Meet Mike Phan: Full Stack Developer at Zartico

Mike Phan is a Full Stack Developer on Zartico’s Front End team. Since joining Zartico just over a year ago, Mike has worked to envision and create the future of ZDOS®. Based near Zartico headquarters in Salt Lake City, Mike enjoys hitting the golf course with friends to reset his perspective with a different kind of creative challenge.

Keep reading to learn more about Mike and the experiences that inspire him.

How did your interests, education, and career path lead you to Zartico and the type of work that you do?

I originally went to university to study architectural engineering. However, I also worked in the university IT department and quickly learned I had a deep interest in computers and software. I decided to change my major to computer science.

While working towards my degree, I moved on to work at Spillman Technologies. I began as a Technical Analyst, moved to Upgrades Technician, and was eventually promoted to the company Web Developer in IT. I worked in this position for several years until the company was acquired by Motorola Solutions. I then moved into a Cloud DevOps Engineer position on a team creating and maintaining internal tools and infrastructure.

If you weren’t doing this work, what do you think you would be doing instead?

I’d probably be working in sports. I played soccer at Weber State and love the game. I follow football and basketball closely. I also picked up golfing in recent years and cannot get enough of it. I love competing and challenging myself. I think a career closely tied to sports would allow me to still enjoy that aspect of the game.

Where do you go to learn or to find inspiration? Who or what are the people, books, podcasts, activities, etc. that are capturing your attention lately?

I find a lot of inspiration from the people I surround myself with. They all inspire me in different ways and help me look at things from different perspectives.

I also find it in fashion and sports. I try to keep up on the latest trends, and I believe sports have a big role in where trends land. I’ve always been a “look good, feel good, play good” kind of athlete, and I believe that translates to other aspects of my life such as work. 

I also golf quite a bit and find it a good reset. I can get carried away and spend hours staring at a screen and working through problems. Golfing allows me to get outside, clear my mind, and be more present. I always come back to my work rejuvenated and able to tackle problems with a reinvigorated mind.

Tell us about a place you love — what do you love about it, and what would you tell someone who is planning to visit for the first time?

I’d have to say Vietnam. It’s been a while since I’ve visited, but I plan to go back this next year. I love the food, the culture, and the weather there. 

I’m half Vietnamese, and although my family is Americanized now, my mom still cooks some of the food and we practice a lot of the same traditions and beliefs at home. Visiting Vietnam allowed me to see where it all came from and gave me a better understanding of how my mom was raised.

I’d say to anyone visiting to keep an open mind and take in the culture. Try different foods and explore not only the southern region but the northern one too. There are so many beautiful places to see in Vietnam.

What is your “bucket list” travel destination?

I’d love to travel to New Zealand — more so for golf than anything else. I’ve seen pictures and videos of some of the courses they have out there, and it looks incredible. Courses that are on top of cliff sides right up against the ocean.

I’m fortunate to be able to play some amazing mountain courses here in Utah, but nothing with an ocean view like in New Zealand.

What do you love about working at Zartico?

I love the fact that Zartico has allowed me to realize my full potential. I’d say at previous companies, I’d find myself just doing the work and staying as quiet as possible. Especially at a larger corporation, you can feel like a small fish in a big pond. This caused me to feel like the work I do has very little impact.

At Zartico, I find it to be quite the opposite. I am encouraged to have a voice and share my ideas. My peers and leaders respect me and that’s given me confidence that has allowed me to make a real impact. I don’t believe in having an ego at work, and it’s enabled me to not only share my knowledge but also learn from everyone. It’s been amazing not only within my own team but across other departments as well. Although I have over 10 years of experience, I’ve grown the most over the last year of my career.