Team Profiles: Braxton Lemmon

Get inspired by the talent and passion that drives Validation Cloud forward. Meet Braxton Lemmon, our skilled Software Engineer based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Q: What’s your role at Validation Cloud? Tell me about your background and experience prior to joining the team.

A: I am a software engineer at Validation Cloud and the most recent addition to the front-end development team. My primary focus is to help build polished user interfaces and user experiences for those who interact with our products. Before joining Validation Cloud, I spent about three years working at a Web3 incubator developing custom web applications for blockchain-related startups. Prior to this, my experience was mostly in building traditional web applications in the Web 2.0 space. My main interest as a software engineer has always been in front-end technology as it feels to me like the perfect blend of creativity and problem-solving. 

Q: What motivated you to join the Validation Cloud team, and in what ways do you envision your role supporting the company's mission?

A: I was hooked by the energy and excitement that I experienced at my previous role at a Web3 startup environment. I observed this same energy during my initial interactions with those here at Validation Cloud.  The team has a strong sense of enthusiasm for building cutting-edge solutions in the Web3 space, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I quickly learned from discussions with the software team that they prioritize building with the latest technologies, meaning that we can offer products that are modern and fast. Now that I am part of that team, I am able to contribute my technical skills to building and enhancing our web application for the users of our platform.

Q: How did your interest in Web3 technology develop? How do you believe Validation Cloud can leverage Web3's impact to empower organizations?

A: I first learned about Web3 and blockchain technology in 2021 when I joined a Web3 incubator company. I found it incredible to see how innovative minds were coming up with ways to take cutting-edge technology and concepts and use them to provide solutions to such a variety of issues. Validation Cloud offers products that make it easier for organizations to quickly get up and running in the Web3 space.

Q: Which team values resonate with you the most, and why?

A: It’s hard to go wrong with any of the team values, but I think for me “integrity” has a slight edge over the others. I believe that a heavy emphasis on trust within a team creates a very healthy work culture and environment. Feeling trusted as a member of a team results in feeling valued and yields high quality output and collaboration. When a team achieves a solid level of integrity, I think that the other team values (determination, commitment to excellence, and solutions orientation) naturally fall into place. Even before officially joining the Validation Cloud team, I observed and sensed a strong level of integrity among those I interacted with, something that ultimately helped in making my decision to join the company.

Q: What strategies will you implement to encourage effective collaboration with your team members in order to deliver high-performance and customizable products in staking, node operations, and data-as-a-service?

A: Being a fully-remote team means that our level of communication has to be top-notch. As an individual member of such a team, I make sure to communicate frequently and clearly with those I work with to ensure timely progress on the development of our products. As our group is small, I know that it’s vital to maintain open lines of communication across all teams to ensure effective cross-collaboration.

As a software engineer, I use a variety of resources to keep myself informed and up-to-date, but always feel like I learn the most from those I work with on a daily basis. Validation Cloud has an incredible pool of talent making things happen.

Q: What do you like to do outside of work? Any hobbies or interests outside of Web3?

A: I live about 20 minutes from the Wasatch Mountains in Utah, so I spend a lot of time rock climbing, skiing, and fishing. At home, I enjoy playing board games (Spirit Island being one of my favorites), jamming on my random assortment of instruments, and spending most evenings in my kitchen trying out new recipes.