A former salesperson who is now a Senior Software Engineer at Netflix joins the podcast. They discuss the transition from sales to engineering, sales as a superpower, building confidence, and even find time for TypeScript talk. Karaoke mishaps and connecting with the guest are also mentioned.
Vercel's front-end cloud and framework-defined infrastructure provide a seamless experience for developers, allowing them to focus on product and user experience.
The value of transferable skills, such as empathy and problem-solving, in engineering careers, and the importance of networking and leveraging strengths when transitioning.
The importance of soft skills, like communication and empathy, in the engineering field and how they positively influence professional relationships and project success.
Deep dives
Vercel's Front-End Cloud and Framework-Defined Infrastructure
Vercel's front-end cloud and framework-defined infrastructure make it easy to write code in preferred frameworks and take advantage of scalable and flexible managed infrastructure. The goal is to provide a seamless experience for developers, allowing them to focus on product and user experience. The front-end cloud encompasses tools that enable end-to-end development, from code writing to deployment. With over 35 supported frameworks, Vercel's front-end cloud offers a 14-day free trial of Vercel Pro and customized enterprise options.
Transition from Sales to Engineering
The guest, Shanday Person, shares her inspiring journey of transitioning from a successful sales career to becoming a Senior Software Engineer at Netflix. She emphasizes the value of transferable skills, such as empathy, negotiation, and problem-solving, that can greatly benefit engineers. Shanday's experience highlights the importance of networking, building a personal brand, and leveraging one's strengths when transitioning to a new career. She also discusses the confidence and strategies she developed in sales, which helped her excel in engineering.
Overcoming Challenges and Pursuing Personal Growth
Shanday talks about the challenges she faced as a self-taught developer, including learning new technologies while managing a demanding sales job and being a single mom. She shares insights on the mindset and dedication required to make a career transition successfully. Shanday's story emphasizes the importance of perseverance, continuous learning, and adapting to new challenges. She also encourages individuals to embrace their unique strengths and find ways to contribute effectively to the tech community.
The Power of Soft Skills in Engineering
Shanday highlights the value of soft skills, such as communication, empathy, and listening, in the engineering field. She discusses how her experience in sales equipped her with important skills that positively influence her interactions with project managers, stakeholders, and fellow engineers. Shanday reminds listeners that soft skills are essential in building strong professional relationships, solving complex problems, and delivering effective solutions in a team-oriented environment.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of TypeScript
The conversation delves into the use of TypeScript for writing test files and the advantages it offers for projects. While TypeScript aids in catching errors and improving code quality, it requires proper setup, including generating types for third-party libraries and APIs. The importance of aligning the contract between code and data sources is emphasized. While TypeScript is valuable for maintaining and scaling enterprise-level projects, it may require extra considerations and proper integration to address challenges with dynamic third-party data.
Shaundai Person joins Jerod & Nick for a fascinating discussion of her transition from a sales position to Senior Software Engineer at Netflix. Along the way, we discuss sales as a superpower, how to build confidence in yourself & even sneak a little TypeScript talk in there because you know who…
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