Humility Over Hype: Iztok Smolic's Approach to Leadership and Community

In a world where tech startups often chase rapid growth at the expense of culture and sustainability, Iztok Smolic offers a refreshing alternative. As the CEO and Managing Director of Agiledrop, he has cultivated a unique company culture that blends traditional values with modern technological practices. His journey from freelance graphic designer to leading a team of skilled Drupal developers is a testament to his technical acumen and his commitment to fostering a work environment that prioritizes individuality, continuous learning, and work-life balance.

Iztok's career in web development began in 2007 when a chance encounter with Drupal ignited his passion for building full-fledged websites. Over the years, he honed his skills across more than 50 web projects, eventually founding Agiledrop in 2013. 

Today, Iztok’s approach to leadership and team management is deeply influenced by his belief in the power of tranquility, respect, and constructive feedback. These principles are at the heart of Agiledrop's success and have enabled the company to thrive without succumbing to the often chaotic dynamics of the tech industry.

In this interview, Iztok sits down with Elma John, a former sub-editor of The DropTimes, to discuss the inspirations and challenges that shaped his career and company. The conversation delves into Iztok's early days as a freelancer, the founding of Agiledrop, and his ongoing contributions to the Drupal community. Iztok also shares his insights on managing relationships with high-profile clients, the future of Drupal in an evolving tech landscape, and the importance of giving back to the open-source community.

As Iztok reflects on his journey, he offers a rare glimpse into the mind of a leader who values humility over hype and responsibility over rockstar status. This interview is not just a window into the operations of a successful tech company, but also an exploration of the beliefs and practices that drive sustainable growth and meaningful community engagement in the world of web development.

TDT [1]: What initially sparked your interest in web development, and how did you start your journey with Drupal?

Iztok Smolic: I started as a freelance graphic designer in 2007. I loved designing websites, and that led me to coding. I had some programming classes in high school, so I knew the basics. At first, I only did design and front-end coding. I left back-end development to others. Then, a friend showed me Drupal. The site-building tools hooked me, and I started building full websites. This helped me ease into back-end programming.

TDT [2]: Can you describe the moment or inspiration that led to the founding of Agiledrop? What were the main challenges you faced in the early days?

Iztok Smolic: Agiledrop grew from my freelance business. I invited other freelancers to join. We were a typical digital agency at first. We made many mistakes. We underestimated projects and tried to please everyone. We had no focus and took any project, from print design to website hosting.

Things changed when we niched down to Drupal development. We focused on helping other Drupal teams. This helped us hone our skills and build a strong engineering team.

TDT [3]: As a co-founder of the Drupal Slovenia Association and organizer of local meetups, what motivates you to contribute to the Drupal community at this level?

Iztok Smolic: I believe in passing down what you’ve received. The Drupal community was key in my career. I want to create opportunities for others like I had. Plus, it’s fun to travel and make friends worldwide.

TDT [4]: How do you see the role of community involvement in shaping the future of web development and open-source technologies?

Iztok Smolic: People are the heart of companies and open-source projects. It’s not just about code contributors but also users. Users who don’t contribute code still support the community, like customers buying organic food support sustainable farming. Users should give back, even if it’s just attending a conference or writing a positive comment.

TDT [5]: You emphasize not calling your developers "Rockstars," but rather responsible adults. How does this philosophy impact the way you build and manage your team?

Iztok Smolic: We prefer a calm and respectful environment rather than a place where the loudest voice wins. Rockstars can be effective but often bring negative side effects. This would break our culture and make others uncomfortable. There’s a time and place for rockstars, like startups, but that’s not us.

TDT [6]: Managing relationships with high-profile clients like UNESCO and the European Union must be complex. What strategies do you use to ensure successful collaborations?

Iztok Smolic: Big clients are complex on a macro level but easier on a micro level. It takes time to understand the processes and decision-makers. You need to document everything carefully. Once sorted, working with individuals becomes easier because everyone knows the rules. With smaller clients, you have direct access to decision-makers, making decisions quick but sometimes unpredictable. You need a good personal connection and strong relationships.

TDT [7]: With technology evolving rapidly, where do you see Drupal fitting into the future of web technologies?

TDT [8]: Agiledrop has launched an interview series highlighting active members of the Drupal community. What inspired this initiative, and what impact do you hope it will have on the community and broader audience?

Iztok Smolic: The interview series was a great way to promote the Drupal projects and the people behind them. We expanded this concept to include interviews with people from other open-source communities, like Laravel and Angular. Recently, we upgraded the series to feature experts in digital transformation on our Agile Digital Transformation podcast. This helps showcase diverse insights and fosters a broader tech community.

TDT [9]: Beyond local meetups and Drupal camps, in what other ways do you or Agiledrop contribute to the broader Drupal community or other open-source communities?

Iztok Smolic: Agiledrop contributes code, sponsors events worldwide, and organizes free Drupal workshops locally. We promote Drupal and open-source solutions to future developers and potential users/clients.

TDT [10]: What are your future aspirations for Agiledrop, both in terms of business goals and your personal engagement with the Drupal community?

Iztok Smolic: We are committed to continue building a team of Drupal developers who follow Drupal best practices and standards, so the products for our clients and agency partners are secure, fast, and easy to maintain.

There is always more we can do in the community so we are open to new opportunities. I personally would like us to help promote Drupal on the marketplace. Like with organic food, we need informed customers to grow healthy, sustainable products.