Behind LA’s rising digital tech scene are some amazing developers building great products and driving growth. Since only 10 to 12 percent of developers in LA are women developers, Built In LA is giving them some well-deserved attention in this series. In the first installment, a few incredible women shared their stories about how they got started and who is pushing them to succeed now.To recommend a female developer for a future installment, email [email protected].
Kimberly Shen, front-end developer at ChowNow
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WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE ON A DAILY BASIS?
My biggest challenge is learning fast enough. I'm the least experienced on the team, so I put a lot of pressure on myself to try and not hinder the team's progress. I do my best to try and ask the right questions and learn as quickly as I can.
WHAT'S YOUR SECRET WEAPON?
My secret weapon is that I'm really determined. It's also a big weakness, because I'm so determined to do it on my own without help from others. However, development -- and life really -- doesn't work that way. But that drive and motivation has definitely helped get me to where I am today.
HOW DID YOU BECOME A DEVELOPER?
I'm still in the process, so I'm not sure if I would call myself a developer quite yet. I was working as a graphic designer and got the opportunity to try and code some of the emails I had been designing. That started to become some of the most fun I had, so I began learning as much as I could about front-end development in my free time. Now, of course, I've come to hate coding HTML emails, but I guess there will always be a place (a really tiny place) for them in my heart since it's what jumpstarted my career in development.
WHO ARE YOUR MENTORS?
My co-worker, who is the senior front-end developer, has helped me out immensely in guiding when I need it, or letting me figure it out on my own when I need that. He's had incredible patience with me and really takes the time to explain anything that I'm confused about.
I've had a couple other friends too just be really encouraging and telling me I could make it, even though they didn't really have a basis for that. I think it's important though, just hearing words of encouragement... so for anyone who doesn't think they can do it, you can!
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR WOMEN STARTING OUT IN THE TECH WORLD?
I'm not sure my advice is for women specifically, but for anyone starting out in the tech world... what's great about this industry is that all the information you need is out there, you just have to want it bad enough. There's always going to be excuses we can give ourselves like:
- "But, I don't know where to start.” Answer: Google. The Internet is amazing, folks. There's so many free tutorials and lessons out there, especially in web development.
- "But, ‘Breaking Bad’ is on." Answer: Lies. That show ended and everyone probably already ruined the ending for you.
- "But...Flappy Bird!” Answer: That guy is giving up $50,000 a day for people not to play it. It's terrible for you, play Candy Crush instead. (Just kidding: games are a time-suck.”
There's always going to be other things we can do with our time, but if you're serious about your career you'll learn to start prioritizing.
WHAT'S THE BEST ADVICE YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED?
Someone sent me an Ira Glass quote when I told them I was switching to design, and even though he's talking about storytelling, it relates to me with design and development. He talks about someone just starting out in a new career, and you knowing your work sucks, but that it takes doing volumes of work to get better. You have to fight your way through this period of suckiness, if that makes sense.
That really stood out for me, especially because we live in this society where we want things fast, available right now. I saw what other people were doing and I wanted to be as good or better right away, and instead I was creating garbage, hating it and wanting to give up. But you just have to push through it and keep working hard, eventually you'll get 1 percent better! But seriously, it takes time and work, you might not improve as fast as you want but if you really, really want it, you'll get there eventually.
WHICH GROUPS ARE MAKING A STRONG IMPACT ON THE LA TECH COMMUNITY?
I think what Launchpad is doing has been a great impact. Being there with ChowNow really launched my own personal interest in startups and technology, with all the speakers they brought in and just the environment they have there. I took a class at General Assembly recently and I think they are making themselves known within LA tech as well.
