Navigating the Software Landscape
Based on an episode with Rwynn Christian 🇸🇷
Welcome to Latinx in Power, a podcast aiming to help to demystify tech, the way we do that is by interviewing Latinx leaders all over the world to hear their perspective and insights.
We talked with Rwynn Christian (he/him) is an experienced Software Engineer at ReflexSystems and an IT Consultant with a Master’s degree in Computer Science from The University of Texas in Austin, specializing in Software Systems Engineering and Business Analysis.
In this episode, Rwynn shares about his professional engineering journey, providing career advice and sharing practical tips for balancing roles as a consultant, instructor, and software engineer.
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What does it mean to be a Caribbean person for you?
Being Caribbean in Suriname is like being a part of this big, colorful tapestry of cultures and traditions. We’ve got a little bit of everything here, from indigenous tribes that have called this land home for many centuries to the descendants of the African slaves who are my ancestors.
We have Indian immigrants, Japanese immigrants, Chinese immigrants, and so many more. It’s like a melting pot of cultures, and it’s all coming together as we learn from each other to create something truly unique. Something beautiful about this is, for example, the food. It reflects our diverse heritage. We have music too. That’s very great. We have infectious rhythms of the year to the soulful melodies of now. It’s what unites us and uplifts our spirits.
We also have faced our challenges here in Suriname, similar to other countries from political turmoil to economic troubles. But we always find a way back, and there’s resilience and strength in the people here, and it’s the same as what you can see in people of other Caribbean countries, and that’s truly inspiring to see.
Being Caribbean in Suriname is about embracing our diversity, celebrating our culture, and facing whatever comes our way with a smile on our face and the rhythm in our heart. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than in the Caribbean community. We have a great diverse community here, lots of people, lots of different cultures, and it’s amazing to learn from each other. That’s something that always fascinates me.
Can you tell us about your professional journey? How was your process like getting to engineering?
My professional journey into the tech world kicked off at RR Solutions and Advisory. That was back in 2018. I worked on creating desktop applications using Windows for WPF. It was a really invaluable experience. I was primarily tasked with designing and creating applications. I was the lead engineer there, so it was my responsibility to design the architecture and also do everything that is needed for the application to run as smoothly as possible.
Then I decided to spice things up. I went to Trust Bank Ambala, where I was a data analyst. I crunched numbers, delved into databases, and it was a whole new ballgame, but I loved every minute of it. And then there was Blue Dots Technology, where I worked as a Java software engineer. Also different than what I was used to. It was also a very great experience. I learned a lot during that job.
After that, I was so eager to share my knowledge with the role. I went into creating courses on Udemy, where I created courses on database fundamentals, advanced Transact-SQL topics such as window functions, you name it. And witnessing students learn from my courses was immensely rewarding. And it also inspired me to do more.
Now then I found myself wearing multiple hats at Dataseer. That’s the only data center in Suriname. We’re also operating in the Caribbean. So people in other countries in the Caribbean might have heard of Dataseer. I had a lot of tasks there. I was tasked with resolving operational issues from administering SQL Server for databases and even providing web development support for our clients. I was all over the place juggling cPanel on Microsoft 365 and diving into Power BI for some serious data analysis.
Somewhere in between, I also created a YouTube channel, named it Keep Learning IT, to share my knowledge. The things I’ve picked up along the way about programming and data analysis. It was a way for me to connect to the outside role.
Fast forward today I’m rocking the remote life at Reflex Systems. That’s a Dutch company. I work as a software engineer there, fully immersed in bifurst technologies. We work with the .NET framework, we work with Angular, even Android, you name it. Writing code, debugging, collaborating. It’s solid in a day’s work.
Additionally, I’m currently also working as an IT consultant at Datashare, focusing on improving internal business processes. This involves building or implementing software to automate some of their internal processes to improve efficiency and education wise.
I did my ICT undergrad at the University of Applied Sciences in Suriname and now I’m pursuing a master’s degree in computer science at the University of Texas. It’s a distance education, so it gives me the flexibility to just take my classes anywhere, remotely, whenever I want. So that’s the added benefit.
I’ve also earned a bunch of certifications from leading tech companies such as Microsoft, Google, Oracle. These are batches of knowledge, they say that I’ve got the skills and I’m ready to take on whatever comes my way. And that’s a pretty powerful thing to have in your corner as a software. That’s my journey.
What motivated you to pursue a master’s degree in computer science?
My work experience has been really eye-opening. I’ve been lucky to work with some incredible people, super smart and experienced in their fields. The only bummer is that there just aren’t as many people that are jet experienced in Suriname, being a developing country.
Innovation and the people who drive innovation, those are rare in Suriname. On top of that, educational opportunities, especially in the tech world, are quite limited here. That’s why I had to seek options abroad for my master’s degree. It’s kind of crazy when you think about it. I mean, how can a country progress if education isn’t on point?
So my mission is pretty straightforward. I want to acquire as much knowledge as I can outside of Suriname and bring that knowledge back home to help make things better. I want to be part of the solution in driving Suriname from the developing stage to the developed zone. That’s the primary reason I’m pursuing a master’s degree.
On a personal level, it also opens up doors for me, allowing me to engage in more exciting and impactful projects. That’s a lot of learning opportunities, and I mean, if you’re lucky enough to get the opportunity, why not seize it, right? So, those are the things that drive me.
Could you highlight some of the key projects or experiences that have shaped your skills as a software engineer?
So there are quite a few experiences. During my time at RR Solutions and Advisory, I had the opportunity to work on my own bookkeeping financial application, which streamlined various financial processes within small to medium-sized companies. I was fortunate to lead the design of the entire application architecture independently, which involved extensive research.
I held complete responsibility for guiding the application through the software development lifecycle, including gathering requirements, translating them into software solutions, and crafting deployment and update procedures for the application in terms of maintenance.
This experience has had a profound impact on shaping my skills and knowledge in the field because working at a software company usually involves tasks like improving existing software, adding features, and ensuring smooth operation.
So being the mastermind behind the entire design of the architecture and development of such a large application was a huge deal for me. It gave me real hands-on experience and a deep understanding of how the entire software creation process goes from scratch to a finished and mature product.
Another experience is working at Reflex Systems in the Netherlands. It also helped sharpen my skills as a software engineer. Things are done quite differently in Suriname compared to the Netherlands, so getting to see their approach is really enlightening. Plus, they’re always up to date with the latest technology.
For example, whenever a new version of the .NET Framework is released, they’re already thinking about implementing it. It’s all about staying ahead in the constantly evolving tech world, and I think that really boosts my abilities as a software engineer to stay updated. And those are some of the experiences that have helped me grow as a software engineer.
You learn what other people are doing, you take the best practices from them, and you create your own way of doing things. That includes different best practices from different cultures. And doing that, that proves what you do, and that’s important.
What advice would you give to folks interested in pursuing a career in software engineering?
First off, this field is always changing. It’s always growing. There’s always new technology being developed, and it’s like a never-ending adventure. So be prepared to keep learning even after you’ve finished your formal education. That’s usually where the real fun begins.
Don’t just focus on the technical stuff. Soft skills are super important, too. You’ve got to be able to communicate, work in a team, and solve problems on the fly. It’s not all about coding, although it’s a big part, but you’ve got to pay attention to the soft skills, too.
Speaking of coding, one thing that’s been really helpful for me is learning to read and understand other people’s code. Trust me, you can learn a ton just by checking out how other folks tackle different problems. Currently, where I work, we have this tradition of reviewing each other’s code. It’s a great opportunity to learn and to be able to approach certain situations from different perspectives.
I found myself, when I started out, it was a hard journey. When I started programming, I was also pretty young. Most of the resources I had at the time were in English, and Dutch is my primary language. And at the time, ten years, eleven years, I didn’t get English in school. That was later in school. So it was hard for me to get started with programming. But it’s a rewarding path.
Don’t forget to take care of yourself seriously. This field can be pretty intense sometimes, so make sure you take time for yourself to relax and hang out with family and friends. As I said, it was hard for me to get in, but it was rewarding. And at times you might feel like you’re failing. It’s got to happen. It’s part of the process.
Every mistake is a chance to learn and grow. So keep pushing forward, keep experimenting, and keep having fun with it. That’s the important thing, you’ve got to have fun with it. So, that’s my advice for people who are interested in pursuing this field.
Soft skills are so important when you think about software engineering. Can you share more about it?
I’ve always learned that hard skills are technical skills. Usually, what gets you into a company are the soft skills. And after that, it’s going to be the technical stuff that actually keeps you in the company. But the soft skills are very important. You’ve got to be able to communicate, work with people. Those are very important things.
One thing I also used to do was just going, browsing through GitHub, reading repositories, seeing how people did certain things, accomplished these things, and doing research on these topics. And that helps for me, especially a valuable skill every software engineer should have is being able to understand existing code bases. Being able to just read and understand what’s happening, that’s for me, a very important skill.
How do you balance being a consultant, instructor and software engineer?
To be honest, wearing multiple hats is like riding a roller coaster. It’s not always easy. One minute I’m consulting for a client, the next time teaching a class, and then I’m knee-deep in code. As a software engineer, it’s enough to make your head spin.
Over the years, I figured out a little trick to keep it all manageable. And that is you have to stay organized. Seriously. Just plan your days ahead. Dedicate time for each role, and most importantly, don’t forget to carve out some personal time. That’s when you’ve got to recharge to keep your energy levels up so that you can continue to do what needs to be done.
Another thing I’ve learned is not to get overwhelmed by the never-ending to-do list. I used to stress out about it all the time, but now I’ve shifted my mindset. Instead of focusing on what’s left to do, I celebrate what I’ve already accomplished each day. And it’s a game changer. It keeps you motivated. Y
You’ve also got to learn how to prioritize. You can’t do everything at once, so figure out what’s most urgent and tackle it first. Whether it’s pressing that deadline or prepping for a new course launch, you’ve got to give that the top priority first. And then you can tackle the rest.
Remember, it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Some days you’ll feel like you have too much to do, and that’s okay. You just gotta stay focused on keeping organized, plan ahead, and most importantly, take care of yourself.
It’s easy to overlook self-care, but it’s incredibly important. Ignoring it can lead to mental exhaustion, fatigue, all those unpleasant feelings. Make sure you’re looking after yourself, take breaks, get enough rest, and do the things that recharge your batteries. Your well-being is very important. It’s quite often overlooked.
I had to learn the hard way to take care of yourself. A few years ago, I also had two jobs at a time, and I was also going to school, and I didn’t take care of myself well. At some point, I got really sick, and that’s when I had to take a few steps back and learn to do things properly. After that, I’ve been good ever since. So, you’ve got to take care of yourself. Some people forget that they’re just human. I don’t like to say it, but we have limits, and you’ve got to take care of that.
And then that’s another part of the skills we talked about earlier, soft skills. It’s important to know how to communicate things effectively so that everyone understands what’s going on. When you communicate things effectively, they can be understanding about it. So effective communication is very important.
Which resource helped you in your journey? Is there anything you want to share with us?
I must say there hasn’t been a specific resource that helped me, but rather a combination of resources. There are a lot of resources out there. You’ve got to pick and choose what works for you. For me, YouTube has been a game changer. There are countless amazing developers out there, super passionate about coding, and they’re just sharing their knowledge for free.
I would start there, but Udemy isn’t the only place to learn. You have platforms like Udemy, edX, Coursera. These have been fantastic resources too. They offer these in-depth courses on pretty much anything you can imagine, from coding basics to super advanced stuff. It’s a great way to learn at your own pace and really dive deep into particular topics.
On the other hand, you also have Microsoft, which has this learning platform where they make things super interactive. It’s a great way to stay up to date on their latest technologies in a fun and engaging way. The key is to find what works for you. Maybe you’re a hands-on learner who loves video tutorials, or perhaps in-depth courses with quizzes are something that you resonate with. Ah, there’s no right or wrong answer. Just explore and see what keeps you engaged.
Another thing that’s also important, that helped me throughout my journey is, don’t underestimate the power of online communities. There are forums, subreddits, and even Discord servers dedicated to coding. It’s a fantastic way to connect with other developers, ask questions, and get advice.
You might even find some study buddies to keep you motivated. And it’s also important to remember that learning to code is a journey, it’s not a destination. There will be times when you feel lost, overwhelmed. But it’s all part of the process. Don’t give up. Just keep exploring different resources and find what works for you. And most importantly, have fun with it.
I hope you enjoyed the podcast. We will have more interviews with amazing Latinx and Caribbean leaders the first Tuesday of every month. Check out our website Latinx In Power to hear more. Don’t forget to share comments and feedback, always with kindness. See you soon.
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Additional Reading Mentioned in the Interview
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