Tobin joined Amilia in 2014 after working in financial software, an environment he described as “all numbers, sort of boring,” and lacking a real sense of purpose. What drew him in was Amilia’s focus on empowering small, community-based organizations.
“Our clients were these recreation centers that were deeply involved with their local communities. They didn’t have the resources to build their own systems. It felt like we were helping them do something they couldn’t do on their own.”Tobin Skinner, Software Development Team Lead
That meaningful connection between product and purpose is what continues to motivate Tobin more than a decade later.
Since stepping into a team lead role in 2019, Tobin has brought a people-centric mindset to his work, drawing from his background in education as an English as a Second Language instructor and his natural interest in mentorship.
Whether someone is aiming to deepen their technical skills, take on new responsibilities, or explore leadership in an informal way, Tobin helps them identify goals and define what growth can look like.
“I try to make sure that every developer sets a continuous learning goal for themselves. Right now, I’m supporting multiple members of my team as they continue to grow and move forward in ways that make sense for them.”Tobin
He meets regularly with team members, in collaboration with Amilia’s Talent and Culture team, to review their progress, adjust plans, and offer coaching tailored to their needs. That might mean helping someone explore new opportunities, take ownership of a project, or build the confidence to step into a bigger role.
Fostering a culture of learning is one of Tobin’s top priorities. Within one of his teams, he helped launch a regular space for developers to dive into new technologies and share knowledge in a collaborative setting.
“We explore different technologies as a group. It helps us keep learning and fuels our curiosity.”Tobin
In addition to team-led learning, Amilia dedicates 10 percent of employee time to learning. This gives developers the space to try out new tools or experiment with ideas outside of their regular sprint work, supporting both individual growth and long-term innovation.
Tobin currently leads two engineering teams whose work touches many parts of the platform, including accessibility. They play a key role in embedding inclusive design principles into Amilia’s products and making sure accessibility is considered at every stage of development.
A recent project aimed at improving a key user experience required close coordination with Product, Design, and several engineering teams. “Collaboration isn’t a side task here. It’s how we build. Everyone’s input matters,” he explains.
That spirit of collaboration extends beyond day-to-day work. Tobin’s team connects through bonding activities, Amilia’s holiday party, and regular Amilia 5@7.
“I really like that Amilia encourages people to hang out socially together. We’re generally like-minded, and it’s easy to connect.”Tobin
That spirit carries into daily rituals too. Tobin’s teams hold regular standups, monthly operations reviews, and syncs with other departments to stay aligned. One of those touchpoints is with Amilia’s Customer Care team, where insights from the front lines help shape what the engineering team builds next.
“It’s a great way to stay connected to what clients are actually experiencing. “It makes the work feel more immediate and relevant.”Tobin
For Tobin, Amilia’s support systems make a difference not just in how he works, but in how he leads.
Whether it’s mentoring the next generation of developers, launching cross-functional initiatives, or learning something new with his team, Tobin is proof that growth at Amilia isn’t just encouraged, it’s built into the way we work.
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