It’s time for the second installment of our anniversary series of interviews with people who built Allegro from the inside out.
Meet Marek - Senior Front-End Software Engineer, who knows exactly what it means to create solutions on a massive scale. He shares how Allegro Life ambassadors came to be, what he values most in teammates, and how he began his journey with Allegro as an employee. We’ll also cover strategies for surviving Mondays, the future of online shopping, and… the legendary game Heroes 3.
To celebrate Allegro’s 25th anniversary, Marek - a programmer on a mission (and with coffee in hand) every day - answers 25 questions.
1. What skills have you gained at Allegro that have helped you grow your career?
Above all, I’ve gained perspective on working with an application that operates on a truly massive scale. When you’re working on developing Allegro, every decision has to be carefully thought through and you need to know exactly why you’re doing something, because the consequences can be significant.
2. What one piece of advice would you give someone starting at Allegro?
Definitely give yourself time to get used to the size of the organization. You need to get to know the structure, certain processes, and the infrastructure. I hadn’t worked in such a large organization before, and I needed a while to adjust to how things work here. But once that initial period passed, it became a really great place to work.
3. Do you remember your first day at Allegro?
Yes, it started with onboarding, where we learned about different areas of Allegro as a company.
4. What three words best describe Allegro as a workplace?
Opportunities, growth, support.
5. What’s your work ritual, any “must-do” to start the day?
For some time now, I’ve been starting my day by writing posts on LinkedIn. Yes, I can do that during work hours as part of the Allegro Life ambassador program ;)
I joined the program almost immediately after starting at Allegro and I continue to this day, with just one year off for other initiatives. Starting my day with a post gives me a sense of having accomplished something constructive right away, and that motivates me for the rest of the day.
6. At work, do you prefer spontaneity and quick decisions, or do you like everything planned from A to Z?
I like to have everything planned from A to Z, but sometimes I have to learn spontaneity. At Allegro, opportunities often pop up like a chance to join a training session, and I don’t want to miss out, so I have to make decisions quickly.
7. You can give a shoutout to one person or team in this interview. Who would it be and why?
My first manager, Jędrzej, who introduced me to the world of Allegro, supported my development and promoted me to a higher position. :)
8. If you could add one new feature to Allegro, what would it be?
I’d add an AI assistant I could chat with about my purchases. For example, I’d like to ask, “A year ago, I bought a great coffee in a brown package. I’d like to buy it again. Find me that offer.”
9. How do you think online shopping will look in 10 years?
I think younger generations will rely heavily on AI Agents that shop for us. You’ll chat with a bot, tell it what you want to buy, and the Agent will decide where to buy it and complete the purchase on your behalf.
10. Are there any Allegro categories that surprised you?
Not really. ;)
11. What was your first purchase on Allegro?
When I started using Allegro, I was still in primary school. Back then, it was still an auction system where you could buy second-hand items, so I used it to save money on computer games. My first purchase was probably a strategy game, most likely Heroes 3 or Battle for Middle-earth. :)
12. What qualities of your teammates do you value most?
Honesty. It’s hard to work with people who have hidden agendas, don’t speak up about problems, or pretend to know everything. This also ties into admitting mistakes, which is important to me and giving each other honest feedback.
13. The biggest challenge in your career so far has been…
Definitely my first IT job, from which… I was fired. It was a very tough experience and it was hard to regain confidence afterward. But here I am, six years later, hundreds of thousands of lines of code written, a Senior at Allegro. :)
14. If you could invent a new delivery method, what would it look like?
Same-day delivery. Some e-commerce companies already offer this: you can order express delivery through independent drivers so the product reaches the customer the very same day. A similar model could also work for private individuals, something like ride-sharing but for parcels.
15. If you could spend a day as someone else at Allegro, who would you choose and why?
I’m very interested in the work of UX researchers and designers. It’s fascinating to see how users experience the site and how that influences their decisions. I’d definitely like to try something related to UX.
16. How do you explain to friends and family what you actually do at Allegro?
It’s tricky because not everyone understands programming. But it’s a good chance to look at my work from a user’s perspective. I try to explain which part of Allegro I’m responsible for. For example, right now I’m working on Smart! subscription activation and that’s something people can easily grasp. :)
17. I can’t imagine a workday without…
My late-morning coffee. :)
18. Team building – escape room or group cooking?
Definitely an escape room. Group cooking would feel like punishment for a failed project. :D
19. Early start at 7:00 with a free afternoon, or start at 10:00 and work into the evening?
I’d rather start earlier and finish earlier.
20. My favorite way to survive a Monday is…
…taking it easy. When I’m having a rough day, I don’t expect miracles from myself. I won’t get a lot done anyway, and at least it feels less stressful.
21. Slack or Zoom meetings?
Slack.
22. A free Friday every week or an extra month of vacation every two years?
A free Friday.
23. Sports card or Allegro shopping card?
Sports card.
24. What do you wish people knew about your work that isn’t obvious at first glance?
It’s very mentally demanding, and it’s hard to completely switch off after hours if you want to stay engaged. I often find myself thinking about work in the evenings or on weekends.
25. What’s your birthday wish for Allegro’s 25th anniversary?
That it becomes the leader in e-commerce across Europe!
Marek shared his perspective on Allegro, from his very first day at the company, through surprises and challenges, to his vision of the future of online shopping. And while he works with code, his story shows one thing clearly: it’s the people, relationships, and opportunities for growth that make this job truly special.
More interviews with the people who shape Allegro from the inside are still to come. Check back soon to discover more Allegro stories and find out why it’s #goodtobehere.
