Quinton Maki is a Software Engineer II at Amazon Web Services (AWS) based in San Francisco, known for his rapid career growth, mentorship, and passion for continuous learning. Self-taught and self-driven, Quinton’s journey from retail work to top-performing engineer reflects both grit and adaptability in one of the world’s most competitive fields. After completing the Hack Reactor coding bootcamp in 2021—where he graduated top of his class—Quinton stayed on to teach as a coding instructor, mentoring new engineers through their first lines of code. That experience shaped his collaborative leadership style, one that values patience, curiosity, and clarity. He later joined AWS, where his performance quickly stood out; within just nine months, he earned a promotion to Software Engineer II, the fastest promotion in his organization. Beyond his technical skills, Quinton is deeply passionate about teaching and mentorship. He currently supports and mentors over a dozen engineers, helping them navigate career growth and technical challenges with the same thoughtful, grounded approach that defines his own work. His philosophy is simple: “Success isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about learning from it, every time.” Outside of work, Quinton is an avid snowboarder and sailor, drawn to challenges that require balance, focus, and precision. Since learning to snowboard in 2023, he’s spent nearly every winter weekend carving through the slopes of Lake Tahoe, often joining the Sports Basement bus community. In 2022, he learned to sail with the Spinnaker Sailing group, finding peace and perspective on the water. For Quinton, both engineering and adventure are about growth—pushing boundaries, staying humble, and always staying open to learning something new.