Neil Rogers

What’s your job title?
Software Development Manager

What sort of duties do you have at work?
Ensuring the software across our products (FastRig, FastRoute and FastReach) is delivered on time and aligned to Smart Green Shipping’s overall vision

What has your career path looked like until now?
I spent 10 years in Financial Services, first as Business Analysts then moving into Product Management while managing software development teams.  Since then, I’ve looked for challenges to test my strategic and delivery experiences which has taken to me to companies ranging from 2 to 10,000 people, implementing solutions such as Identity Verification systems for Social Security Scotland and waste tracking software for multinational companies

What’s your secret to making progress each day?
I like to know in advance what I’m going to do the next day so I can set time aside in my calendar to really focus on my top priority

What motivates you at work?
Using technology to solve real-world social and environmental challenges

What makes SGS different from other places you’ve worked for?
The purpose driven nature, urgency and clarity of the mission brings an energy that I’ve never experienced at work before

What kind of music do you like?
I’m a sucker for classic rock, especially Bruce Springsteen

What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
I read Project Hail Mary and The Martian, both by Andy Weir, back-to-back and they are amazing if you like sci-fi mixed with some high school science and engineering based problem solving

What’s your favourite food?
It has to be Mexican

Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies?
No real talents, unfortunately. My hobbies are mostly trying to stay fit through the gym and biking

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
The original dream was professional football but that was never on the cards!

What’s your favourite thing to do on a weekend?
Catching up on sleep, enjoying good food, and occasionally going for a bike ride when I have the time

What’s your favourite season and why?
Living in Scotland it has to be Spring (because Summer only lasts a couple of weeks), after months of dark mornings over the Winter it’s nice to wake up to the sun again