From Robotics Competitions to Engineering Leadership
How competitive robotics shaped my engineering mindset, taught me leadership, and connected me with a global community of builders.
Competitive robotics isn't just about building robots. It's a crash course in systems thinking, team leadership, and performing under pressure. My journey from building my first competition robot to serving as Head of Referee at FTC Indonesia has been one of the most formative experiences of my career.
What Robotics Teaches You
You learn to work with constraints — limited time, limited budget, limited parts. You learn to debug under pressure when your robot fails during a match. You learn to communicate technical concepts to non-technical teammates. These are exactly the skills that matter in professional software engineering.
The Power of Community
The FIRST community is global, diverse, and incredibly supportive. Through volunteering, judging, and mentoring, I've connected with engineers, educators, and students from dozens of countries. These connections have broadened my perspective and deepened my commitment to technical education.
Bringing It Full Circle
Now, as I prepare for my role as Head of Referee at FTC Indonesia 2026, I'm thinking about how to make competition experiences more impactful for every team. The goal isn't just fair competition — it's creating an environment where every participant leaves a better engineer than when they arrived.