Employee Spotlight: Kirk Bobash

In the rapidly evolving tech industry, longevity is rare. Yet, Kirk Bobash brings an unusual breadth and depth to Localize, shaped by over three decades at his previous company, where he navigated the shifts from floppy disks to complex content management systems. Kirk’s journey into tech started in high school, where he was lucky enough to have access to one of the early mini-computers, sparking his interest in programming. From that foundational experience, he pursued a Computer Science degree and worked at Jersey Cow Software, which pioneered language-learning software—a serendipitous prelude to his role at Localize. His work evolved from coding to management, and he eventually became a generalist in the truest sense, deeply experienced across multiple programming languages and product development stages.

A Multifaceted Role at Localize

Today, Kirk wears many hats at Localize, from customer support to coding and product design, always with an eye on improvement. His generalist background makes him an invaluable resource as he bridges technical expertise with customer success, providing solutions that shield the engineering team from unnecessary interruptions. One of his recent innovations is a Chrome extension designed to help identify blocked content, which vastly simplifies troubleshooting for the team and improves the customer experience. “Our customers want translations to work seamlessly,” he explains, “and this tool lets us instantly pinpoint and solve issues. This reduces our support load and allows our developers to focus on building new features.”

Problem-Solving Beyond the Office

Kirk’s drive to innovate isn’t just confined to the office. His background in martial arts exemplifies his dedication to problem-solving in all aspects of his life. While at Rutgers, he studied Taekwondo under a second-degree black belt, later advancing to a second-degree black belt himself. After a long hiatus, he rediscovered his passion for martial arts, enrolling in Okinawan-style karate called American Ishhinryu. Starting over as a white belt, Kirk has advanced to a third-degree black belt. Along the way, Kirk found that karate helped him understand his physical limitations and adapt techniques to support his health.

The parallels between Kirk’s karate practice and his work at Localize are striking. In his dojo, he had to write a paper on adapting martial arts training for individuals with disabilities—a task that required him to think creatively to ensure that all participants could succeed despite physical limitations. This problem-solving mindset directly translates to his approach to product development and customer support at Localize, where he often encounters complex challenges requiring innovative solutions. For example, Kirk’s understanding of various programming languages and platforms helps him tailor solutions that fit each client’s unique setup. “I love the challenge of solving problems, whether it's through coding or adapting martial arts techniques. It’s all about finding a way to make things work.”

Collaboration and Advocacy for User Experience

Kirk’s ability to wear many hats also makes him an asset in Localize’s collaborative environment. He thrives in design meetings, where his voice as an advocate for the user experience is highly valued. He contributes insights on potential customer pain points and recommends product tweaks to improve usability. His collaborative approach is particularly evident in his support for customer success managers (CSMs), equipping them with technical knowledge to streamline processes for clients. He’s even helped CSMs and Account Executives close sales by advising on technical setups and customizing solutions to meet specific client needs.

The Value of Being a Generalist

Reflecting on his years in the industry, Kirk believes that being a generalist is key to his role at Localize, enabling him to troubleshoot issues across diverse systems. “I’m not a specialist in any one language,” he says, “but I know a little bit about a lot of systems. That’s crucial because our customers use everything from Drupal to React, and each platform has its quirks.” This approach has allowed Kirk to support customers without constantly relying on the engineering team, a role he relishes as it keeps him engaged with coding without detracting from development resources.

Kirk’s commitment to continuous improvement doesn’t stop at product features. He actively finds ways to make Localize’s backend more efficient, spearheading tweaks to API functions and import functionalities that streamline the user experience. For example, he recently advocated for a modification in the REST API to allow customers to submit both source and target language phrases in a single call. This small change has significantly enhanced the API’s usability, particularly for clients with pre-existing translations, underscoring Kirk’s focus on practical solutions that benefit both customers and Localize’s internal teams.

Outside work, Kirk’s family life is rooted in the outdoors. His son, George, has a passion for nature, leading him to study marine sciences in college, an interest Kirk wholeheartedly supports. When he’s not at work or in the dojo, Kirk can likely be found enjoying the outdoors with his family or in his gardens, a reminder of the balance he maintains between his technical pursuits and personal life.

Kirk Bobash exemplifies the values of Localize—dedicated to both personal and professional growth, he’s a problem solver through and through. Whether he’s coding a Chrome extension, adapting martial arts techniques, or advising on customer success strategies, Kirk’s contributions are marked by a drive to make things better for everyone around him. His journey is a testament to the value of curiosity, adaptability, and a relentless commitment to improvement—a journey that continues to enrich Localize and everyone who has the privilege of working alongside him.

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