MATT LEBRUN /
Matt Lebrun

Curriculum
vitae.

Technology and engineering leader. Educator. Community builder.

01 /

Overview

My work has moved from IT support and enterprise applications through web development, Python engineering, SaaS platforms, and technology leadership. Across those roles, I’ve been responsible for understanding unfamiliar systems, improving how they are built and operated, and helping colleagues make sound technical decisions.

I currently lead technology and engineering work at TotalRewards Software. Alongside that role, I co-founded CodeHappy, where I design and facilitate technical training, and PythonPH, where I help develop volunteer capability and community programs. Engineering, teaching, and volunteer leadership are different kinds of work, but each has pushed me to think more carefully about how people build understanding, exercise judgment, and take responsibility for shared outcomes.

Areas of practice

Engineering leadership and mentoring · Software architecture and technical strategy · Python web/backend systems · SaaS engineering · Developer tooling and delivery practices · Cloud infrastructure and operations · Technical curriculum design and facilitation · Community and volunteer development

02 /

Professional
experience

2022—PresentFeb 2022–present
TotalRewards Software

Director of Technology

Responsible for technology direction and engineering team development for an enterprise SaaS product, working across architecture, delivery, reliability, and longer-term technical planning.

  • Guide technical design and planning, balancing product needs with security, maintainability, integration complexity, and operational risks.
  • Develop engineering practices for more frequent, engineer-owned delivery, including staged rollouts, testing, and clearer technical decisions.
  • Mentor engineers, support hiring and onboarding, and encourage ownership and direct collaboration with stakeholders.
  • Continue hands-on investigation while creating more room for the team to make and explain its own decisions.
2017—2022Oct 2017–Feb 2022
TotalRewards Software

Lead Developer

Worked across full-stack product development, Python/Flask services, data handling, authentication and access controls, background processing, and production support.

  • Supported a cloud-hosted application and its operational workflows; investigated defects, incidents, and system behavior.
  • Contributed to development setup, testing, issue tracking, releases, documentation, and technical mentoring.
2017Mar–Oct
Wealth Access International Holdings

Python Developer

Worked on Python research and development, backend automation, and web-data processing in an exploratory engineering role.

2013—2017Apr 2013–Feb 2017
Save22 / BOB FTW

Software Developer → Senior Software Developer

Built and maintained Python/Django web systems for collecting, processing, normalizing, and presenting retail price and promotional data. Also worked on a hybrid mobile application for field use in the Australian mining sector.

  • Worked with Scrapy, backend jobs, databases, caching, and container-based workflows in a small startup team.
  • Helped recruit, onboard, coach, and review work with interns and newer developers.
2012—2013Jan 2012–Apr 2013
Search Opt Media

Software Developer

Developed and maintained web applications and client websites using PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, and WordPress, including troubleshooting, customization, and web-data collection.

2011—2012Apr 2011–Aug 2012
Smart Communications

Software Development Analyst

Created and maintained Perl and regular-expression-based scripts for transforming telecom call-detail data used in fraud-analysis workflows.

2010—2011Jul 2010–Mar 2011
Asurion / Techlog Center Philippines

Software Engineer

Customized and supported Microsoft Dynamics AX applications using X++, collaborating on requirements and enterprise software changes.

2007—2010Dec 2007–Jun 2010
Global Idealogy

Junior Developer → Senior Developer

Worked on enterprise applications, reports, extensions, and support in Microsoft Dynamics AX and related technologies. Participated in a client deployment at the Philippine Stock Exchange and gained experience with ERP and accounting workflows.

2007Aug–Dec
Type-It-Right

System Administrator

Provided systems, networking, and user-support work within a small IT team while completing undergraduate studies.

Early work and placements

Research Assistant, Don Bosco Technical College (2004–2005); Call Center Agent, Teleperformance Manila (2005); IT Trainee / OJT, CIIF Oil Mills Group (2006–2007); and Student Assistant Scholar, Don Bosco Technical College (2006–2007). These positions overlapped with college and involved educational media, customer support, help-desk work, an internal PHP portal, and administrative support.

03 /

Teaching &
training

2018—Present

CodeHappy

Co-founder & Principal Trainer
codehappy.ph

Co-founded with Micaela Reyes. Our work developed from software services into a practical technical training practice. I design and facilitate programs for learners with different levels of experience, including teams and organizations.

  • Develop and teach workshops in Python, Linux, Git, data processing, and software development practices.
  • Design curricula around practical tasks, worked examples, guided exercises, and gradually increased learner independence.
  • Adapt examples, pacing, and facilitation to participants’ contexts, with emphasis on skills they can transfer beyond the workshop.

Other teaching engagements

Python Instructor, iACADEMY. Developed and taught undergraduate Python elective material.

JavaScript Trainer, Active Learning. Part-time introductory instruction in a structured training program.

Zamboanga Tech Caravan. Python workshop with Micaela Reyes.

KLab Cyscorpions. Python training delivered through Save22.

Energy Development Corporation. Python and data-processing training for technical staff, with collaborators.

Community instruction. Beginners’ Python summer workshop (2014) and volunteer DjangoGirls coaching (2015).

04 /

Community
leadership

2013—Present

PythonPH

Co-founder · Volunteer training and engagement
python.ph

Helped establish PythonPH as a nonprofit with fellow organizers and have continued contributing to the Philippine Python community through meetups, conferences, regional partnerships, and volunteer development. I have held historical trustee and leadership responsibilities, including serving as president; my current focus is volunteer training and engagement.

  • Contributed to PyCon Philippines and PyCon APAC events through technical programs, talk review, speaker invitations, partnerships, and organizer collaboration.
  • Supported regional organizers and communities beyond Metro Manila while respecting the leadership and work of local teams.
  • Helped create ways for volunteers to learn through contribution, receive mentoring, and take on wider responsibilities, including work associated with Kaizend.
  • Collaborated on community continuity and educational programs, including jointly developing the 2026 PythonAsia Education Summit program with Briane Samson.
05 /

Speaking &
contributions

2024Conference talk

Maximizing Learning Efficiency for Busy Pythonistas

PyCon Malaysia · August 2024

Approaches to learning technical material while balancing limited time and practical responsibilities.

2024Panel

Python in APAC: Addressing Industry Challenges through Community Collaboration

PyCon Philippines · February 2024

A panel on regional industry and community collaboration.

2023Co-presented

One Does Not Simply Create a Lasting Tech Community: Our 10-Year Journey…

PyCon APAC / PyCon JP · October 2023 · with Micaela Reyes

Lessons from sustaining PythonPH, including volunteers, succession, leadership responsibilities, and burnout.

2023Co-presented

(PythonPH) One Does Not Simply Create a Lasting Tech Community

PyCon Taiwan · September 2023 · with Micaela Reyes

PythonPH’s first decade of community building and the challenges of sustaining volunteer-led work.

Conference session
2021Recorded talk

How Python Supercharged My Maker’s Journey

PyCon APAC Thailand · November 2021

Maker experiments and experiences using Python alongside personal technical projects.

06 /

Independent
work

Technical work

I maintain a personal homelab for exploring Linux, self-hosted infrastructure, local AI, developer tools, and systems architecture. I also maintain experimental software and learning projects, some of which are public on GitHub.

Earlier work includes the collaborative Runspots hackathon prototype (2016), Python game and maker experiments, and small utilities for data, learning, and developer workflows.

GitHub

Consulting & ventures

Alongside employment, I have taken on occasional web-development and software-related engagements, particularly PHP/WordPress customization and related client work in the early 2010s. With Micaela Reyes, I helped develop Code Happy Labs, an earlier freelance software-services identity that preceded CodeHappy’s training practice.

Parallel creative ventures included Guhit Adhika (illustrated apparel, around 2008–2010) and Elamat Food Finds (a food-stall collaboration in 2011), contributing illustration, visual production, planning, and promotional work.

07 /

Education &
recognition

Education

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology

Don Bosco Technical College · 2003–2008

President of the BSIT Society and year-level representative on the Student Council; also held research, IT support, and student-assistant roles during college.

Recognition

Python Software Foundation

Fellow · 2019
Community Service Award · 2025

Continuing education

Selected completed courses

Uncommon Sense Teaching
Deep Teaching Solutions · Coursera · February 2025

Generative AI for Leaders
Vanderbilt University · Coursera · February 2025

Professional affiliation

International Society of the Learning Sciences

Member · 2025–present