I started programming 10 years ago this fall, and in many ways it’s shaped who I am today. But my future could have been totally different: I almost quit before I even started. My introduction to programming was a large “Intro to engineering” class of 200 undergrads at the University of Michigan. For the longest time, I thought I was the only one in my class who didn’t fully get it. I was so close to concluding that coding just wasn’t right for me. I’m so glad my 19-year-old self
Chief Technology Officer at Jopwell How did you get into technology? My interest in making things started when I was young. My mom’s an art teacher, so my brother and I were always working on different projects around the house. I played with an astounding amount of LEGOs and got super into origami at some point during middle school. It wasn’t until college that I learned about programming as a craft, where you can create stuff that is in itself an intellectually stimulating discipline and could also be a
written by Naomi Tene’ Austin “Keep Austin Weird” is a fitting slogan for a city that embraces the eclectic. Set against the backdrop of graffiti art in the Live Music Capital, the aura of the city is a magnet for creatives.This hipster haven has attracted a flourishing community of techies drawing industry giants like Apple, Facebook and Google. An abundance of talent, relatively low housing costs, and absence of state income tax have nurtured a fertile ecosystem for tech startups in the Texas state capital city. This reality is
Since it made it’s debut back in 2007, the iPhone has been the world’s most recognizable smartphone. In fact, I’d argue that it redefined smartphones. Not only did it usher in a new era of more capable (and user-friendly) mobile applications but it also brought with it, as Apple would have you believe, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system — iOS. There’s an app for that Between our iPhones and iPads, both large and small, many of us use iOS on a daily basis. If you’ve spent time in
My first question is, what made you decide to get into tech? Like many people I had a little bit of exposure to tech when I was younger through blogging. I wanted to know everything I could about HTML and CSS to make the blog look exactly how I wanted. As time went on, I moved a little bit deeper into tech. I went to University and studied Philosophy and Politics. I loved what I was learning, but it felt overly theory-based. I realized that I was the kind of person
Co-Founder at Throne.xyz www.throne.xyz My first question is, what made you decide to get into tech? Growing up it was something that was a part of our household. My dad’s an entrepreneur as well, so he always wanted the latest computer or gadget for his office. We always had more computers around the house than we needed! So from very early on we were encouraged to get into it. I’m from an immigrant family [I don’t know if this is a fair generalization] but for us, at least, it meant
What made you decide to work in tech? I remember watching films growing up where “hackers” were glamorised and I think that instilled an intrigue in me. However, I didn’t realise I wanted to build software until I started university and began to play around with iOS and Objective C. The joy I got when I first built something that lived on my phone hasn’t yet disappeared and I think that’s why I continue to do it. What was your perception of the tech industry before entering it, and what
Who are you and what do you do? I’m a web developer by day. I try to understand and get better at all things security. What made you decide to work in tech? My father taught math, mathematics was his thing. Back in 06, me and my sister really got into computers. My dad saw it as a viable option and got us a computer and a C++ book. Fast forward a few years, a friend of mine who was working in a php agency in New York asked me
By Kendell Byrd (@flylikeabyrd22) Two years ago, when I entered college, I thought I might like to study abroad. Throughout my life I have found that I am happiest when I am interacting with others. Upperclassmen had spoken so fondly of their time abroad, characterizing it as a highlight of their college experience. So the idea of learning about, collaborating with, and immersing myself in, a different culture with other college students truly excited me. During my sophomore year when I began to research study abroad opportunities, I found
My name is Aklil, a POCIT and associate on the Corporate Development & Strategy team at a tech company in Silicon Valley. I’m very lucky to be on a small team that supports senior executives on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) initiatives, from product strategy inception to company landscaping, deal execution, and post-acquisition integration; the other half of my job is helping advise senior executives on strategic initiatives. I was previously an investment banking analyst at a bulge bracket investment bank, where I helped advise private and public companies on a
