Code Stories: Nadia Odundayo

This post originally appeared on the old blackgirl.tech site.

How old are you?

23

How long have you been coding?

20 September 2015 will be my 2 year anniversary of full-time coding. I started the Makers Academy course on 20 September 2013.

What languages are you most fluent in?

Ruby. I’ve done some Go at work and am currently trying to pick up Swift.

What level are you at? (i.e. junior/mid/senior)

Junior-mid I’d say, but I like to stay away from such labels.

What is your earliest memory of a computer?

I remember having an old PC at home when I was younger and accessing the Internet through AOL Dial Up. I remember learning how to recognise by the funny sounds whether I was about to make a successful connection or not.

What do you find most challenging about coding?

The patience and concentration required to fix obscure bugs.

You’ve also got to look after yourself — sleep well, eat well, and drink enough water.

How do you overcome these challenges?

It’s important to force yourself to take regular breaks, to step back from the keyboard and re-assess the problem. Constantly ask your team members for their opinions — there is such power in having ‘fresh eyes’ on a problem. You’ve also got to look after yourself — sleep well, eat well, and drink enough water. The latter two are easier if you manage the first one. I’m currently at Pivotal Labs and we pair 8 hours a day. If you’re not looking after yourself, you’ll struggle to survive the week.

What has been your favourite thing to build?

I’m currently working on a mobile app that auto-generates running routes for you. This has been exciting to work on since it’s given me a real opportunity to dig into Swift as well as implement a solution to something that’s been a pain point of mine.

Why did you choose a bootcamp as opposed to a degree?

By the time I realised that programming was potentially for me, I had already pretty much finished my degree. I studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and absolutely loved it — I’m glad I got to attend a bootcamp and, in some way, experience the best of both worlds.

Also, I didn’t really ‘choose’ to attend a bootcamp. I won a free place at Makers Academy and even then I still wasn’t sure it was the right thing for me to do.

The existence of bootcamps means that anyone, regardless of academic background and achievements, has the ability to transition into the software industry. I don’t think bootcamps and Computer Science degrees are an interchangeable choice. They both offer rather different value propositions and someone interested in one might not suit the other.

Coming from a non — tech background, how did you find the shift into tech?

Surprisingly easy. I would have never thought that the transition to a full-time engineering role could be as short as 3 months.

Where did you find the most support?

In the Makers Academy team, fellow cohort members, and alumni network.

Did you find not having a (Computer Science) degree hindered your job opportunities?

Not at all. 6 weeks into the Makers course I started interviewing at Pivotal Labs, one of the best software consultancies in the world. Events such as ‘Silicon Milkroundabout’ really help make a whole host of cool tech jobs accessible to those who didn’t go down the traditional Computer Science route.

Employers are recognising that they need to start to cultivate junior talent — this means that they are open-minded to a whole host of backgrounds. What you know becomes less important and the focus shifts to your potential and capacity to learn new concepts quickly.

What are the best ways to get work experience in development?

Reach out to people that you know who are working in the industry. Attend meetups that interest you and develop meaningful relationships with other attendees.

Something to keep in mind is that I often see people going for work experience when they could be securing a full-time role. It’s nearly always a confidence issue. If you’re out there searching for work experience, be sure to ask yourself if you owe it to yourself to be going for developer roles instead.

What has been your biggest accomplishment in development?

Getting a job at Pivotal Labs immediately after graduating from Makers Academy.

What advice would you give to women and girls of colour wanting to enter the industry?

The same advice I’d say to anyone: Go for it and have confidence in yourself. The first step to achieving is believing that you can do it. Distance yourself from anyone who discourages you.

Nadia can be found on twitter at @nodundayo and on medium: Nadia Odunayo