Team Spotlight – Mike Baker’s Journey into Engineering

At Tranvault, we’re passionate about what we do, but that passion is only possible because of the people who make up our team.  Through our Team Spotlight series, we share the stories behind the roles, the journeys, experiences, and motivations of the people who make up our team. 

Each Spotlight offers a more personal look at life at Transvault, highlighting how different paths, skills, and passions come together to support our customers and partners every day. 

In this edition, we’re shining the spotlight on Mike. 

Mike has lived in Portishead for most of his life, going to school locally before starting his first full-time role at just 18, straight after sixth form. With two older brothers, “neither of which work in IT!”, a career in engineering wasn’t exactly an obvious choice. 

In fact, Mike’s career didn’t begin in technology at all. He spent the first eight years working in accounting, including time spent studying towards his AAT qualification. As he puts it, “Interestingly I never studied computers at school.” 

But an early Christmas present planted the seed. “My interest in computers and IT started when I received a ZX Spectrum for Christmas, albeit mostly for gaming, but it was the spark which fuelled my interest in computers and IT.” 

That curiosity really took hold during Mike’s time at Canon. Working under a manager he’d known from a previous role, he found himself encouraged to ask questions, learn on the job, and get stuck in. With no dedicated IT team in place, Mike became involved in supporting the in-house computer systems alongside his accounting work. 

“Very often this was more interesting than some of the accountancy work I was doing,” he says. “You had to learn on the job to try and resolve some of the issues.” 

That hands-on problem solving soon led to an opportunity to move away from accounting altogether and into a more technical support role, a turning point that shaped the rest of his career. 

Today, Mike works fully remotely as part of one of Transvault’s larger teams. While working from home can mean spending a lot of time working alone, staying motivated comes naturally. “The nature of my role means that I can end up helping different people every day,” he explains. “That constant interaction helps to make working from home more manageable and less prone to feeling isolated.” 

What Mike enjoys most about being part of Transvault is the variety. “It feels like a cliché, but no two days are the same,” he says, something he’s always valued in his work. That variety also ties closely to his personal values. “It’s a great platform for helping people,” Mike adds. “My role gives me a great opportunity to ‘do the right thing’, either by direct assistance or using my 10+ years of experience to support and guide someone.” 

One of the biggest lessons Mike has learned at Transvault is the importance of not rushing. He credits this to early mentorship within the Support team. “What Transvault has taught me is to not rush a response,” he says. Watching tickets handled in a “methodical and calm way” helped reduce unnecessary back-and-forth and meant issues were resolved more efficiently, an approach Mike still uses today. 

After five years of working from home, Mike has built strong routines into his day. On UK shifts, he starts with a “30-minute mobility-focused exercise routine” before work. US shifts come with a bonus “a bit of a lie-in, which I love” and extra time for guitar practice. Weight training features at least three times a week, fitted in around his shift pattern. Outside of work, he enjoys watching films, reading books, and playing the electric guitar. 

Looking to the future, Mike is excited about what’s next for the team and the technology. “We’ve added some excellent features to Migrator V11,” he says, and he’s keen to see how future versions continue to evolve. He’s also looking forward to getting more involved with Intelligent Ally, which has already made a strong impression. 

One piece of advice to someone starting out in engineering? “Be curious about what you’re working on, as it helps to feed the passion.” He believes his most valuable experience has come from curiosity, whether that’s UAT testing, experimenting with new builds, or digging into niche issues raised by partners. 

And when he’s not working? Mike’s a fan of horror novels, Stephen King being a particular favourite. He also loves cooking Indian food, drawn to the “blend of spices, flavours and variety of dishes you can create.” But his favourite hobby is music. With a small collection of guitars, playing gives him “an opportunity to be creative” and the perfect way to switch off.