Changing careers after nearly a decade in customer relations was both exciting and intimidating. I’d built up years of experience, but over time, I realised I needed a new kind of challenge. I wanted something that would stretch my problem-solving skills and keep me learning.
I’d always been curious about the tech world, but making the leap felt risky. Still, the pull toward something more creative and mentally stimulating kept growing stronger.
This blog is a reflection on that journey, from my first steps into coding to my current role as a Solution Consultant. Along the way, I’ve faced doubts, breakthroughs, and plenty of learning curves. With perseverance and the support of those around me, I’ve been able to build a path I’m proud of.
Making the Leap
The tech world had always intrigued me, but for years, self-doubt and life’s demands made it hard to act on that interest. That changed in 2020 when I was furloughed and I had the time and space to explore it properly.
I started with a self-paced Python course, which introduced me to the fundamentals of programming logic. That experience sparked something in me, and I wanted to keep going. I later enrolled in the SheCodes Plus course, where I began learning front-end development with JavaScript and React. One of my favourite projects was a weather app that fetched real-time data from an API. I built it first using vanilla JavaScript, then rebuilt it in React, which gave me a clearer understanding of how frameworks like React help organise code and make applications more dynamic.
Returning to full-time work made it clear that I couldn’t keep putting this curiosity on hold. In 2021, encouraged by my partner, who has also been a supportive mentor throughout the process, I made the decision to fully commit. I handed in my notice and focused on developing the skills I would need to break into the tech industry.
Building the Basics
I continued my learning with an iOS app development course and immersed myself in learning Swift, building several apps along the way. These included an augmented reality app that made Pokémon pop out of cards, and a recreation of the Hot Dog or Not Hot Dog app from Silicon Valley. These guided projects helped me get comfortable with Swift and the basics of app development, but I wanted to go beyond simply following instructions.
That led me to create Kitty Timer, a timer app that meowed when the countdown finished. Building it from scratch gave me the chance to apply what I’d learned in a more independent and creative way. It was a fun project that pushed me to make decisions on my own and helped me grow more confident in my skills, even if my partner had to endure more than a few unexpected meows from my desk!
Up to that point, my apps handled business logic and data locally on the device. But I wanted to develop my understanding of how applications worked beyond the frontend. To explore that, I developed a collaborative events calendar app, using Swift for the interface and Node.js, Express, and Postgres for the backend. It introduced me to a whole new set of challenges, and I ran into plenty of roadblocks, but each one helped me better understand how the client and server communicate. Seeing both parts working together for the first time felt like an achievement.
Pushing Through the Barriers
With a few projects behind me, I began searching for junior developer roles. It didn’t take long to notice a common theme in job descriptions. Most asked for a computer science degree or several years of experience. That was tough to see, especially after putting in so much time and effort, but I wasn’t ready to give up.
Discovering Code First Girls (CFG) changed the direction of my journey. Their full-stack degree program gave me structure, hands-on experience, and the confidence to keep going.
Completing the CFG program was a milestone in itself. It helped me deepen my technical skills and feel more prepared to take the next step. That step came in November 2022, when I joined Sahaj Software. It was a moment that made all the persistence feel worthwhile.
Starting Strong
The first few weeks at Sahaj felt like diving into the deep end, but in the best way. Everything was new, fast-paced, and full of learning opportunities. One of the things that made the experience easier was having my colleague Elizabeth alongside me. We had both come through the Code First Girls program and were starting our first significant developer roles at the same time. Having someone there who understood the ups and downs of switching careers made a big difference.
We were also guided by a group of supportive colleagues who took on the role of teachers and mentors during Gurukul, the immersive onboarding experience at Sahaj. While Gurukul was originally designed for recent university graduates, they adapted it thoughtfully to suit our backgrounds as career switchers. It was much more than a technical introduction. We covered practical programming, problem solving, software development principles, consulting skills, and agile ways of working. The care and flexibility shown by the team helped us feel welcomed and supported from the start.
Rather than follow a strict curriculum, our mentors started with a general plan and adjusted it as they got to know us. They supported us through technical challenges, but also helped us navigate the mindset shifts that come with entering a new industry and the unique culture at Sahaj.
The experience took me completely out of my comfort zone. Java was new to me, the tools felt unfamiliar, and there was a lot to take in. But I began to realise that I didn’t need to know everything all at once. What mattered was learning how to approach problems and build things up step by step.
One highlight from this time was solving Conway’s Game of Life using Test-Driven Development. When the logic finally came together, it felt like a real breakthrough and gave me a sense of just how much I had already learned.
That experience helped me grow in confidence and taught me to stay focused, even when things felt uncertain. I’ll always be grateful to our mentors and colleagues for their encouragement, patience, and belief in what we could achieve.
By the end of onboarding, I felt ready to take on my first client project, even if I was still a little nervous.
Growing Into the Role
Starting my first client project was both exciting and intimidating. It wasn’t just about learning the codebase, but also the business domain and project goals. At first, it felt like every conversation revealed something new, which was a lot to take in, but I focused on working through it step by step and asking questions whenever something didn’t make sense.
Each time I picked up a new task, I had to figure out how to approach it and where to begin. Pairing with colleagues helped me build that understanding. I learned a lot from the way they explored the code, explained unfamiliar areas, and suggested improvements as we worked together. Their guidance helped me better understand how to write clearer, more maintainable code, and made me feel more confident navigating complex parts of the project.
Over time, I began to feel more like a developer and less like a “career changer”. Leading sprint ceremonies like stand-ups and reviews felt daunting at first, but I started to enjoy them and grew more confident in contributing to team conversations. I also learned a lot through pull request feedback. Colleagues often suggested ways to improve my solutions, and those insights helped me think more carefully about structure, readability, and naming. Reviewing others’ code also gave me a better sense of different approaches and helped sharpen my eye for detail.
One of the most significant milestones was leading the development of a new feature. It was one of the hardest things I had done until then, but also one of the most rewarding. It showed me how valuable collaboration can be. Talking through ideas, uncovering gaps, and learning from different perspectives helped me grow not just technically, but also in how I work with others.
I also found that my background in customer relations gave me a useful perspective. Thinking like a user helped me focus on clarity and experience, especially when it came to how a feature would be used or understood by others.
Exploring More Than Code
Adjusting to life at Sahaj has been a meaningful learning experience. The culture is open and collaborative, shaped by curiosity and trust. One of the things I noticed early on was how people aren’t limited to narrowly defined roles. While everyone has responsibilities, there’s space to explore and grow in areas that interest you. As someone early in my career, that flexibility has really expanded my understanding of what’s possible.
Beyond project work, I’ve taken part in knowledge-sharing sessions, deep-dive workshops, and a book club, exploring topics like data engineering, large language models, and practical problem-solving. There are always interesting conversations happening across the company, whether in informal chats or focused discussions. These moments have given me opportunities to learn and stay connected to new ideas in tech.
What has made the biggest difference is being surrounded by experienced and inspiring people who are always willing to share what they know. Every pairing session, workshop, and conversation has helped me progress. The feedback culture is open and thoughtful, and those discussions have helped me understand where I’m doing well and where I can develop and improve.
I’ve also come to appreciate the value of efficiency. Whether it’s learning IDE shortcuts or integrating AI tools into my workflow, small improvements have made a clear and lasting difference.
Learning to Trust the Process
If I had to name my biggest challenge over the past two years, it wouldn’t be a technical one. It would be my mindset.
Starting over in a new industry was overwhelming at times. I had gone from being experienced and confident in a previous role to feeling like a complete beginner. It was a tough adjustment. I often compared myself to others who had been honing their craft for much longer, and I set unrealistic expectations for how quickly I should be progressing.
In the process, I sometimes forgot that I wasn’t starting from scratch. My background in customer relations had already given me valuable skills. Communicating with clients, thinking like a user, and approaching problems in a structured way were all things I could bring with me. I had to remind myself to recognise those strengths and carry them forward instead of focusing only on what I didn’t yet know.
What helped me navigate through this was a combination of support and perspective. My mentors and colleagues were generous with their time and encouragement, which made a big difference. I also began to shift how I approached challenges. Instead of feeling like I needed all the answers, I focused on how to find them. That change in mindset helped me feel more grounded, even when things felt uncertain.
Over time, I’ve become more patient with myself and more comfortable with the unknown. I had learned early on that uncertainty was part of the process, but it took real experience to trust that fully. Each time I work through something new, I build a little more confidence. Not because I always have the answers, but because I’ve learned to stay with the problem and keep moving forward.
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
This journey has been about much more than learning to code. It’s also been a process of building resilience and finding confidence in unfamiliar spaces. There are still days when things don’t click or when I second-guess myself, but in those moments, the people around me help me stay grounded.
I’m incredibly grateful to everyone I’ve worked with along the way. The support of mentors, colleagues, family, and friends has played a big part in helping me reach this point.
Looking back, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. More than anything, I’m excited for what’s ahead. I feel more motivated than ever to keep learning, stay curious, and take on whatever challenges come next.
