The best thing you can do to stay competitive as an engineer? For these two fintech engineers, it’s simple — don’t buy into the hype.
“The tech industry is constantly evolving and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Rather than chasing every new technology trend, I’ve learned to be more strategic,” Minnie Lee, senior software engineer at Chime, said.
Lee, along with Steven McHenry, a senior software engineer at Gynger, use an engineer’s lens to assess what developments in their field are important evolutions in the industry compared to passing fads.
“I keep up with new trends but prioritize depth over hype,” McHenry said. “Rather than chasing every new shiny tool, I focus on technologies that are relevant to my work in web development and fintech. I also pay attention to patterns in tech evolution to anticipate what will have a lasting impact.”
Built In San Francisco spoke with Lee and McHenry about how they filter out the noise to find strategies and tools they need to learn and adopt as engineers.
Chime designs member-centric banking apps with easy-to-understand financial tools.
Give us a snapshot of what you do to stay on top of your engineering knowledge and skills.
Staying on top of my knowledge and skills has always been top of mind throughout my career. Early on, I spent many weekends frantically reading technical books to combat imposter syndrome. While imposter syndrome is a common experience for many in tech — especially women — this approach didn’t ease the feeling at all. Instead, I recommend leaning on others and being targeted in your approach.
Upon joining a company, I would begin my search for a mentor, especially in my first few years in the tech industry. In those sessions, we would tailor everything to match what I was looking to grow in — system design, scalability, design patterns, etc.
I realized that I learn best on the job. If I wanted to work toward a particular skill or focus, taking the initiative to ask for relevant opportunities often opened those doors for me.
The tech industry is constantly evolving and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Rather than chasing every new technology trend, I’ve learned to be more strategic. I try to keep my knowledge and skill-building relevant to my current work and future goals, which often means staying on top of what’s new in the languages and frameworks I use most.
What are your go-to resources for keeping your engineering skills sharp?
Periodically, I read blog posts by both Thoughtbot and Test Double. I’m also a huge fan of Avdi Grimm and Kent C. Dodds because they both provide courses and materials on keeping your skills sharp and moving toward the next level. Sometimes, top experts in the industry provide workshops that you can attend, and I like to look into those when specific conferences make their announcements.
However, some of the best go-to resources are my peers. I have gleaned a lot of helpful materials and resources through them as well, so don’t forget to ask the people around you!
“However, some of the best go-to resources are my peers. I have gleaned a lot of helpful materials and resources through them as well, so don’t forget to ask the people around you!”
What does the learning culture look like at your company or on your engineering team? Fortunately, there are an abundance of learning opportunities here at Chime. I often feel like I’m dealing with the paradox of choice when it comes to the many guilds and meetings that I have access to. A lot of these opportunities are not just scoped to the realm of engineering but are geared toward a deeper understanding of our business and the people we serve — knowledge that’s both necessary and incredibly valuable in my role.
I’ve also been lucky to be a part of a team of individuals with varying degrees of experience and expertise, and I’ve really learned and grown a lot through pairing with each and every one of them and collaborating on various projects.
There have been many opportunities for growth here at Chime that are backed by a community that really fosters and encourages that and it’s made working here very rewarding.
Gynger is an embedded financing platform built for buyers and sellers of technology, that simplifies the end-to-end purchasing process by enabling businesses to pay, finance and manage all technology expenses from one platform.
How often do you take time to focus on knowledge- and skill-building?
I stay on top of my engineering skills by consistently building, whether that’s solving real-world problems at work, working on side projects or taking project-based courses. Hands-on experience is far more valuable to me than passive learning. When I want to explore a new concept or technology, I turn to a curated list of trusted engineers in specialized areas. With so many opinions out there, it is important to cut through the noise and focus on reliable sources.
I keep up with new trends but prioritize depth over hype. Rather than chasing every new shiny tool, I focus on technologies that are relevant to my work in web development and fintech. I also pay attention to patterns in tech evolution to anticipate what will have a lasting impact.
When I am passively learning, I enjoy reading books on topics of interest. I have collected a whole shelf of programming books over the years that I have barely scratched the surface of.
It is hard to put an exact number on it, but I would estimate that I spend at least three to four hours a week dedicated to expanding my knowledge and skills.
What are your go-to resources for keeping your engineering skills sharp?
I follow a select number of news articles and blogs religiously, making sure to read everything they publish. I don’t subscribe to much content, but when I do, I prioritize it. Beyond that, my learning is fairly evenly split between YouTube videos and official documentation. Work projects often introduce new tools or third-party services, so I always start with the formal docs to build a solid foundation. Reviewing pull requests is another great way to sharpen skills. Seeing how coworkers tackle complex problems and asking clarifying questions helps expand my own understanding.
“I follow a select number of news articles and blogs religiously, making sure to read everything they publish.”
What does the learning culture look like at your company or on your engineering team?
The learning culture on my team is strong. Everyone clearly wants to share their insights and continuously improve. Pull requests are the best places to spark discussions and help everyone level up. Everyone is encouraged to ask questions, challenge assumptions and explore better ways to solve problems. It’s a culture that values learning in the flow of work rather than treating it as a separate activity.
