We’re excited to introduce Mike Kyle, Senior Software Engineer, as our November Employee Spotlight. Mike’s drive to solve complex challenges and his expertise in cloud-native technologies have been a major asset to RapidDeploy. His contributions mirror the passion we read about in last month’s series spotlight with Alida Fanfoni, who brought her problem-solving mindset to the product team. Just like Alida’s work has pushed our product innovations forward, Mike’s engineering efforts have been critical in delivering cutting-edge solutions for our clients. Here’s more about Mike’s journey and the impact he’s made at RapidDeploy!
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
The challenge. Working with cloud-native technology is like a playground for innovation and creativity. It allows the engineering team to approach things differently, and that’s really exciting. Plus, the energy of a great team radiates through the entire organization, which makes it even more enjoyable.
Q: Can you share a key project you’ve worked on that had a significant impact?
One of the most impactful projects I’ve worked on was the deployment of Radius Mapping for the state of California. At the time, RapidDeploy was still in startup mode, and tackling such a massive state felt like a “David and Goliath” situation. It was our first major state deployment, and its success was critical to the success of the business. We worked hard as a team to make it happen, and I’m proud of what we accomplished.
Q: What’s one of your most memorable moments at RapidDeploy?
I was on a call with a customer and a competing vendor to address inaccuracies in the data being displayed on the system. The other vendor said it would take weeks to update their system to handle the change, but with RapidDeploy, it took about two minutes. It was a fun moment, and it really highlighted how agile we are as a company.
Q: How has your career progressed since you started at RapidDeploy?
Not many people know this, but I started at RapidDeploy as a network engineer hired to help build an IoT device. After many early morning study sessions, I transitioned to a software engineer role. The company supported me through the process, and I’ve been flourishing ever since. It’s been a rewarding journey.
Q: How would you describe the company culture at RapidDeploy?
I’d say it’s a mix of seriousness when it’s needed and humor when it’s appropriate. We focus on maintaining healthy, respectful teams. Disrespect and negativity might feel powerful in the moment, but they’re ultimately harmful. Patience, understanding, and thoughtfulness are the values we try to embody, and that’s the culture I want to help build..
Q: What do you enjoy most about working at RapidDeploy?
The purpose. I want to work for something greater than myself. As a former military member, that sense of purpose is important to me. RapidDeploy gives me the opportunity to contribute to something meaningful—helping save lives by improving emergency response.
Q: Can you share a time when teamwork was essential to your success?
For major statewide deployments, like the one we did in California, teamwork is absolutely essential. You need input and collaboration from engineering, product, project management, and many other teams to make it successful. Everyone plays a part, and it’s that cooperative effort that ensures we deliver.
Q: How does RapidDeploy support work-life balance for its employees?
I’ve always felt supported when it comes to balancing work and life. There was a time when I had a herniated disc, and it was painful just to sit at my desk. My team was understanding and gave me the flexibility I needed to step away and heal. That kind of support makes a big difference.
Q: What excites you about the future of RapidDeploy?
I want to see RapidDeploy continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in public safety. The company has already made huge strides in disrupting the industry, but there’s still more to do. We’ve faced challenges, but looking back, you realize those are the moments that helped us grow and become stronger. I’m excited to see where we go from here.
Thank you, Mike, for your dedication and innovation in helping us achieve our mission! Stay tuned for our next Agent on a Mission in December!
