Product Owner Maksimas

"Don't be afraid of challenges, be flexible!"
Let us introduce you to Maksimas – a true jack-of-all-trades who has never been afraid of trying different jobs and gaining new experiences. From Salesman to Construction Worker, Maksimas has held a variety of positions and acquired new qualities at every turn. Today, he is a valuable member of the Ruptela team, serving as a Product Owner. But his journey to this role was a winding one, with stops as an Order Fulfillment Specialist, Field Application Engineer, and Head of Customer Success along the way.
When he’s not conquering the challenges of the telematics industry, Maksimas enjoys spending time with his family – his biggest source of motivation and emotional support. He’s also an avid practitioner of Kyokushin Karate, an experienced photographer and drone videographer.
But what truly sets Maksimas apart is his attitude toward life. He’s not afraid of challenges – in fact, he embraces them wholeheartedly. He’s flexible and adaptable, always ready to learn new skills and stay up-to-date with the latest technologies. And above all, he cherishes his relationships with colleagues and loved ones, seeing them as sources of camaraderie, belonging, and positive energy. So if you ever find yourself in need of inspiration or motivation, just remember Maksimas and his unquenchable thirst for adventure and self-improvement.

Tell us more about yourself and what led you to your current position.

I started gaining work experience in High School, and I was never afraid of different jobs. My portfolio has a variety of positions: Salesman, Catering Assistant, Barman, Factory assistant, Automated assembly line operator, Studio Photographer, Administrator, Electronic-equipment assembler, Construction worker. At every job, I acquired new qualities that helped me to reach my place at Ruptela today. Ruptela is a team, so as a Team Player, I perform my best: I am knowledgeable in my field, communicative, honest, and direct, and I like to keep things simple, positive, and professional.

When and why did you join Ruptela’s team?

I joined Ruptela at the end of 2015, which was full of excitement for me. Graduation from Vilnius University, adventures in the USA, and trying myself in different roles by gaining experience in Electronic-equipment assembler (Solar systems, CCTV, Alarm systems, Fire Systems). One day Ruta from HR contacted me and offered me a job in the Operations Department – at first, I knew nothing about Telematics, but I took it as a challenge for myself and accepted the offer. When Ruptela chose me, my journey began as an Order Fulfillment Specialist.

How does your journey at Ruptela looks like?

During the first steps in the Telematics world as an Order Fulfillment Specialist, I started to gain knowledge of how everything works there. Expanding knowledge about our products, deep understanding of device performance, and close communication with Sales, customers and our installers. During that time, I started creating my own processes to make my job easier.
With good performance results and a willingness to expand my knowledge in engineering, I changed my role to a Field Application Engineer. With dedication, hard work, happy customers, positive feedback from the Sales department and a focus on continuous improvement, I was promoted to a Senior Field Application Engineer. Thanks to my ambition – another important step was taken in my career – I became a mentor to my team – Head of Customer Success. During the last year, I successfully created working processes for our team to increase performance and achieve a higher customer success score.
Recently, I decided to try myself as a Product Owner. I believe that I can also contribute to this position with a deep knowledge of our products and a good understanding of customer needs.

How do you start your day? Please share any rituals or tips&tricks that help you stay productive all-day.

My day starts with a routine: I wake up before my family and take my Husky for a morning walk. After the walk, I try to unload some duties from my wife by making breakfast or taking our son for some time to recharge with positive vibes of a childish smile for the whole day.
When the working time starts, I prioritize my tasks for that day, check the calendar and prepare for the meetings.
Another important thing during the day is music. Music helps me boost my mood and energy, reduces distractions, and, most importantly, provides a rhythm or pace to my work by improving focus and productivity.

What motivates you to go to work every day?

Professional growth and development: I find motivation in the opportunity to learn new skills, take on new challenges, and advance my career. The feeling of progress and growth can be highly motivating and keeps me engaged in my work.
Another motivation source is relationships with colleagues. Feeling a sense of camaraderie and belonging with colleagues makes me excited to come to work each day.
And my biggest motivation is my family. They are my emotional support, always encouraging and expressing pride in my achievements.

What are your job’s most challenging and most cheering elements?

The most challenging thing in telematics is rapidly changing technology: this industry constantly evolves with new technologies and features emerging regularly. So we must stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments to remain competitive.
The most cheering elements are positive impact and creative problem-solving: we are positively impacting the world by improving safety, reducing emissions and enhancing efficiency. And with creative problem-solving skills, we are finding innovative solutions to our customers’ complex problems.

Tell us more about your hobbies

I recently started doing karate (Kyokushin Karate) in one of the best karate clubs in Lithuania – Ippon. My coach Jevgenij Jurut (4 DAN) is my best friend, pushing me toward good results. Recently, I managed to get my second belt (orange – 10 KYU) and continue towards my following achievements.
Also, I do photography (https://www.instagram.com/maxshiktorov/) and drone videography (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK5lX4gie5–tqRNTXul6dahstppMFOGI).

Interesting facts about you.

I enjoy creating items such as a giant wooden bench for the balcony, perfect for relaxing in the summer and experimenting with epoxy resin. When it comes to electronic appliances, I have a knack for troubleshooting and setup, which makes me the go-to person among my friends and family. Cooking is another skill I possess, and I can whip up delectable dishes without following a recipe, relying instead on my improvisational abilities.
In my travels, I gravitate towards exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations, such as abandoned buildings, jungles, mountains, caves, canyons, and more. I prefer engaging in physical activities during vacations rather than just lounging on the beach.

What is your favorite place in the world? Why?

My favorite place in the world is HOME. By that, I don’t mean the house, but where my family is. Wherever we will be, if we are together – that place will be my favorite.

And the last one – could you share any advice for those who want to start their career in the telematics industry?

Don’t be afraid of challenges, be flexible. The telematics industry is constantly evolving, so be open to learning new skills and adapting to new technologies as they emerge.

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