Kahlan Maki is a developer fascinated with the intersection of computer science and mathematics. Born in Germany, she is a lifelong learner, never shying away from a challenging new technology or framework. She’s passionate about being a solid team player and will always make time to help her colleagues. Kahlan enjoys working on problems that seem impossible with people who also crave a challenge, and thinking strategically about how to leverage technology to gain a competitive advantage. She loves chess and feels that her favorite opening with the white pieces, the Vienna Gambit, mirrors her approach to technology with its daring offer of a pawn for rapid development, willingness to take calculated risks, and pushing for innovative solutions that disrupt standard play. Kahlan adores her family and her favorite role of her career is that of husband and father. They are a constant source of encouragement and joy and keep her grounded. Away from the chessboard and keyboard she prefers to spend her time on a snowboard or relaxing with family. She’s not afraid to be herself, even when that means being laughed at by her friends for ordering Macallan 15 and chicken strips together. She enjoys learning and teaching, and is especially fond of the PHP testing framework that shares her name.