Spark of Passion in Cuba

Juan Santana’s passion for programming began during his upbringing in Cuba, where he became captivated by the idea of becoming an engineer.

While attending university, Juan developed an innovative mobile app called ¿Ke hay pa hoy?, which promoted cultural events across the country. What made the app especially remarkable was that it functioned during a time when mobile internet access in Cuba was limited to email. The app’s success earned Juan an invitation from the U.S. government to present his work to Congress and visit Silicon Valley, where he met with leading figures in the tech industry.

Journey to the U.S. and Makai Digital

After graduating, Juan moved to the United States to pursue his dream of becoming a software engineer. He gained valuable experience before joining Makai Digital in January 2024.

Since then, Juan has contributed as a full-stack engineer on a key initiative with Royal Caribbean, helping to modernize and unify the Booking platforms for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise lines. His talent and leadership were quickly recognized, and he was recently promoted to Tech Lead. In this role, he oversees a team of three engineers and is responsible for delivering critical components of the project.

Juan shares that what he values most about Makai Digital is the combination of intellectually stimulating work and the opportunity to collaborate with some of the most skilled engineers he’s ever worked with. He’s excited about the opportunity to grow with the company and take on increasingly impactful roles.

Outside of work, you’ll find Juan at the jiu-jitsu dojo, on the ski slopes, or exploring new cities and cultures through travel.

We’re proud to have Juan as part of the Makai Digital team and look forward to seeing all the incredible things he’ll accomplish next!