CodeHer #5 Nathalia Rus
Tags: Women In Tech

I actually get a lot of these messages and I think wow, I’m having an impact. I’m actually doing something that is helpful for some people in some way.

Instagram is an inspiring app. All these quotes, challenges, and role models are being made accessible to everyone. It’s another example like Calm, of technology positively impacting people’s lives.

And how is an average day at the bootcamp? How do you find time to post?

I wake up at 8:30 am, I rush into our free breakfast, have fruit and coffee. You can have a chat and chill before the intense day starts. I start with a course at 9am, they give us a lot of resources online, they go deep where we get stuck. Then it’s tasks and challenges till midday. We have this freedom, but at the same time we meet deadlines with the tasks. You can ask other instructors in your batch for some help in whatever way, they, in turn, can ask you for your help.

I normally take lunch for half an hour, as I like to go with the flow and keep learning.

Nathlia is partial to the free breakfast. © Codeworks

Everyone can find a rhythm which is unique to them, that’s the freedom I mentioned. In the afternoon, I keep going with course tasks. I have an afternoon snack, then the evening lecture starts, and I work until 9 when the day ends. I might post on Instagram, but only if I have a new lesson to share.

I’ll go for a run or swim and eat fairly late, then work on a side project, it’s a busy day! It’s really intense, but like the Angelina Jolie quote, those days are the most stimulating. You’re learning so much, but it’s done in a way that feels natural.

How do you find the Codeworks campus?

The campus is amazing, it’s five minutes from the sea. You feel it in the air, it’s so refreshing. The terrace is cool and no one is embarrassed to come outside to do exercise, or to jump up about, do push ups or just lie in the hammock. We can have a massage once a week. It’s great that you can just go for a run after coding and come back to your servers and you’re rested. There’s big space, there’s sun, it’s a good environment to help focus on coding.

The light airy campus allows students plenty of space during presentations. © Codeworks

Which female role models in tech inspire you?

Luckily there a lot of women in tech to inspire us, and there will be only be more in the future. Weirdly, I only discovered one quite recently, Marissa Mayer, Google’s 20th employee, and first female engineer.

Marissa Mayer. Image credit: Wikipedia.

Mayer made Google what it is now, and I only just heard of her! She was their first female engineer. She was CEO of Yahoo. She had key roles at Google maps and Streetview. She should be more widely recognised.

Why are your thoughts on the gender gap in tech?

I heard the ratio is 3 men to 1 woman; you need to interrogate the stats. It’s an interesting question because it’s 100% cultural.

It’s not just the job of the tech sector, but the job of everyone to improve the ratio of men to women in tech.

Politics follows culture right? We don’t see enough female senior politicians either. We need role models along the way, not just Lara Croft’s Tomb Raider. (When I was younger I played Tomb Raider, but I could have chosen another, real role model). So more role models need to be available, to suit different interests.

5 women here to 10 men. We’re doing all we can at Codeworks to improve that ratio. Nathalia (right) is speaking up here, making herself heard. © Codeworks

It’s hard but, we have to change culture. Even if it’s harder than going to the moon.

So how can social media help?

I think social media has a part to play here, it’s a good platform for changing perceptions, people can get inspired by anything, from 11 to 18. If women are following other women they like on Instagram, and those women happen to be interested in tech, these girls don’t have to overthink it, they can like a post, get inspired and give it a go. Girls spend a lot of time on social media, at a young age where they might not be planning their careers. If they like someone in tech, they can continue that interest in a light touch way to start with.

What makes you keep going?

I have ADHD; naturally I’ve always been on the go. I grew up spending time with my Dad, I’m close to him, I share his traits. He was an explorer so I’ve always had that busy, curious nature. I’m driven by a hunger for life, I don’t think it will diminish. It’s also why I don’t burn out.