Q&As with Kishor Patel, VP Application Development

Q&As with Kishor Patel, VP Application Development

We sat down with Kishor Patel, VP Application Development, to find out what his day-to-day life looks like, what significant milestones he has had at Vortexa, and what he really thinks of our company culture…

06 April, 2023
Jessica Irvin
Jessica Irvin, VP People & Operations

Kishor works as VP of Application Development in the R&D team in London.

Before joining the company, Kishor worked at an Insurtech in London where he built and led engineering teams. Prior to his time in London, he spent over a decade working in the healthtech and insurance industries in Australia.

Fun fact: Kishor can hold his breath underwater for 3 minutes!

What inspired you to join Vortexa? 

What impressed me the most about Vortexa was its culture, which is built on a pioneering and pathfinding spirit, with an unwavering focus on the customer. I could see that the team continuously pushes the boundaries of technology to innovate and create something unique and unparalleled. In my interactions with everyone I met, I noticed a strong sense of passion and ownership, which showed their commitment to the exciting mission of unlocking, connecting, and optimising energy flows across the world. I simply couldn’t miss the opportunity to join such a world-class team!

What would you say is the most interesting aspect of your role? 

Being part of a collaborative and forward-thinking team that constantly challenges itself in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. Continuous learning is not only encouraged but also essential to keep up with the ever-evolving landscape of the industry. Every day, I embark on a journey of discovery, from learning about the intricacies of freight pricing, to the different ways our customers harness the power of our analytics platform to extract invaluable insights from complex data sets. It’s a thrilling experience to work with a remarkable group of people who are passionate about leveraging technology to drive meaningful change.

We have a culture that fosters friendly collaboration where we are constantly challenging and inspiring each other to reach new heights.
What have been some significant milestone moments for you at Vortexa? 

We have optimised our delivery process for greater efficiency and effectiveness. This involved designing and implementing a streamlined process that empowers our teams to achieve their goals with enhanced agility. Our progress tracking and planning have vastly improved across multiple work streams, enabling our teams to focus on innovation and creativity while maintaining high productivity levels.

Our platform has undergone significant improvements. It now boasts faster performance, frequent updates, expanded filtering options, and greater data granularity on the fleet utilisation screen. Users can now navigate and analyse data quickly, staying up-to-date with the latest information. Our developers have also enhanced map responsiveness and interactions, creating a more intuitive and seamless experience. These advancements demonstrate our commitment to providing an exceptional platform that meets evolving user needs.

What does day-to-day life look like for you as the VP, Application Development?  

I start my mornings with a glass of water, followed by a refreshing shower, breathing exercises, a short walk, and a light breakfast that energises me for the day ahead. Around 8:30 am, I catch up on Slack and emails and prepare for the day’s meetings.

One of the most important meetings of my day is my team’s daily stand-up. During this brief meeting, we share progress updates and discuss any challenges we may be facing. This helps us stay aligned and focused on our goals. We also identify bottlenecks that are impeding the flow of work and discuss follow-up actions to help eliminate or mitigate such bottlenecks.

Aside from daily and weekly check-ins, I dedicate my time to leading improvement initiatives, partnering with key stakeholders to plan and prioritise the next quarter’s OKRs, adjusting plans as necessary, and ensuring we are aligning our tech strategy with business needs, both operationally and strategically.

What impressed me the most about Vortexa was its culture, which is built on a pioneering and pathfinding spirit, with an unwavering focus on the customer.
What key qualities make a VP, Application Development successful? 

A successful VP of Application Development is passionate about fostering a positive team culture that promotes creativity, innovation, and growth. Collaboration is key. They work closely with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to create an environment where engineers feel comfortable sharing their ideas and collaborating with peers.

Asking the right questions can drive positive change and strengthen relationships, leading to better decision-making. Leveraging relevant metrics is crucial to enhancing performance and driving improvements in the development and delivery process. As a lifelong learner, the VP of Application Development stays up-to-date with the latest technology trends and best practices, enabling them to continually improve processes and strategies.

The VP of Application Development is committed to identifying and addressing obstacles that prevent their teams from achieving their goals. They constantly strive to make a positive impact on the team’s and company’s success.

How would you describe the culture at Vortexa? 

We have a culture that fosters friendly collaboration where we are constantly challenging and inspiring each other to reach new heights. We are united in our common mission to build the future of energy markets, and we are empowered by a shared sense of ownership and responsibility. It’s a hard-working and fun environment where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to achieve their greatest potential.

What advice would you give to people hoping to join Vortexa? 

Embrace your natural curiosity, unleash your imagination, and don’t hold back when it comes to asking questions, even if they seem bold or unconventional. The answers you find may surprise you and lead to new opportunities for growth. Remember that success lies in your relentless pursuit of self-discovery and mastery. So be daring and take risks, even if they make you uncomfortable. Every step in your journey is an opportunity to learn and grow, so embrace the challenges ahead.

Describe your working life at Vortexa in three words! 

Fast-paced, dynamic, customer-centric

Jessica Irvin
VP People & Operations
Vortexa
Jessica Irvin
Jessica is the VP People & Operations at Vortexa and is responsible for hiring, learning & development, culture, engagement, performance management and leading expansion plans.