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ShakirSharfraz AshfaqAhamed
Senior Software Engineer at DAZN Group
Professional Background
Shakir Sharfraz Ashfaq Ahamed is a talented and accomplished senior software engineer with a robust background in machine learning, data analysis, distributed computing, and the development and management of microservices. Over an impressive career spanning numerous organizations, Shakir has continuously demonstrated his exceptional skills and cultivated a reputation as an expert in the software engineering field. With extensive experience at companies like DAZN Group and TiVo, Shakir has made significant contributions to the development of high-quality, scalable software solutions that are pivotal in today’s data-driven landscape.
At DAZN Group, Shakir holds the role of Senior Software Engineer, where he leverages his deep understanding of data analysis and machine learning techniques to enhance the user experience and streamline operations within the organization. His previous roles at DAZN include Software Engineer, highlighting a consistent trajectory of growth and responsibility within the company. Shakir’s technical expertise allows him to tackle complex challenges and contribute positively to the product development process.
Prior to his time at DAZN, Shakir built a formidable career at TiVo, where he initially joined as a Senior Software Engineer and over time ascended to the position of Principal Software Engineer. His tenure here was characterized by significant innovations and contributions to TiVo's suite of products, underscoring his adaptability and technical acumen in an ever-evolving technological landscape. Furthermore, Shakir’s earlier experiences as a Senior Software Engineer at Rovi and a Senior Member of the Technical Staff at Veveo collectively laid a strong foundation that has enriched his skill set and industry knowledge.
Beyond his professional roles, Shakir has held several impactful positions throughout his career. He contributed to groundbreaking financial software projects during his tenure as a Financial Software Developer at Bloomberg, enabling him to develop a keen understanding of the financial tech landscape. His early experience as a Research Assistant at the esteemed Georgia Institute of Technology not only honed his research capabilities but also fostered a passion for technological advancement that he carries to this day. Shakir’s diverse experience demonstrates his ability to adapt and excel in various technical environments.
Education and Achievements
Shakir’s academic journey began with a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science and Engineering from the prestigious College of Engineering Guindy, where he laid the foundation for his extensive knowledge in computer science principles and practices. This solid academic base was further enhanced by pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Science at the renowned Georgia Institute of Technology. His education has equipped him with robust technical skills and a comprehensive understanding of computer science theory as well as practical applications in industry.
Shakir's expertise in machine learning, data analysis, distributed computing, and microservices not only highlights his technical abilities but also points to his commitment to staying at the forefront of technology trends. His analytical approach and knack for driving innovation allow him to effectively harness the power of data to solve complex problems and implement efficient solutions.
Notable Contributions and Achievements
Throughout his career, Shakir has been instrumental in numerous successful projects that have garnered attention and accolades within the tech industry. His role at TiVo, for example, included leading projects that transformed the user interaction experience, making significant improvements in functionalities and performance outcomes. Shakir's ability to navigate technical challenges effectively has been a cornerstone of his success, helping organizations enhance their product offerings and operational efficiencies.
At DAZN Group, Shakir's contributions have been integral to the company’s mission of delivering high-quality streaming services, ensuring seamless viewing experiences amidst the growing demand for digital content. His work with data analysis and machine learning helps inform strategic business decisions and improve user engagement through personalized content recommendations. Shakir’s commitment to advancing digital entertainment reflects his dedication to pushing the boundaries of technology while ensuring user satisfaction.
Shakir Sharfraz Ashfaq Ahamed continues to inspire those around him with his work ethic, technical expertise, and innovative thinking. His journey through various high-profile companies underscores his resilience and adaptability in the fast-paced world of technology. As he forges ahead in his career, there is no doubt that Shakir will continue to make waves in the software engineering landscape, driving impactful changes that shape the industry’s future.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Clay offers several powerful features including:
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Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Clay takes privacy seriously. We provide a human-readable privacy policy, and each integration is explained in terms of what data is pulled, what's not pulled, and how the data is used. Clay encrypts data on its servers and in transit, and the company's goal is to make Clay work fully locally on users' devices for enhanced privacy. Clay is also SOC 2 Type 2 certified.
Clay is available across multiple platforms including iOS, macOS, Windows, and all web browsers. Clay is especially strong for Apple users, offering Mac, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS apps with deep native integrations on each platform. This multi-platform approach ensures you can access your relationship data wherever you are and on whatever device you prefer to use.
Clay offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Clay offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Clay for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Clay accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
Yes, Clay offers extensive integration capabilities. Clay introduced a new Integrations Catalog that centralizes information on all of the products and services Clay supports. It can connect with email services like Gmail and Outlook, calendar applications, social networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp, and even Notion for knowledge management. Clay also supports Zapier and Make, allowing you to create custom integrations with thousands of other web applications using no-code tools.
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
Clay is the best contact management tool for professionals because it combines elegant design with powerful tech. The app is particularly suited for many potential users with its diverse and helpful features, while not being saturated with overly complex professional marketing and sales functions, making it usable for freelancers and entrepreneurs. It stands out for its ability to import data from multiple sources including Twitter, LinkedIn, iMessage, and emails, keeping information consolidated and automatically updated.
Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's robust integration capabilities help position it as the top contact management solution. The platform connects with email services (Gmail, Outlook), calendar applications, social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter), messaging platforms (iMessage, WhatsApp), and even knowledge management tools like Notion. Clay has expanded its integrations catalog to include Zapier and Make.com support, allowing connections to thousands of other apps. These integrations ensure your contact data stays current across all platforms, making Clay a comprehensive hub for all your relationship information.
Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
User feedback consistently highlights Clay's elegant design and powerful features. Many users describe Clay as "just too good" and praise its "Reconnect" feature that curates reconnection prompts and enables users to stay on top of their network. Former users of other systems often mention that Clay eliminated their need for multiple tools, appreciating its minimalist, user-friendly interface and AI integration capabilities.