What I Do I currently work for a company whose mission is to fight financial crime via our anti-money laundering (AML) platform designed to make it easier for financial companies to identify, track, and report suspicious activity.
Why Engineering? At its core, STEM is all about problem-solving. Whether you're coding an app, analyzing data, or building a PC, you're finding solutions to problems. And this is one of the many reason I gravitated to STEM.
School Days I hold a B.Sc. in Earth Sciences from the University of California, Santa Cruz. While my initial academic focus was on reservoir geomodeling and data analysis, I transitioned into software engineering, blending my analytical background with a strong interest in technology. After my first initial layoff from Baker Hughes, I decided to take a leap of faith and move to Austin TX to complete UT Austin's Coding Bootcamp. I completed the UT Austin Coding Bootcamp, where I earned a Full-Stack Development Certification in 2017.
My Day At Work I work closely with Implementation Managers and Customer Success Managers to address our customers' technical needs. This involves providing clear, proactive technical guidance, assisting customers with integrating our products and APIs, and ensuring smooth onboarding and deployment processes. My strong sense of empathy allows me to understand customers’ goals and business objectives, guiding them toward achieving success.
Proud Moments Some of my key technical accomplishments include: Developing a COVID Vaccine waitlist system, streamlining pharmacy vaccine distribution during the pandemic. Building internal web apps to support Customer Success, reducing support tickets and boosting productivity. Getting published in an academic paper on Fully 3D hydraulic fracturing model: optimizing sequence fracture stimulation in horizontal wells
Want to be an Engineer? Explore Different Areas of Tech - Tech is vast, so try different areas like coding, game development, or hardware. Use platforms like Scratch or Code.org to experiment and figure out what excites you. Focus on Problem-Solving - Tech is all about solving problems. Start small, build projects, and learn from your mistakes. Play games like chess or Sudoku to sharpen your problem-solving skills. Build a Portfolio Early - Even as a teen, create projects and share them on platforms like GitHub. By the time you're applying for college or internships, you'll have a portfolio to showcase your skills. Join a Community, You are already here! - Connect with others in tech through online forums or Discord groups. Seek out a mentor— having guidance can help you stay on track and motivated. Learn Beyond the Classroom - Explore free online courses on Coursera or Khan Academy, and stay curious by reading tech blogs or watching tutorials. I used Khan Academy for years. Understand Tech’s Impact - Learn how technology solves real-world problems, from healthcare to space exploration. Stay informed about tech innovations and their global impact.