Hussein's Story: From Harbour.Space to Adidas

Every alumni journey tells a different story about what's possible after Harbour.Space. In this interview, we catch up with Hussein, a Frontend Development graduate who turned his time in Barcelona into a launchpad for his career, first at Adidas, where he cut his teeth on enterprise-scale engineering, and now at Afori, where he's building AI-powered applications as a Founding Frontend Engineer. He looks back on the modules, mentors, and city experiences that shaped him, and shares advice for students just starting their own journey.

I studied Frontend Development at Harbour.Space. It was an important step in starting my career as a software engineer. What I enjoyed most was the hands-on approach to learning and being surrounded by people from different countries and backgrounds. It wasn't just about learning new technologies — it was also a chance to collaborate with others, exchange ideas, and grow both personally and professionally.

I really enjoyed living in Barcelona. Studying abroad gave me the chance to meet people from different cultures, improve my Spanish, and build great friendships and professional connections.

Barcelona quickly became my favourite city because there was always something happening — whether it was language exchanges, tech meetups, padel, skateboarding, paddling, hiking, or simply spending time at the beach. There was always an opportunity to learn something new or meet interesting people. During my studies, I also attended events on Advanced React, Blockchain, Python, Green Software, and even Spanish culture. Looking back, it was a great balance between studying, networking, and enjoying the city.

Joining Adidas after graduation was a great learning experience. During the interview process, I was told they appreciated not only my technical skills but also my enthusiasm for sharing knowledge and collaborating with others, something I really valued.

Working at adidas was my first experience with enterprise-scale software development, and it completely changed the way I think about engineering. I learned how to build production-ready applications, work with micro frontends, manage technical debt, maintain design consistency, and optimise web performance. One of the biggest challenges was understanding the infrastructure behind large-scale systems, but it became one of the most valuable things I learned.

I also enjoyed working alongside experienced engineers who were always willing to support and mentor me. That environment helped me grow both technically and professionally, and gave me a much better understanding of what it takes to become a stronger software engineer.

Today, I work at Afori as a Founding Frontend Engineer, where I build AI-powered applications for the insurance industry. Being part of an agentic AI startup gives me the opportunity to keep learning while working with some of the latest developments in artificial intelligence.

Harbour.Space gave me a good foundation, and from there I kept learning through personal projects, interview preparation, following industry trends, and staying up to date with new technologies. Looking back, I think that combination made a big difference.

There are a few modules I still remember because I use what I learned in my day-to-day work: Programming Interactivity with Hjörtur, React and Web Performance with Eiríkur and Ægir, Design Systems with Pablo, Intro to UX with Irene, Web Tooling and Modern Setup with Victor, Applications of Motion Design with Po Chen Chia, and the client project with Marco all shaped the way I work today.

Studying while working part-time also gave me the opportunity to apply what I was learning in a real working environment, which made the whole experience much more practical and helped me transition into my first full-time role.

My advice would be to make the most of your time there. Build your own projects, ask lots of questions, connect with your classmates and teachers, and keep learning outside the classroom. The programme is a great opportunity, but a lot of your growth will come from the effort you put in yourself.

You never know where the people you meet or the projects you build will take you, so stay curious, enjoy the experience, and make the most of every opportunity.