Working as a Developer at MailerLite — Through Giannis’ Eyes
Izabella Dima
That's him smiling on the left!
Before we dive into a typical day with Giannis, let’s meet him!
He’s a developer, mentor, and someone who’s been a vital part of MailerLite’s journey for over 5 years.
What makes him stand out? He’s one of those rare extroverted developers who genuinely enjoys connecting, sharing his work, and talking about his passion for building things.
I wanted to chat with Giannis to understand what being a developer at MailerLite truly feels like. Not just what he does, but how his work flows, what drives him, and what it’s like behind the scenes.
Let's dive in!
☕ Giannis’ daily flow at MailerLite
What does your day actually feel like as a developer at MailerLite from your first coffee to wrapping up?
My day begins with dropping my kids at school, after which I head to my favorite café —my preferred workspace most days. I rarely work from home. The ambient noise and change of environment help me focus better. First thing, I set clear goals for what I need to accomplish that day. MailerLite's culture of trust means I can organize my priorities without micromanagement. Around noon, I take a break to pick up the kids and have lunch with them before returning to my coding. This midday pause with family actually refreshes my productivity. What's notable about our workflow is the minimal meetings. Our async communication approach means I can focus on deep work without interruptions. We rely on written updates, which suits our global team perfectly. I wrap up work completely in the evening and switch to family time. This clear boundary is essential for maintaining the work-life balance that makes MailerLite special.
What makes MailerLite special?
Giannis touched on a few key things that genuinely make MailerLite a great place to work:
Remote freedom
Choose your ideal workspace, whether it’s a café, co-working space, or your kitchen table, to do your best work.
Family-first flexibility
Enjoy the freedom to drop off/pick up kids or have lunch with them midday, a priceless benefit, especially for working parents.
Deep work focus
Dedicate time to think, code, and build without constant pings, supported by our asynchronous communication and fewer meetings.
Clear boundaries
Switch off completely when work is done. We respect each other’s personal time to ensure a healthy work-life balance.
💡 Why Coding? Why MailerLite?
How did you find your way into development, and eventually, end up at MailerLite? And what’s kept you excited about your work here?
I’ve always seen coding as a creative outlet-I love building things from scratch. That passion led me to study Computer Science, work in different software roles, and even spend some time teaching. Let me tell you, keeping a classroom’s attention is way tougher than getting an electronic circuit to follow instructions! My journey to MailerLite was definitely memorable. I applied just before the pandemic hit and got my offer on April 1st, 2020. Not a Joke! Starting a new job remotely while preparing for a new baby made that time both exciting and a little surreal. What keeps me motivated here is the chance to work with modern technology and solve interesting problems that really matter to our users. As the company grows, there’s always something new to learn and build, which keeps every day engaging and rewarding.
I'd love to highlight what truly keeps Giannis motivated—and it's a sentiment we hear echoed constantly by developers in our interviews—the chance to work on innovative technology and make a real impact.
This desire to build products that truly matter is something we’ve been doing at MailerLite for over a decade. We create simple, yet powerful solutions that our customers genuinely need. 💪
🔧 Collaborating, Coding, Shipping
How is the work distributed? What part do you play in building the product, and how do you all collaborate as a team?
I'm working primarily on backend development, though I contribute to front-end logic as needed (while leaving design to our expert designers 😅). My role involves solving technical challenges, sometimes quite complex ones. I'm part of a specialised squad focused on the most critical component of our application: the email sending system. This squad structure is particularly effective because our limited scope creates clear accountability and reduces cognitive load. We operate with autonomy within our defined area, managing technical priorities against our KPIs. While I don't make explicit product decisions, I can influence the direction through direct collaboration with product managers during sprint planning and other agile rituals. Like everyone on the team, I periodically take on the on-call role for a week at a time. These rotations are invaluable - I get direct exposure to client challenges, maintain familiarity with parts of the application outside my squad's focus, and sharpen my monitoring and operational skills and also deepens my understanding of our entire technical stack. Cross-team collaboration is built into our structure. The squad model creates natural interfaces between teams, and we regularly collaborate on initiatives that span multiple squads.
At MailerLite, developers are true partners in building the product. There’s room to own your scope, but also space to influence bigger decisions.
We’ve built a culture where people can speak up, share ideas, and shape the way things are done. Having such a diverse, international team helps—we’re constantly learning from different ways of thinking, and the result is always better than what any of us could’ve built alone.
📚 His love for teaching
I know you were a teacher before and you've kept your love for mentoring/teaching. Do you ever share what you learn with others within the company or online with outside communities?
Before joining tech, I taught students of all levels - from elementary to college. Teaching might seem like the opposite of coding, but it has really helped me break down complex concepts into understandable parts and write simpler, more self-explanatory code. Now, well-maintained documentation has become my new textbook! There's something profoundly rewarding about planting a seed of knowledge and watching it bloom. Just yesterday, someone called me "teacher" in the street, and that unexpected recognition filled me with satisfaction. At MailerLite, I've integrated this passion by initiating a mentorship program for new hires. I will always enjoy making technical presentations and sharing knowledge with an audience. What many colleagues don't know is that - occasionally - I still teach part-time at a local technical school.
This is one of my favorite things about Giannis—his genuine love for teaching and sharing knowledge.
At MailerLite, we believe in learning as a continuous journey, and knowledge-sharing is embedded in how we work. It ties directly into one of our other core values: We learn and transform. Whether it's mentoring new hires, hosting internal sessions, or simply offering help in a Slack thread, people like Giannis make that value come alive.
And here's the surprise—I’ve known him for five years, and I just found out he occasionally teaches at a local technical school. How cool is that? It’s inspiring to see someone carve out time to give back to the next generation of developers while still being so present in their work.
🫣 What New Developers Don’t Expect
If someone joined your team tomorrow, what would surprise them the most about being a developer at MailerLite?
What might surprise new developers is how naturally remote work functions here — it’s not a workaround or a temporary setup, but something intentionally built into how we operate. Work-life balance is truly respected here. For example, parents get monthly parental days. A small but meaningful way MailerLite recognizes real-life responsibilities outside of work. There’s a genuine feedback culture here - it’s straightforward and practical. I always know where I stand, and it’s really helped me grow. And while we have a lot of flexibility in how we work, that comes with trust. There’s no micromanagement — just a focus on outcomes. It suits developers who value independence and self-direction.
Giannis has touched on a lot of the things I personally love about MailerLite too. You could call them perks or benefits, but I believe they're more than that. They're fundamental to building a functioning, healthy and thriving remote culture.
Trust
Our entire way of working is built on trust. I take ownership of what I do, and I’m trusted to deliver. It's that simple.
Parental benefits
We offer several, but one that stands out to me is the Monthly Parental Days off. It’s one extra paid day every month for parents to spend quality time with their kiddos. And honestly, time with family is something you can’t get back.
Feedback culture
This is something we've consciously built over time. Being part of an open environment where you can share and receive feedback is incredibly valuable. Our growth and learning are directly based on it.
✍️ Advice for Aspiring MailerLiters
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a developer who’s thinking about joining MailerLite — or just looking for a place where they can really grow?
My advice would be to look beyond just the tech stack. At MailerLite, what really matters is how you communicate, collaborate, and contribute as a teammate. Soft skills - like being clear, respectful, and easy to work with - are just as important as your coding ability. It also helps to be someone others can rely on. Building trust takes time, but it starts with being consistent, transparent, and open about your limitations as well as your strengths. Make sure you genuinely align with the company’s values - they’re not just words on a careers page here. And during the interview, don’t just try to impress. Be authentic. Show self-awareness about what you’re good at and what you’re still working on. That kind of honesty and self-knowledge stands out. No one is perfect :)
That's one piece of advice I can also give to our candidates out there: Be authentic!
Share your own story, go the extra mile and show your passion for the work.
💚 A beautiful ending for a great interview
When I was going through a tough time, my manager acknowledged what I was dealing with and immediately gave me space-no questions asked. Colleagues reached out in private chats, genuinely checking in and offering support, which meant a lot. Even HR stepped in, offering practical solutions so I could keep up with work without extra stress or anxiety about falling behind. Thanks to this empathy and flexibility, my job never felt like an added burden, and I could stay committed without feeling overwhelmed. If this isn’t true support, then what is?
It was heartwarming hearing this. 🥹 Nothing to add here, really. I think we're doing some things just right!
