#10 – Amy Yang, Software Developer at TES Global

Amy Yang shifted from a career as an architect to a career in software development at TES Global after attending Makers Academy in London.
Selected topics: The connection between architecture and software development, the satisfaction of front end development, transitioning from a non-tech career into a tech role, and why women need their own communities in tech.
About Amy: As a former architect turned software developer, Amy is currently focused on making lives easier for teachers around the world in the digital education space. When she is not busy making & breaking web apps or learning react-redux-saga or plotting to dominate the world, Amy loves visiting art galleries and markets in London on her bike and eating street foods.
Books & Podcasts amy Recommends
Black Box Thinking by Matthew Syed
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
Note to Self (podcast)
Amy’s Favorite Things To Do in London

Walk along Regents Canal from Angel East to Dalston / London Fields / Broadway market (stop at Towpath Cafe on the canal)
Regents Park rose garden, then walk up to Primrose Hill, then check out the madness in Camden
Catch a gig at Jazz Cafe in Camden
Kings Cross Granary Square also on the canal; play some ping-pong in the courtyard of new warehouse-converted Central St. Martins of Arts
Barbican Center — Brutalist architecture / art center / residential redevelopment in the ’70s; chill at the massive fountain out back after a wander through the Curve Gallery
People-watch in Soho / Old Compton Street; hanging out at Foyles Bookstore, beloved by Londoners, then wander into Chinatown to grab a bite to eat

TRANSCRIPTION
Note: The text below reflects constructive editing of the published audio for clarity and flow. Time stamps indicate a change of topic.
Erin Allard: Welcome to another episode of the WITtalks podcast. I’m Erin Allard, your co-producer and co-host.
Tammy Sanders: And I’m Tammy Sanders, your co-producer and co-host.
Erin: We’re here today with Amy Yang, who works at a company called TES Global. Hello, Amy!
Amy Yang: Hello, Erin and Tammy!
[00:27] Tammy: We’re at TES, which is located near Holborn Station in London, and we’re here to talk to Amy about her work as a developer for an EdTech company. Are you still feeling a little nervous?
Amy: A little bit, but I’m sure we’ll become best friends for life after an hour in this very small room. [Laughter]
Tammy: I hope so! One of the ways we like to get started, one question I’m curious about, is what made you say “yes” to being on the WITtalks podcast? You don’t know us, we reached out to you and said, “Hey, we’re going to be in London”, you were probably like, “Who are these people?”
Amy: That was the same question that I had in my mind and I thought, “Maybe the best way to find out is to just say yes.”
Erin: I like it! The best way to find out is to just say yes.
Tammy: I like it.
[2:00] Amy: It’s my turn for questions! Why did you reach out to me, out of all the marvelous and amazing women in tech out here in London?
Tammy: One of the reasons I reached out to you was that you seem to be new. You seem to have made a pretty major shift and that’s something we’ll definitely talk about. I found it compelling that you work for an EdTech company. We’re hoping to talk about mission-driven EdTech companies a little bit, and also I wonder if you have experience, ideas,