“The first thing I would say is: don’t ever think that this is not a woman’s job. Software development is exactly a woman’s job.”
As part of our Women in Tech series, today we are excited to talk to Amelia, a back-end software developer based in Toronto, Canada. Read on for unfiltered career advice and get a sneak peek into how the payment system at AngeLink works!
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your career path?
Sure! I’ve been working as a back-end developer for the past six years. I also worked as a project manager for a while but now my primary focus is on development. Currently, I do payment integrations for AngeLink.
What inspired you to start a career in tech?
I was lucky to get started as a trainee and learn a lot while working on real-life projects. I wasn’t the main developer at my first job, but I definitely learned a lot during that time. The project we were working on was a grocery shopping application. I was also doing some front-end development, so I started learning Angular, HTML, CSS. After that, I knew that I want to work in technology.
What programming languages are you familiar with? You mentioned quite a few of them already!
I like working with React Native but it’s not something that we use at AngeLink. I’m quite familiar with JavaScript and worked with Node.js, React, etc. Speaking about other languages, I know a bit of PHP and C++.
This is impressive! So, you are a full-stack developer who can work with both the server-side and client-side of an application.
Yes, but I mostly do back-end development and payment integrations. Previously, I worked with systems like PayPal and Stripe and their APIs. Here, at AngeLink, we do a payment integration with Ayden, which is a new platform for me. This is partially why I started this job: I wanted to learn new technologies. A lot of big companies like Uber, Pinterest, or Spotify use this platform to accept payments across all sales channels. It’s pretty cool!
What tools do use when working with APIs?
We mostly use Postman but I also used Swagger in some of my other projects. But Postman is definitely more popular. It’s also easier for me to use.
You work with so many tools! Which one is your favorite and why?
My favorite tool is probably Trello. It’s simple yet extremely functional. I use it a lot in my personal projects as well.
Why did you decide to join AngeLink?
Oh, great question! I was always interested in feminism and topics like that. Before I started my tech career, I studied literature. I actually have a bachelor’s degree in literature. I loved reading about smart, powerful women, so when I met Gerry it all clicked. I loved the idea of the app that AngeLink is building and I just wanted to become a part of it. For me, this job offers the best of both worlds. I also got a chance to learn new something new and work with Ayden.
What would you recommend to a woman who is thinking about starting a career in tech?
The first thing I would say is: don’t ever think that this is not a woman’s job. Software development is exactly a woman’s job. Women are patient and very detail-oriented, and that’s exactly what coding requires. Even if you don’t have a computer science degree, don’t be afraid to try it. I have a lot of friends who have studied something totally irrelevant, but now they are expert developers or even CTOs (chief technology officers) at big companies. The most important thing is to get started somewhere, even if it’s just a YouTube video. Then, never stop learning and always be open to new challenges. Even experienced developers don’t know what they are doing sometimes, and it’s ok. I’m also lucky to have my boyfriend by my side who always believes in me, no matter what. Having someone who supports you can make all the difference.