Sarah Al-Said
Software Engineer
Thursday, 6 October 2022
Could you please introduce yourself?
Hello Beautiful Souls :)
My name is Sarah, and I'm a full-stack developer at the 100Devs Agency. I have always been interested in tech, but it wasn't until completing my master's in Healthcare Management that I decided to make the full switch. Since January of this year, I've dedicated my days to learning the ins and outs of web development. My passion lies in community empowerment and encouraging women to be their authentic selves in everything they do!
Whats your background?
My background hasn't always been in tech. I obtained my bachelor's and master's degrees in healthcare management where I worked in the field for 5 years. I had the privilege of working in numerous administrative roles and helping patients in low-income communities. Although I have always loved helping others, it wasn't until the pandemic that I truly realized how broken and outdated the healthcare system is in the U.S. I began researching ways to streamline processes in the administrative roles that have employees still using paper charts in the 21st century. Not only is this inefficient for staff members but it limits the capacity for patients to be treated at the highest level of care.
Whats your current role?
Currently, I am a full-stack developer in the 100Devs Agency where I build front-end and back-end applications using the MERN stack. In my free time, I work on contributing code to open-source projects and work as a part-time freelancer.
Why have you decided to learn to code?
In January 2022 I joined the 100Devs Agency, a program that trains career switchers how to code. In return we work in teams with other developers and build websites for clients that need services. I aspire to use my knowledge and experience in healthcare with my skills in coding to build high-level software applications that streamline medical care processes.
Do you think its important to learn to code?
Learning to code is a skill that no one can take away from you. Being able to have these skills will always give you an advantage to provide an income for yourself in a highly technological society.
Do you feel the tech industry is male dominated? How can we encourage more women into the industry?
In the past few years, the tech industry has shifted in male-to-female ratios with more women joining the field, but I do feel we have a long way to go before we're close to an equilibrium. While more companies aim for diversity and inclusivity, I do believe that all women who are in the industry should help other women as they try to break in. Whether that's through mentorship, referrals, or helping navigate the infinite loops of learning to code, each woman has a duty to help bring more women into the tech field.
Did you struggle being a woman in the tech industry yourself?
Working in the 100Devs Agency, I have always gravitated to teams surrounded by other women and that is something I look for when joining a company. What does diversity look like on their team? I will spend a few minutes looking at the list of software engineers at the hiring company on LinkedIn and best believe if it is a group of males I will keep searching. As I continue job hunting, I find that as a Muslim woman I have to constantly overcompensate my skills and professionalism for the stereotypes the hiring managers might have of my community.
Whats the most rewarding and most challenging parts of your tech career so far?
The most rewarding part has been meeting the amazing women in the tech community. The two closest friends I have made in tech are POC and we have always held each other accountable throughout our journey of software development. The most challenging part for myself and many others have been overcoming imposter syndrome. Although it is a normal thought to have, it is important to remind myself how far I have come and how courageous it was to change the trajectory of my future. I hope to help other women navigate the system despite these thoughts that may come to tell us we are not good enough.