Geotabber’s love for baking boosts team spirit and success

In the heart of Madrid, one Geotabber is adding a unique ingredient to the recipe for success: homemade treats. Maria Ladero Garcia, Lead Embedded Systems Developer, has a passion for baking as strong as her dedication to developing cutting-edge technology.
 

Since joining Geotab in 2014, Maria has become an integral part of the Embedded Engineering team. Her days are filled with coding, debugging and testing firmware, and finding new opportunities for growth, collaboration and innovation.
 

Maria’s impact extends far beyond the technical realm. A firm believer in the power of teamwork, she regularly brings her passion for baking into the office. Whether celebrating a successful firmware release, a project milestone, or simply brightening a Tuesday afternoon, Maria’s homemade cakes and treats have become a beloved tradition in the Madrid office.
 

"It's my way of showing appreciation and boosting team spirit," she says. "And of course, everyone loves cake!"

Inspired by her chef mother, Maria’s passion for baking began in her childhood kitchen. Now, she shares this passion with her own three children, transforming their kitchen into a laboratory of sweet experiments.
 

"Baking has become a special way for us to bond and spend time together," she explains. "The kitchen gets pretty messy, but we always have fun!’’
 

When asked if her passion for baking ever intersects with her work at Geotab, Maria says, ‘’There are definitely parallels between baking and firmware development. Both require precision, patience, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. Just like when I’m troubleshooting code, baking involves research, testing, and adjusting until the result is perfect. Every time I want to try something new, I do a lot of research to find the perfect recipe and it takes some experimenting and testing to get things just right.’’
 

Most recently, Maria baked pumpkin spice cakes for her team! 
 

Maria and her team are currently working on Project Yeti, which tests IOX-COLD for ColdChain solutions. ‘’Building a new project from the ground up is both challenging and exciting,’’ she says. One of the most exciting aspects is the cross-team collaboration. I get to work with other departments that I don’t usually interact with, which makes the process even more dynamic and enriching. This project will expand our support to a broader range of refrigeration units, and open doors to new customers and business opportunities.’’
 

She is not alone in her pursuit of excellence at Geotab. Her husband, David Vidrié, is also a Geotabber and her source of inspiration. "We've been working together for over 16 years, and throughout that time, he's been my mentor and introduced me to firmware development,’’ she shared. ‘He always pushes me to grow and embrace new challenges, and last but not least, he is the one that always cleans the kitchen mess.’’
 

As Maria puts it, "Collaborating with talented people and fostering a team that thrives has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my journey at Geotab." With her delicious creations,  Maria plays a key role in making that journey even sweeter.