Here at Glacier Media, our internal agency ecosystem is made up of 150+ folks.

It’s time for another edition of Team GMD Q&A. It’s kind of like Vogue’s 73 Questions. Instead, it’s in blog form and there are less than 10 questions – because you’re busy and we respect your time.

This week on Meet the Team GMD, we are introducing Web Developer Shalaw Karim.

Shalaw comes from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where he worked as a journalist on various platforms before leaving his homeland to come to Canada. He’s since become an integral member of the GMD family. When he’s not building and fixing websites, you might find him exploring nature or new technologies, reading Lacanian Psychoanalysis or writing fiction. Read on to learn more about Shalaw!

Tell us a little bit about your role at GMD.

My job is to build, maintain and deploy websites, and solve technical problems when they appear. I code 20% of the time, solve problems (bugs, errors, glitches) 70% of the time, and drink tea the other 10%. Unlike any other job, you also have a bonus of 10% of frustration and disappointment regardless of what you are working on or where you are working.

Personal kryptonite:

Ghosts and aliens are okay for me, but noise in my bedroom when it’s time to sleep sets me off to escape civilization altogether.

Hidden talent:

I often write fiction but don’t tell anyone.

Hobbies?

Exploring nature, soccer, ping pong, swimming and testing new things-which is another way of saying I very much tend to go bankrupt with trying every piece of new technology.

Do you have a Side-hustle? Do tell!

Sure thing, I have two ideas I want to work on, both technology-related and kind of personal projects. I can’t tell you what they are, but if they are not totally useless, you might use them both one day. If they fail, I’d claim this was written when I was totally drunk.

Best part of your job?

When I see the team is at ease: either when a project is finally launched, or the work is going smoothly.

What is the last thing you read that inspired you?

Lacanian Psychoanalysis, for daring to question predominant narratives even if they are considered an established fact or totally common sense.

Favourite quote?

I was speaking with an older guy who was guarding a centre. I told him he should sleep because the door was locked. He said, “Locks are only good to prevent decent people from trespassing, not the other way around.” I found it witty and fascinating enough to remember it.

What does “success” mean to you?

When there is a clear vision for the future of the cause. Let’s say I want to cure cancer; success is not achieving that goal but setting the foundation strong enough to see that there is a clear way forward for others after you to succeed.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you?

This is one of those rare cases where Hollywood could come up short. Take my charms; you could swear George Clooney can be good for that. The fun I spread is only second to Jim Carrey. The wit is not even second to Woody Allen. And as serious a public figure Tom Hanks is, he is still a pale shadow of my enigma. I’d rather not want them to portray me as it would not be fair.

What are you currently reading?

I read The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway.

Best place you have ever visited?

I like Istanbul (Turkey) and can’t figure out why exactly. I just feel good from the moment the plane starts landing. The ocean there is as blue as the sky. I love to watch it from time to time.

 

You can connect with Shalaw on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/shalawfatah

TeamGMD