the Ukrainian university championship. 

Concerning boxing – I still step into the ring every few months during training. However, I’ve learned that head blows—even through a helmet—can cause mild dyslexia, so I’m careful not to take any unnecessary risks.

Tell about food and cooking.

I cook to satisfy my hunger, but the process must be enjoyable. Quality knives, cutting boards, and pots make the experience pleasant. When I was 16, I worked at sea for two months with a show ballet, and every four days, I had to prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 15 people in Spartan conditions. That’s when I really learned how a kitchen works and how to cook food in a way that brings enjoyment.

I often cook simple meals, but sometimes I get ambitious. Once, I made a bet that I could make single-malt whiskey at home. It took me three years, but I finally did it. I saw a smokehouse online and thought, “If they can do it, so can I.” I built one, set it up, and now we occasionally smoke food. Making sausages, however, turned out to be more complicated than making whiskey.

Another topic I’m passionate about is coffee—fresh grinding, tamping, extracting, steaming milk, and, of course, making latte art. It’s a magical ritual for me.

What did you want to be when you were a child? Do you remember why?

When I was a child, I didn’t have a specific career in mind, but I wanted to work in a laboratory—wearing a white coat, working with instruments and flasks. Well, I ended up doing exactly that—working in a lab, with a coat, instruments, and even flasks. It was great! But, I have to say, working from home with a laptop is better.

If we had a basic income, enough to not deny ourselves almost anything, what would you do?

I think that the number of my hobbies would double, at best. Maybe even triple. There are still so many things I want to try (except skydiving). Most likely, I’d get into something related to the production, preparation, and sale of food and drinks—perhaps a farm, a garden, a distillery, or even my own café.

What do you think about generative AI? Do you see a potential financial bubble in it? Do you think this is the future?

Chatbots and generators are definitely a bubble. They work well and can write a few functions, but they can’t truly perform tasks. The irony is that sometimes, even people can’t do the work properly.

In your opinion, will AI be able to replace people in paid work?

I’d say around 80% of them. This is the percentage of people who handle simple, repetitive tasks. The remaining 20%—those involved in complex decision-making and analytical work—are harder to replace, even by other people.

Have you ever thought about the end of humanity? What do you think it will be like?

If nothing catastrophic happens that wipes out everyone at once, humanity will continue to exist indefinitely—until the heat death of the universe. As Agent Smith put it, “Humanity is a virus.”

On books and TV series

I read very rarely, to be honest. Aside from legislation and articles, I haven’t read much in the last eight years. The last books I read were The Silmarillion, The Lord of the Rings, and The Witcher, but that was when I had more free time.

When it comes to TV series, I’m all about Sci-Fi. Shows like Babylon 5, Star Trek, Lex, Farscape… but StarGate is at the top. SG-1, Atlantis, and Universe—those series helped me learn English. I studied French at school, but those shows were only available in English. I figured, why wait a week for subtitles when I could learn English instead?

With which character from a book or a film do you associate yourself?

There’s this old TV series from 1996 called The Pretender. When I think about the main character’s adventures, it reminds me a lot of my own life.

Here’s a short story to demonstrate what I mean.

At my previous company, departments regularly organized events, contests, and quizzes for employees. However, after I won the top prize three times in a row, they decided to cancel the quiz altogether.

Instead, they introduced a new challenge—a year-long competition based on a list of tasks that included many of one’s personal achievements. The person who accumulated the most points by the end of the year would win. One of the most difficult tasks was to be featured in the company’s digest—a monthly newspaper covering only a handful of employees out of 2,500, typically focusing on entire departments rather than individuals. It was considered nearly impossible.

Determined to rise to the challenge, I made my way into the digest—not just with a short mention, but with a full two-page spread. A playground, a sandbox, an aviary, and even a photo of me plowing a field with a real horse and plow secured my place in the paper. Naturally, this sealed my victory in the competition.

But before the new year arrived, I received an offer for a new job and left the company in September, never claiming my final triumph.

Because sometimes, even when you’ve already won, it’s worth letting go of the prize to achieve something even greater.

Do your friends ever send you a picture or meme with the words, “Oh! This is so you!”? Share the last one they sent you.

I think this one fits. I never listen to music while working. I prefer silence. I love singing, and it distracts me too much. Sometimes, I feel like I might have ADHD, but I’ve just learned how to make it work for me.

If you had the chance, like in The Matrix, to instantly load deep knowledge on a single topic into your brain, what would it be?

Probably chemistry. It’s fascinating but also time-consuming to learn. There are very few clear and comprehensive textbooks, and they are packed with so much information that you just have to memorize.

What’s a topic you could talk about for hours without boring anyone?

What’s the topic? I can sit down at any table and join in on any conversation. I actually love doing that—it energizes me. I thrive in company.

If you were the hero of a novel, what personal flaw would you need to overcome by the end?

My nervousness and laziness.

If you were the hero of a novel, who or what would your antagonist be? Who or what would you fight?

The stupidity of others.

If you could live in any time and place, what would you choose and why?

I think now is perfect. A little earlier, and there wouldn’t have been the Internet. A little later… well, who knows? As for the place, this one is ideal. It’s a land of opportunities with just the right amount of challenges to keep you moving.

Have you traveled much? Which place left the strongest impression on you and why?

I went to China for a business trip. It felt like a different planet. I absolutely loved it. I’d like to live there for a while.

Which is more important: discipline or motivation?

Discipline, no question. As they say about the corpses on Everest: they were all highly motivated people. But not everyone was equally disciplined.

What drives you—rationality or emotion?

It’s hard to put into words. I’m a very rational person, but sometimes I feel like this joke would describe this situation better:

“What motivates you? I really love to show off. And to show off, you need at least some achievements.”

Build your pyramid of values. What are your top five life priorities?

I’ve tried building it many times, but honestly, I don’t think in terms of priorities. Life and all its aspects happen simultaneously, so you have to embrace and manage the chaos.

What advice would you give to young professionals just starting out as developers?

Learn how to learn. And learn how to work. Work isn’t just about completing tasks during working hours—it’s part of life.

What advice would you give yourself five years ago?

Have children sooner. It’s okay.