Tag: career

  • Confidence

    Confidence

    I was having a conversation with one of my mentors last week about a specific challenge I was facing, and she made this observation, and gave me a brilliant piece of advice that completely transcends that discussion and put so many things in context for me. If it’s affecting your confidence, then we have a…

  • My Career, Her Job

    UPDATE: I expressed myself very badly in this post. As a result, I hurt and offended some good people, and some of them were quick to let me know. I’m sorry. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed by the response, but as soon as I saw the comments I knew I’d made a mistake. I appreciate…

  • Blood, Bones and Butter

    Blood, Bones and Butter

    I read about Blood, Bones and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton (Amazon) on the Eloquent Woman blog, which discussed a section of the book in which the author writes about a panel she was on, and things she wanted to say, but didn’t. It was a panel about female chefs. Initially she has an attitude of “why are…

  • Friends Don’t Let Friends… Become PMs

    Friends Don’t Let Friends… Become PMs

    Recently, I heard about a school that has a mandatory “technology” class that students have to take in order to take CS classes in later years. It features: wood-working, circuit building, and Excel. This is horrifying. I want to go there with picket signs and stage a protest. Dress up as robots and chant things.…

  • Rise: How to Be Really Successful and Like Your Life

    Rise: How to Be Really Successful and Like Your Life

    Rise (Amazon) is focused on helping you become CEO. As a result I found some of it a bit overly-ambitious for me. But – it contained some really great advice. 1. Ruthless Priorities. You have too much to do, but hey – don’t we all. The trick is to decide what’s critical and do an outstanding…

  • Misconceptions of What Software Engineers Do

    Misconceptions of What Software Engineers Do

    My first proper day on my new project, and our PM says to me – “Cate, you seem to like to travel. How about you spend time in New York?” – I’m tasked with helping another team out, and being the bridge between that team and my team here. Initially I was a bit… thrown.…

  • Decisions

    Decisions

    Last week, in California, I met the amazing Meggin who leaves such astute and beautiful comments here. It was great – or terrible timing – depending on how you look at it. Terrible timing, because, one of the first things I said to her was: In a while I’ll spin this into a really positive…

  • WISE Talk: 3 Things That Make Me Luckier

    WISE Talk: 3 Things That Make Me Luckier

    Commentary (I didn’t have slides) for the talk I gave for UO WISE. I thought I was going to come and have an informal chat about how interviewing at Google is not that scary, and then I saw Krystal’s tweet. [blackbirdpie id=”55757050474532864″] I freaked out a little, to be honest. Like, woah – I need…

  • Post Grad Rehab: January/February

    Post Grad Rehab: January/February

    January is for Career At the start of the month, I asked myself some questions. How do I manage my work email? I want to minimize the time I spend on email, but stay on top of it. So far, it’s ok. I use priority inbox and starred action items and delete aggressively. It’s helpful…