Katarzyna Dusza
Senior Software Engineer
Monday, 28 July 2025
Could you please introduce yourself?
My name is Kasia and I'm originally from Poland. I’m currently living in London, having previously spent three years in Berlin. In my free time, I love travelling, playing board games (I have a huge shelf full of them at home!), rewatching Friends (or The Office) over and over again, and painting (a hobby I discovered during a workshop and got immediately hooked!).
Whats your background?
I’m a Senior Software Engineer with over 10 years of experience, passionate about software architecture, building high-quality solutions and solving interesting challenges. Over the years, I have worked for various organisations including SAP, Zalando, Klarna and now Spotify, across different domains. I highly value knowledge sharing and you may have seen me presenting at workshops or conferences, or perhaps encountered some of my blog posts.
Whats your current role?
I’m a Senior Software Engineer at Spotify and I work in one of the most “core” teams that is developing the SDK, a JS library that powers Spotify player on the Web.
Why have you decided to learn to code?
It was not a sudden decision. From an early age, while still in primary school, I was fascinated by computers and I knew I wanted to study Computer Science. When I began my studies at a university, I started programming, although I must admit I struggled to grasp it and found it quite challenging. However, practice and perseverance made all the difference. To all the women (and actually indeed anyone) learning to code, if you ever doubt whether it is for you, give it time and don’t give up 😊.
Do you think its important to learn to code?
Absolutely. Coding is valuable not only for software engineers but for everyone. It offers numerous benefits: it enhances our efficiency and productivity by automating repetitive tasks, and enables us to build new, innovative products. It also improves problem-solving and logical thinking skills, which are highly beneficial in any career. Last but not least, programming allows us to tackle real-world problems easily (and very often cheaply!).
Do you feel the tech industry is male dominated? How can we encourage more women into the industry?
I agree. The tech industry has traditionally been male-dominated. When I studied Computer Science, less than 10% of the students were women. However, it is encouraging to see more women now entering the field. Promoting STEM subjects, and creating inclusive work places are important steps in supporting this progress.
Did you struggle being a woman in the tech industry yourself?
Personally, I’ve been fortunate to work in teams that were supportive and inclusive. However, I’m fully aware that this is not the case for everyone. I’ve heard many difficult stories, but I think it’s so important to continue advocating for representation, mentorship, and equity across the industry, even if our individual experiences can be different.
Whats the most rewarding and most challenging parts of your tech career so far?
Knowledge sharing has been both the most rewarding and challenging aspect for me. That’s because activities like speaking at conferences or blogging require a very deep understanding of the subject and the ability to communicate it in a simple, but engaging way. However, the feedback I receive afterwards and the fact that I see people grasp very complex ideas thanks to a simplified explanation is the most rewarding part 💫.