Nayeem

I’m never really certain how I got interested in programming, but the roots were probably there somewhere at the intersection of building LEGOs and playing video games growing up. Building things, experimenting and tinkering with other things, and solving puzzles were how I spent a lot of my childhood. What better way to do all three at once than programming?

After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Computer Science and a BA in Sociology, I started my career as a developer working in fintech, primarily in a DevOps role. In addition to getting to learn some of the finer points of automation and release management, I also got to quickly learn how to engage in conversations with people with completely different frames of reference: how do you explain and quantify the value of continuous integration to the head of professional services? How do you review the impact of a bug fix with a certified financial risk manager?

As much as I enjoy programming, designing, and problem solving, there are always days where it’s just a little tougher to keep going. Whether it’s having to track down a difficult bug, reflecting on a meeting that didn’t go as well as planned, or any other challenges life throws us, it’s hard to keep your heart fully into what you do every day. On those days, I’ve found that there’s got to be something about what I’m doing that keeps me motivated. In fintech, I struggled to remind myself of that “underlying motivation” about what I was doing that told me to keep going.

These days, finding that motivation never seems to be an issue. I’m surrounded by a brilliant team that helps me think, learn, and grow every day. There’s always something fresh to look forward to at a startup. Above all, though, the impact of what I’m doing couldn’t be more clear. Having the opportunity to work to improve outcomes for infants is something for which I’m always grateful, and it pushes me to do the best I can every day.