5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started Programming

As an instructor and mentor with 20+ years of experience, I’m frequently asked for career advice by women just entering the field. This talk is a summary of the advice I give them, and what I wish I could’ve given myself based on all that I’ve learned.

There’s more to being a successful developer than simply being great at programming. The gotchas that slow us down or trip us up are often outside of the code we write, manifesting instead in our process or how we work with our peers. Whether you’re new to programming or a veteran of many projects, these 5 things can improve your code, your career, and your team, and is a refresher course on what goes into the day-to-day, reminding us to have some empathy for individuals new to our community.