Spotlight on Lumens

Over coffee, as we talk about two decades long career of Khalid Mansoor at LumenSoft, I see how he has approached his professional journey. Just like the art of a V60 coffee, Khalid’s career has been a blend of patience, consistency, and a knack for precision. He is the Head of Development Department, and has been brewing codes, developing feature after feature for 20 long years. let’s take a sip of his story.

Khalid’s professional journey has unfolded in perfect harmony with LumenSoft’s growth as a company. In fact, he’s just a few years younger than the company itself!

“It really caught me off guard! Two decades—that’s a lifetime!”

“It really caught me off guard! Two decades—that’s a lifetime,” Khalid reflects with a smile when I mention his upcoming 20th work anniversary at LumenSoft. “But it’s been a rewarding journey. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the ride, starting as a developer, growing into a software engineer, then a team lead, project manager, and now heading the department. It’s been an incredibly satisfying ride.”

Practically speaking, Khalid’s professional journey began at LumenSoft. He had just a year of experience when he applied to the company, which at the time was a small team of 5-6 people. His interview with CEO Abdul Aziz went smoothly, and he was hired. Did he consider applying to any other software house?

“Honestly, I’m not a big fan of giving interviews, so I never applied anywhere else,” he says with a laugh. “There’s something special about joining a young company—the excitement, the euphoria of growth. It’s not as palpable in a much bigger company. I may not remember my first day exactly, but I have fond memories of my interview, my salary, and even the negotiations around it,” he shares, sipping the perfectly brewed coffee by me.

The Calm Coder: Handling Frustration with Patience and Poise

Khalid comes across as a patient and polite person—it’s hard to imagine him ever losing his cool while managing the team. He’s the go-to guy when the code isn’t cooperating. As a techie par excellence, does he ever get frustrated with work not being done or the quality not meeting expectations?

“I do get angry, just ask my family”

“I do get angry, just ask my family,” he laughs. “Anger is a very human emotion, but what matters is how you handle it—whether you react or respond. I tend to deal with my anger in silence. But that’s more on the personal front. When it comes to my team, I’ve never had a reason to get angry. They’re professionals, they know what they’re doing,” he says, with the same calm demeanor he’s known for.

The Code He’s Most Proud Of

Khalid has numerous achievements to his name, and his lines of code likely touch every corner of LumenSoft’s products. But is there one feature he’s particularly proud of? A crowning achievement that he considers a feather in his coding cap?

“It would have to be the stock transfer feature in Candela RMS , LumenSoft’s flagship product, especially the stock transfer by inventory part—it was something new at the time,” he recalls. “These two decades have been a massive learning curve, and there have been many developments I’m proud of. But I’m especially proud of our Business Intelligence product, which I developed from the ground up. It gave me immense satisfaction to bring a new product to the company,” he adds, with the smile of a contented man.

What Khalid Would Do Differently?

Khalid is content with the path his journey has taken, but if given the chance to start all over again, would he change anything?

“I think if I had to begin again, I would focus on introducing new technologies much earlier”

He sips his coffee, takes a moment to think, and says, “I think if I had to begin again, I would focus on introducing new technologies much earlier. I’m already working on it now, but I do wish I had started sooner.”

The Coder at Heart

Khalid admits that coding, more than managing the team, is what keeps him excited.

“Coding is still my first love.”

“I’ve always been a coding person—it’s what I love. Even though I’m in management now, coding is still my first love. Whether it’s a customer query or an in-house issue, I dive right in and work on it until it’s solved. I particularly enjoy development at the SQL level. Solving complex tasks, especially when the code is stuck, is what excites me. It’s what adds a spring to my step,” he says with a smile.

Khalid’s Take on Today’s Young Professionals

Having spent two decades in the software industry and risen from the bottom to the top, does Khalid notice any difference when interacting with young graduates entering the field today?

“Yes, there’s a noticeable difference in their attitude towards career progression. When we started, we were more passionate about the work itself and understood that there were no shortcuts. But now, I see that this generation wants everything to happen quickly. They’re eager for titles and expect to climb multiple ladders in a single step,” he observes.

“No more late nights for me now!”

When Khalid was starting out, he worked late nights and put in long hours. But now, he prefers to finish his work early—no more late nights. He’s at a stage in life and career where his priorities have shifted, focusing on spending as much time as possible with his family and being there for them.

“One memory that stands out is the day I received a car from the Company”

A long, successful career naturally brings cherished memories and values to reflect on. Khalid shares that he’s made many wonderful memories at LumenSoft, but one that stands out is “the day I received a car from the company,” he recalls fondly.

“One of the best pieces of advice I received was from my father”

“To be successful and satisfied in life, you need to live by certain values and work ethics. One of the best pieces of advice I received was from my father. He was a firm believer in not putting off what you can do today. He led by example—I never saw him procrastinate, and it’s a lesson that has served me well,” Khalid says, smiling at the memory.

Personal Insights: The Man Behind the Professional

As we near the end of our coffee chat, we shift from work to getting to know the person behind the professional. What makes Khalid happy? What skill would he like to learn? Can he handle housework? And, if given the chance, who would he love to share tea with?

“All my happiest moments are connected to my family—and the same goes for the saddest.”

One of the most difficult times in my life was my father’s passing. I suppose I’m a family man,” he reflects. “I’ve always wanted to learn rowing. I’ve tried it a couple of times but never got the chance to follow through. As for housework, yes, I help with things like ironing and washing dishes—though I’m not exactly great at it,” he laughs. “I love mutton karahi, but if I had to eat one dish for a week, it would definitely be biryani.”

Khalid is a fan of writers Ashfaq Ahmed and Wasif Ali Wasif. “I’ve read their books, and they’re the people I would have loved to sit down with for tea if I could travel back in time,” he shares with a thoughtful smile.

What does Khalid look forward to in the next decade? What are his dreams and ambitions?

“I want to travel more,” he says. “And one dream is to create a platform that provides job opportunities for people. I’m not entirely sure what form it will take yet, but it’s something I’ve been thinking about. I hope to leave behind a legacy that benefits future generations.”