We Belong Here: Lessons from Unconventional Paths to Tech

Tali Herzka: From Molecular Biology to Software Engineering

Apr 13 '21

On today’s episode, I chat with Tali Herzka. Who has forever been interested in Science, genetics, and Molecular Biology. Molecular pathways and systems seemed to connect with the way she understood the world.

After getting a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology and working in a cancer research laboratory for several years, she moved cross country to pursue a drastic career change and learn to code. It was a massive leap of faith diverging from her prescribed future in science and felt wildly exciting and terrifying all at once. She moved into a “Hacker House” which was just a warehouse in San Francisco and was thrust into a whole new world of tech.

Since graduating from her bootcamp, Tali has been a full-time software developer/data engineer for 7 years now. She currently is a software engineer at Scribd but when not coding, she's crafting or taking pictures of her bird for the 'gram.

In today’s episode, Tali gives the advice of combining your prior interests and experiences into your role in tech. And also to listen to your gut, to take a risk on passions, and to never pursue a path that isn’t your own.

Resources:

Codecademy

Tali on Twitter: @therzka

Tali’s bird: Mango the Yellow Sided Conure

Tali’s Website

Hectic - the freelancing app for everyone

Visit: GetHecticApp.com/WeBelongHere to start for free today!

We Belong Here Podcast:

Follow Lauren on Twitter @LoLoCoding

WeBelongPodcast.com

Subscribe on Apple

Subscribe on Spotify