Digital Creators in SWE Panel

If you could give one piece of advice to a room full of young women curious about tech, what would it be?

I was recently given the opportunity to do so as one of the speakers on the Girls Who Code UC Davis Digital Creators Panel.

Coming from New Zealand, I never imagined I’d one day find myself speaking at an American university club (albeit via Zoom haha)! It felt like a full circle moment - my own journey in tech was inspired by American women in tech YouTubers like HelloMayuko and now I get to share my story.

I talked about my experiences from studying Computer Science at the University of Otago to becoming a software engineer, all while documenting my journey on YouTube.

Here are three lessons I shared:

🛣️ Your career journey does not have to be linear

I started with a web developer internship learning about HTML, CSS, and static sites, then upon graduation, got my first big girl job as a software engineer building full-stack SaaS platforms. Along the way, I also delved a little into data analytics. Lately, I’ve been exploring dataviz, creative coding, and 3D. The best tip? Stay curious and follow what excites you!

📸 The key to content creation is to just start and keep showing up

Whether it’s creating videos, blogs, or tutorials, consistency matters more than perfection. Showing up consistently compounds over time. Your content is your personal brand and acts as a serendipity vehicle, attracting like-minded people, opportunities, and inspiring people in ways you probably never expected.

✨ Be fearless and bold in your twenties

Bet on yourself and explore different paths. Take risks. Try new things. The world is your oyster. Use this time to discover your passions and purpose. And it’s okay if you’re still figuring it out!

Super grateful for the chance to chat with these curious and brilliant young women 🫶