Tech Talk: Rafal Pawlowski – How MakerSource builds careers through real-world experience

October 16, 2026

Firm

Building technical skills is only part of the story. Rafal Pawlowski shares how the MakerSource graduate rotational program helped shape his career through new experiences, connections, and opportunities.

MakerSource, Systems’ rotational career development program, launched in September 2025, marking a major investment in early career technology talent for BBH Systems. The program welcomed its first 46 participants in Krakow, with plans to expand across BBH’s global locations.

Rafal Pawlowski, a graduate of MakerSource, reflects on his experience, the skills and perspectives he gained, and the role he hopes MakerSource will play in developing the next generation of technology talent.

What impact has MakerSource had on your professional growth?

MakerSource has played a significant role in shaping my career so far. It gave me the chance to work across different teams, projects, and areas of IT, and helped me better understand what skills I want to build and the direction I want to take my career next.

Just as importantly, it connected me with other MakerSource participants. Together, we share knowledge, support one another, and encourage each other to get involved beyond our day-to-day role. The combination of hands-on project work, technical growth, and meaningful relationships is what makes the program so valuable.

What has your experience as a graduate of MakerSource been like so far?

In my first rotation, I had the opportunity to work with Foreign Exchange (FX) Systems. I then moved to the KYC (Know Your Customer) team for my second rotation, and I am currently part of Exchange-traded Fund (ETF) Systems.

Each of these experiences has given me a different perspective on how technology teams deliver solutions, collaborate, and solve complex problems across the organization. They’ve also accelerated my growth in ways I didn’t expect. Support from colleagues helped me build confidence, develop new skills, and approach challenges from different angles. Working alongside experienced professionals taught me to ask better questions, learn faster, and understand not only the technical aspects of my work, but also the broader business context behind it.

What skills have you gained since joining MakerSource?

One of the most important skills I have developed since joining MakerSource is the ability to think more critically about technology solutions. I learned to look beyond the first workable answer and consider whether a solution is well-designed, maintainable, and aligned with the needs of the team, clients, and the business. That mindset has helped me become a developer who not only delivers code, but also understands the context, quality, team needs, and wider impact of my work.

From a technical perspective, I have gained experience working on both back- and front-end development. Working with Java and Angular strengthened my understanding of different stages of the development process, while exposure to Jenkins and OpenShift gave me greater insight into deployment and server environments. Across my rotations so far, I’ve had the opportunity to work with technologies such as Spring Batch and Spring Cloud, which help me better understand how more complex enterprise solutions operate.

Developing soft skills has been equally important. Through MakerSource, I took part in career fairs and conferences, and I am also a member of Experience Exchange Development Forum (EEF) Forum in BBH. These experiences have helped me build confidence, strengthen my communication skills, and collaborate more effectively with different people across the organization.

Where do you see MakerSource going next?

I see MakerSource continuing to create opportunities. For graduates, it offers early exposure to real projects, strong networks, and an understanding of the skills needed to succeed in a fast-changing technology environment. The experience helps people build confidence, understand where they add value, and see the impact of their work.

As the program evolves, I’d like to see even more people benefit from the experience. One of MarkerSource’s biggest strengths is its ability to connect talented people with meaningful opportunities to grow and learn. At the same time, BBH benefits from a growing pipeline of talent and fresh perspectives that can help drive innovations across the firm.

We know our success starts with yours! If you’re interested in exploring a career in IT, the BBH Systems group is looking for talented individuals to join the team. Visit the Careers page on bbh.com to review open roles.

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