Links

- Codecrafters (sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters

- Become a guest on the podcast: https://forms.gle/wMqBmVhuzL46Ha3P7

- ZurichJS Discount: https://conf.zurichjs.com?utm_source=contejas&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=zurichjs-conf-2026

- Faris on X: https://x.com/farisaziz12

- Faris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farisaziz12/

- ZurichJS: https://zurichjs.com

- SmallPDF: https://smallpdf.com

What does it take to become an Engineering Manager at 21? How do you rebuild your identity when a chronic illness takes away your physical strength? In this episode of ConTejas Code, I sit down with Faris Aziz, a Staff Engineer at Smallpdf and the lead organizer of ZurichJS. At just 25 years old, Faris has lived a career’s worth of highs and lows. From failing his first coding bootcamp module to building a career ladder for a fintech startup, and from ranking as the 2nd fittest CrossFit athlete in Switzerland to being bedridden by an autoimmune condition, Faris shares the mindset required to navigate extreme volatility.

This conversation moves beyond technical skills into the "internal garden"—how emotional regulation, sleep, and nutrition directly impact your ability to lead others. Faris breaks down his philosophy on "Peace of Mind" as the primary metric for promotion, why invisible work builds character, and how to steward authority without intimidation. Whether you are an aspiring manager, a developer looking to level up, or someone navigating a personal setback, this episode offers a blueprint for resilience and professional excellence.

Chapters

00:00:00 Intro

00:04:33 Getting into Tech at 19

00:08:12 Failing (and Surviving) Bootcamp

00:11:00 Building a CrossFit App During Lockdown

00:13:38 Getting Hired Without Writing Code

00:18:49 Accidental Managers: Leading at 21

00:22:19 Choosing a Pre-seed Startup Over High Salary

00:28:53 Red Flags in Leadership

00:33:41 Tending the Garden: Balancing Work & ZurichJS

00:42:51 Health Crisis: From Top Athlete to Bedridden

00:48:51 Emotional Regulation & Bio-Hacking

00:59:36 Mindset: Gratitude vs. Bitterness

01:07:44 Invisible Work & Building Character

01:11:18 How to Get Promoted: Giving Peace of Mind

01:17:28 Confidence vs. Arrogance

01:21:42 Owning Mistakes Confidently

01:25:38 Stewarding Authority (The Kent C. Dodds Example)

01:28:06 Don't Just Be an Engineer: Solve Business Problems

01:35:02 Managing "Diva" 10x Engineers

01:40:12 Organizing the First ZurichJS

01:46:30 Outro

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