One of the things we love most about Vibe is the opportunity to work alongside such a diverse and inspiring community of people.
This month, we’re putting the spotlight on Vibe member, Teis Jayaswal a Software Engineer at NormalVR. If you’ve spent time around Vibe, you’ve likely seen Teis at a Waffle Wednesday, People & Pizza, or focused on his work while still making time to connect with the people around him.
Dive in with us as we get to know more about Teis, his journey from Denmark to Kitsap, the work he does in the gaming industry, and the values that inspire how he shows up for both his team and our community.
From Denmark to Poulsbo: Meet Teis!
Teis’s journey started in Denmark, where he was born before his family moved to the United States when he was young. He grew up in Portland, Oregon, and now proudly calls Poulsbo home.
Life on the Kitsap Peninsula has been a great fit for him. When he’s not working, you’ll often find him taking cold dips in the Puget Sound, biking through Port Gamble, or exploring the area’s many beautiful outdoor spaces.
At home, Teis enjoys a wide range of hobbies. Board games, building Legos, trying new recipes, watching the Seahawks on Sundays, and playing MarioKart or Overcooked are all on the list. He describes himself as someone who enjoys both active and creative outlets and is usually willing to try something new.
What are you currently working on in your career?
Teis: I’m a Software Engineer at a company called NormalVR. I spend most of my time working on our product, Normcore, which is essentially a Unity plugin that lets developers easily add networking and multiplayer features into their games and apps. Specifically, I work on things like matchmaking and the APIs that make multiplayer actually work under the hood. I also get to spend some time working on the games we produce in-house, which is a fun change of pace from the core plugin work.
Finding Connection in Fully Remote Work
When asked about a recent career win, Teis didn’t point to a major project launch or technical achievement. Instead, he shared something more personal.
Because his company is fully remote, work can sometimes feel isolating. Conversations can easily become focused only on tasks and deadlines. Recently, Teis has made a conscious effort to connect with coworkers on a more personal level by asking about their lives, finding shared interests, and getting to know them beyond their job titles.
“Basically, treating people like people and not just names in Slack,” he explains.
What’s a piece of advice you actually live by?
Teis: I try to remind myself each morning to choose joy, patience, and kindness. It’s easy to wake up groggy and ride that grumpy energy all day if you let it. But that doesn’t actually get me anywhere good. It doesn’t bring me joy, and it doesn’t bring any goodness into my community. People feed off each other’s energy, whether we mean to or not, so I try to be the one bringing energy that’s kind, patient, and joyful, even on the mornings where that takes a little extra effort. I think that kindness and patience can ripple out to the rest of the community.
“If I had to sum myself up, I’d say I’m easygoing, very much still a kid at heart, and happiest when I’m outside or making something with my hands.” – Teis Jayaswal
One thing we all know to be true is that the people at Vibe make the space, what’s your favorite way to connect with other members at Vibe?
Teis: I really enjoy the monthly events Vibe puts on. Things like Free First Fridays, Waffle Wednesdays, and People and Pizza. They’re an awesome excuse to step away from the desk, put faces to names, and actually get to know people beyond a quick wave or nod. I’ve started really looking forward to them as something to orient my month around, and they’ve become one of my favorite parts of being part of the community here. I know I’ll get to catch up with people I’ve met before and also meet some new people.
Tell us a fun fact! If your work day had a theme song what would it be?
Teis: Anyone who knows me well knows I’m a little obsessed with The Dark Knight Trilogy. Specifically, I’ve seen The Dark Knight Rises well over 20 times at this point. Hans Zimmer did the soundtrack, and I’ve been listening to it on and off obsessively since the movie came out 14 years ago. There’s a track called “Rise” that I think is the perfect theme song for my work style: it builds steadily, ebbs and flows, and knows when to pull back before pushing forward again which mirrors how I like to work. I use the Pomodoro technique: four deep-work sessions ranging from 25–45 minutes, with 5-minute breaks in between each one, so I can stay focused without burning out.
Whether he’s building multiplayer experiences for developers around the world, exploring the natural beauty of Kitsap County, or taking time to connect with fellow members at Vibe, Teis approaches life with curiosity, kindness, and a genuine appreciation for community. His mindset makes him a natural fit at Vibe, where relationships and connection are just as important as the work happening at our desks. From joining community events and sharing conversations over pizza or waffles to welcoming new faces into the fold, Teis embodies the spirit of what makes this community special. We’re grateful to have Teis as part of Vibe, his story is a reminder that coworking is about so much more than having a place to work! It’s about finding connection, building relationships, and being part of a community that helps us grow both personally and professionally.