S26:E6 - Embracing Rest for Productivity (Ronesha Dennis)
Dec 6, 2023
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Ronesha Dennis, Founder and Lead Engineer at Bergeron-Woodley, talks about her childhood interest in tech, her career transition into tech, and the importance of taking mental health breaks. She shares her experiences with coding, her journey through a bootcamp and consulting firm, and her aspirations in writing coding books for children and working with nonprofits.
Taking breaks and prioritizing mental health is crucial for long-term career success.
Early childhood interest in coding can lead to a fulfilling career in the tech industry.
Attending coding bootcamps and seeking supportive communities is valuable for those without a traditional computer science degree.
Deep dives
The Importance of Taking a Step Back
Rani Shodenas emphasizes the importance of taking a step back in order to move forward in your career. She shares her personal experience of deciding to take a break and prioritize her mental health. By recognizing the need for rest and rejuvenation, individuals can avoid burnout and continue to thrive.
Following Your Childhood Passion
Rani Shodenas reflects on her early interest in coding, which developed during her childhood in the 90s. She vividly describes exploring HTML and building her own fan website for rapper Lil Bow Wow. This passion for coding ultimately led her to pursue a career in the tech industry.
Finding Your Own Path in Tech
Rani Shodenas shares her journey of navigating the tech industry without a traditional computer science degree. She discusses her decision to attend a coding bootcamp and a year-long fellowship, which allowed her to gain practical coding skills and secure her first job as a software engineer. She highlights the importance of understanding your own learning style and seeking out supportive communities.
Overcoming Challenges and Imposter Syndrome
Rani Shodenas opens up about the challenges she faced during her career change, including imposter syndrome and doubts about her abilities. She encourages individuals to find a strong support system and surround themselves with people who believe in their potential.
The Power of Rest and Mental Health Breaks
Rani Shodenas shares her experience taking a much-needed mental health break and the positive impact it had on her well-being. She discusses the importance of setting boundaries, listening to your own needs, and taking time to recharge. By prioritizing mental health, individuals can avoid burnout and achieve long-term success in their careers.
Saron chats with Ronesha Dennis, Founder and Lead Engineer at Bergeron-Woodley. Ronesha talks about growing up and how tech played a role in her childhood (her first website was a fan site for Lil Bow Wow). She talks about how she ended up in another career for 5 years until she sat down and thought about things she liked doing as a child without being paid for doing those things. This led her to want to get into tech. She decided to leave her job, move back with her parents, and do an 8-week program on Ruby on Rails. She then did a fellowship with Code for Progress. After graduating, she landed a job as a consultant then advanced to an Engineer, a Senior Engineer, and finally to managing other Engineers. She has authored coding books and she has her company building applications for nonprofits and other small businesses. Ronesha speaks on the mental health break she took after making the switch to tech and how important it is to give yourself space and time to take breaks after a career transition.
Ronesha D. Dennis is a software engineer and coding instructor. She is the author of a coding book series for children titled Coding with Cornell, and a coding book for young adult and adult beginners titled Python, the Relatable Way.
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