Beyond der Code
- Hilal Kesikci
- Aug 21
- 4 min read
Every career has its own story – full of challenges, lessons learned, and unexpected turns. In our interview series Commit to Success, we talk with former Defia colleagues about where their journey took them after their time with us. From their very first lines of code to the roles they hold today, these stories are packed with insights, inspiration, and a few fun memories from Defia.
We’re excited to share our very first interview in this series! This time, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Cumhur Sayan, who told us about his career path and his experiences at Defia.
Cumhur’s professional journey began in 2017 at Defia – his very first full-time role. From there, his path led him to Germany and eventually to his current position at a major music company. For us, he was always a valued teammate – disciplined, curious, and someone who brought real team spirit to every project.
Let’s dive into the interview!
1. How did you join Defia? Do you still remember your first day?
I was studying Mechatronics and applied for an internship because I wanted to learn software development. I believed the best way to learn was to get hands-on experience. My internship at Defia started with writing unit tests for a project—or rather, learning how to write them. At that time, our team was very small: a team lead, two colleagues, and me as the fourth member. It was a friendly environment where everyone helped each other. My internship began at the end of 2016, and in 2017 I joined Defia full-time.
2. What did you learn at Defia that still helps you today?
I learned to stay open to change and to think in an agile way. In software, nothing stays the same for long—you have to keep learning and adapting. Reading books, constantly improving yourself, and staying up to date were part of the job. Early on, being encouraged to read books like Clean Code and discuss them really helped me build a solid developer mindset.
I also got the chance to work on projects in different industries and with diverse clients. While in many companies people stay on the same project for years, at Defia I was able to try out new things again and again. Mentorship was another highlight: instead of paying for expensive training, I learned directly through real projects in an open and professional setting.
What still helps me today:
Gaining work experience with international standards and learning new technologies.
Developing and applying soft skills in a professional environment.
Being supported in both language learning and career growth, with plenty of chances to practice in an international context.
Experiencing different work cultures during short assignments with partners abroad.
3. Was there a project or a moment that impressed you most?
We built a complex decision-making system that was deployed in a nationwide infrastructure project. It was a fascinating and very educational experience for me. Later, I gave a presentation about it in Germany and met the sales specialist who worked on the project. He shared how satisfied the clients were and personally thanked me. That moment really stayed with me — I thought: “What I do actually makes a difference.” I was 23 or 24 at the time, and being recognized while working alongside German engineers gave me a big confidence boost.
4. What made Defia special for you?
The openness, support, and genuine interest in each other at work. This really accelerated my learning. Being in a team where people support each other, where you don’t have to fear making mistakes, and where you can share ideas openly—that’s priceless.
5. How was your transition abroad? Did Defia help with that?
Working on international projects and directly with partners abroad gave me a broad perspective. Experiencing different cultures taught me not just languages, but also different ways of working and communicating. These experiences allowed me to apply my skills in new countries and environments.
6. What advice would you give to young people considering Defia?
Defia is a place where your effort always pays off. If you put in the work, it won’t go unnoticed. When you need help, pair programming lets you learn fast. If necessary, your team lead will take the time to guide you. As a new graduate, it might be hard to understand the full vision right away, so my advice is: be patient and hardworking. Defia offers the chance to gain experience on international projects while constantly learning. What you study in books, you actually get to apply here—and that’s rare.
7. And finally – if you had to describe your time at Defia with a GIF, which one would you choose?
We would like to thank Cumhur once again for sharing his story and experiences with us. His journey shows how valuable both professional growth and cultural exchange can be. We hope you enjoyed reading this interview as much as we enjoyed preparing it. Stay tuned – more inspiring stories Beyond der Code will follow on our blog.
