Quinton Maki is a Software Engineer II at Amazon Web Services (AWS), based in San Francisco. His path to tech wasn’t traditional. He didn’t go to college, instead taking a nontraditional route before making a big leap into software engineering.
In 2021, Quinton enrolled in Hack Reactor, a top coding bootcamp. He finished at the top of his class and quickly became a teaching assistant. That teaching mindset stuck with him. Today, he mentors more than a dozen engineers at AWS and is known for his ability to break down complex ideas into clear steps.
Quinton was promoted quickly after starting at AWS—one of the fastest in his organization. He now works on GenAI tools like App Studio and Quick Suite. He believes growth comes from asking smart questions, staying humble, and learning from failure.
Before tech, Quinton ran track and cross country. He also coached kids for years, teaching them discipline and endurance. That early experience shaped how he approaches teamwork and leadership today.
Outside of work, he snowboards almost every weekend in the winter and once spent a full year learning how to sail. He likes trying new things that push him out of his comfort zone.
Quinton believes success is about momentum—moving forward, staying grounded, and growing with purpose. Whether writing code or carving through fresh snow, he’s always focused on the next step forward.
Q&A with Quinton Maki: What Success Really Looks Like in Tech
How do you define success today?
For me, success means hitting goals I’ve set for myself while staying true to what matters—my values, my health, and my relationships. I check in with myself every few months and ask three questions: Where am I now? Where am I going? Who am I going with? If two out of three feel good, I’m in the right place. It’s not about always feeling amazing or achieving big wins. It’s about direction, alignment, and momentum.
What was your first personal experience with success?
When I was in high school, I ran cross country and track. I also coached younger kids in the same club I used to race with. Seeing those kids go from struggling with a single lap to finishing an 800-meter confidently—that was a real moment. I learned that success wasn’t just about what I achieved, but also how I helped others move forward. That experience made mentorship feel natural to me later in life.
What’s the most underrated factor in career success?
Discipline. It’s not flashy. It’s not exciting. But it’s everything. I didn’t go to college. I didn’t have a fancy degree or an internship at a big tech company. What I did have was structure. I knew how to break goals into steps, show up every day, and push through hard weeks without losing momentum. That mindset helped me finish Hack Reactor at the top of my class and move quickly at AWS. I got promoted in under a year—not because I’m the smartest person in the room, but because I kept showing up, kept asking questions, and kept improving.
What’s something people get wrong about success in software engineering?
They assume success comes from raw intelligence or some innate gift. It doesn’t. It comes from failure. My job is all about things not working. You build, it breaks, and you figure out why. Then you build again. Once you get over the fear of being wrong, you start growing fast. People who are afraid to look dumb in front of others tend to plateau early.
I also think people underestimate how much ego gets in the way. I’ve learned that one of the fastest ways to grow is to ask for help. But it takes practice to ask good questions and really listen to the answer.
Have you ever felt like you were falling behind?
Definitely. When I first started learning to code, I saw all these people with CS degrees and years of experience. It was easy to compare myself and feel like I was already too late. But I realized that being new can be a strength. You ask different questions. You find creative workarounds. Once I leaned into that, I stopped worrying so much about keeping up.
Also, not being from a traditional background gave me a strong sense of urgency. I didn’t assume anything was guaranteed. I treated every opportunity like it could be my last chance to prove myself.
What helps you reset when things aren’t going well?
Snowboarding. I picked it up in 2023 and now I go nearly every weekend in the winter. There’s something about being on a mountain that forces you to stop thinking about work. You have to be present. And honestly, falling a few dozen times reminds you that learning is supposed to be uncomfortable.
Earlier on, I spent a year learning how to sail. That was the first time I deliberately took on something I was completely bad at. It was humbling, but also energizing. It’s become a habit now—to always have something outside of work that I’m a beginner at. It keeps me curious.
What advice would you give someone who’s early in their career and wants to succeed?
Don’t build your entire identity around your job title or skillset. Those things can and will change. Instead, focus on becoming someone who’s adaptable. Be the person who learns fast, helps others, and solves problems. That’s way more valuable than being the smartest engineer in the room.
Also, take your rest seriously. Self-doubt and burnout creep in when you’re running on fumes. When I feel overwhelmed, I make myself wait 24 to 48 hours before acting on those thoughts. Most of the time, they fade. You don’t need to fix everything immediately.
What’s next for you?
Honestly, I don’t think in five-year plans. I think in habits. I want to keep building things that matter, keep mentoring, and keep learning from the people around me. If I’m still asking good questions and still growing in a few years, that’s a win.