It’s quite curious how things work in our education system: memorize, get tested, receive a grade – then forget it all. A lot of the subjects I studied followed exactly that pattern. And then there’s always that one teacher who thinks they’ve defined what counts as general knowledge and shames students in front of the whole class for not knowing something. Totally unacceptable, if you ask me – especially if someone like that crossed my path in a professional setting.
Fortunately, in my work life, things are quite different. The collaborative environment and team culture in software development—as we experience it at Pentacor—take a very different view of knowledge and ignorance:
That you can learn even from beginners,
That sharing knowledge expands your own, and
That you learn best by teaching others—
These aren’t just feel-good slogans, but a lived reality here.
Everyone in the industry knows that it's impossible to know everything. Especially in software development, you’re constantly challenged by the ever-evolving nature of knowledge. Languages, frameworks, modules, platforms, and technologies can become outdated overnight. New features can emerge that make things simpler, more efficient, or more elegant. And if you’re working as a consultant, the moment you switch clients, everything you thought you knew can suddenly become irrelevant.
The scope of knowledge feels endless. And one of the biggest bottlenecks—something that affects us in many areas of life—applies here too: time. Even when your employer gives you dedicated time to learn (as we do), it still feels like a bottomless pit. Learning and discovering new things quickly become a passion project that spills over into your free time. Some even choose to skip TV and other entertainment entirely, diving into fascinating topics that keep them up late at night (“Just a little bit longer…”).
That’s when intrinsic motivation kicks in—stronger than any external incentive. Sure, it might have started with a concrete challenge or client requirement, but now it’s curiosity driving the momentum. Learning is so much easier when you can apply it directly to a real-world problem (a big shoutout to the education system here). Solving these challenges feels incredibly rewarding. And when it’s going well, you don’t just stop—you dig deeper, wanting to understand more.
Learning can be fun. And once I realized that learning is closely tied to personality type—and allowed myself to accept that, for example, I’m just not the dry-textbook type—I was finally able to make learning enjoyable for myself. While others might shy away from conferences, I’m the one raising my hand. And while videos and podcasts are sometimes dismissed as “too vague,” I find them incredibly immersive. That said, I haven’t completely given up on traditional books either. My To-Read pile is still growing (because let’s face it—buying books and reading books are two very different hobbies). But recently, someone suggested I start a book club. Since that would give me someone to talk to and exchange ideas with, it might actually help me stay motivated to read. Whether or not this idea will work out... well, I still owe you that update (as of today).
Of course—and thankfully—not all of my colleagues think the same way I do. We’re a colorful mix of very different personalities, and that’s exactly how it should be! Everyone learns in their own way. Everyone tackles topics from a different angle. Whether abstract or super hands-on: the full picture only comes together when multiple perspectives meet. That’s something we see in action all the time—during our “Mexican Rounds” or at a MeetUp.
To stay in the loop with what everyone else is working on (which isn’t always a given in project work), we strengthen internal networking through our bi-weekly cross-team meetings. The idea is to create company-wide visibility: What are others working on? And ideally, remembering that when you’re facing a similar challenge down the road.
And if we’re all a bit lost? No problem. Our team is great at closing knowledge gaps together. A small group dives into a topic, figures it out, and then shares the insights with the rest of us in a transfer session. Sometimes we even host fully internal training sessions.
Sure, it takes a bit of time up front—but in the end, everyone benefits. When you take the time to prep and share knowledge with others, you’re also solidifying it for yourself—burning it onto your own “mental hard drive.” (Works with blog posts too, by the way.)
Sometimes, knowledge sharing creates its own momentum. If I knew the opposite of a “vicious cycle,” I’d use it here. One person’s insight inspires someone else to explore a related topic, and then they pass it along too—on and on it goes.
That said, I’ve also learned to trust that the knowledge I really need will find its way to me eventually. It’s about letting go and not trying to force it. Sooner or later, you’ll catch a talk or stumble across an article that frames a topic just right—and suddenly, all the mental connections start clicking into place. The knowledge sticks—and it grows.
The education system hasn’t exactly done us any favors in this area. Even now, I (and I know I’m not alone) find it tough to be open about what I don’t know. It can be hard to ask questions when you feel left behind—especially when everyone around you is throwing out buzzwords like candy. But if you push through that hesitation and just ask, the experience is almost always positive. Turns out, most of the pressure is self-imposed—leftover baggage from school.
One thing should be clear by now: we’re growing—and we’re building something cross-functional. It’s all about the team. And when in doubt, we know the answers together. Our collective brainpower is something special.
PS: Life hack—those super dry books and podcasts? Excellent for falling asleep.
PPS: I’ve since learned the opposite of a “vicious cycle.” It’s called a “virtuous spiral.”
PPPS: Oh, and the book club? It’s officially taken off—and it’s awesome. Highly recommend giving it a try!
