As part of an ongoing series, engineers will share a bit of what life is like at Pinterest. Here, Engineering Manager Makinde Adeagbo talks about his early years as an engineer, recent projects, and how he spends his time outside of work.
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How did you get involved with CS?
I first started programming on my graphing calculator in middle school—just simple games or programs to solve math equations. Later on in high school, I got hooked on building games in C++. It was a great feeling—all you needed was a computer and determination…with that, the sky’s the limit.
How would you describe Pinterest’s engineering culture?
We GO! If you have an idea, go build and show it to people. The best way to end a discussion is to put the working app in someone’s hand and show that it’s possible.
What’s your favorite Pinterest moment?
Alongside a team, I launched Place Pins in November 2013. We had an event at the office to show off the result of lots of hard work by engineers, designers, and others from across the company. The launch went smoothly and we were able to get some sleep after many long nights.
How do you use Pinterest? What are your favorite things to Pin?
I Pin quite a few DIY projects. A recent one was a unique mix of a coding challenge and wood glue to make some nice looking coasters.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I’m a runner, and have been since elementary school. Over the years I’ve progressed from sprinting to endurance running. It’s a great way to relax and reflect on the day. All I need is some open road and my running shoes.
What’s your latest interest?
I’ve recently started learning about free soloing, a form of free climbing where the climber forgoes ropes and harnesses. It’s spectacular to watch. There’s also deep water soloing, which involves climbing cliffs over bodies of water so falling off is fun, and you can just climb back on the cliffs.
Fun fact?
I’ve been known to jump over counter tops from a standstill.
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