Marisha Schumacher-Hodge, Software Engineer, Ellie Mae
Recently, Hackbright alumna Marisha Schumacher-Hodge sat down with Course Report, one of the top online resources for prospective students considering intensive bootcamp programs, for their Alumni Spotlight. Marisha shares how her love for collegiate and professional soccer led to her passion for coding — eventually landing her a software engineering job at Ellie Mae.
Below are some excerpts from their discussion. Visit Course Report to read the interview in its entirety.
What made you passionate about coding?
When I was an athlete, I felt like I was challenged every day, like I was problem solving and being creative, in a different realm. Aside from playing soccer, I had never really felt that same kind of passion or challenge in a job.
Did you research other coding bootcamps or did you have your heart set on Hackbright Academy?
My goal was to find a bootcamp that focused on diversity, by bringing underrepresented minority or gender groups into the tech space. After doing research and talking to alumni, I decided on Hackbright. After experiencing an all-women team environment during my soccer career, I realized in many cases that type of environment can automatically make some people feel more comfortable. They can achieve more because they are part of a team, supporting each other rather than competing with each other, which makes learning something completely new a little bit easier. I knew that I’d have a big network after graduating from Hackbright, which would probably help me land my first and second job, and be able to create lifelong connections with women on a similar path.
What advice do you have for people making a career change through a coding bootcamp?
Make an effort to really understand the industry you’re getting into. It’s the hot thing right now to be in tech, and it’s definitely a big part of the future. But you have to try it out, build something, and work out, “Do I really like this? Do I want to be doing this all day every day?” There are people who know they do and are really passionate about it. Before switching careers and deciding, “This sounds so great,” do your due diligence.
Click here to read the full Course Report interview.
Hackbright Academy is the leading engineering school for gender equality, dedicated to closing the gender gap in the tech industry. Learn more about Hackbright’s 12-week software engineering program Marisha completed.