Dona Sarkar is an Engineering Lead for Microsoft’s HoloLens, a fashion designer. blogger and author of 7 books with 3 on the way. We talk to Dona about why more women should consider careers in technology, the power of learning to work in technology careers and how having a full life and following interests on the side will also enhance your career.
Dona compares learning to coding to learning a new language, it takes time. We discuss online resources to start learning new skills, and the massive opportunity to build products for 5 billion people who are currently underserved in the markets. “We keep going after the same 2 billion people over and over again in tech, but why, lets go after 5 billion”
Growing up in Detroit, Dona didn’t have a lot of money or resources, so she made up her own stories and characters. Dona talks about how writing was and stil is a comfort, and the benefits of growing up with a need to constantly use her own creativity to entertain herself. Dona says “when you don’t have very much, consider it your superpower”. Dona also explain how a lack of resources can help you understand the 5 billion undeserved people in the market today.
Topics discussed In this show:
Tips for getting started in technologyCoding is just building things for people and how not to be scared when trying to learn technical skillsIf you don’t succeed at something, Dona suggests “do it again!”Resources to learn new skills (skillfeed, udemy, youtube, Lynda, codeacademy)Dona’s time management secretDona talks about her book on eating disorders in minority womenWe talk about the opportunity to make products for 5 billion peopleHow growing up with less can be your superpowerDona’s philosophy on staying away from non believers and negativityWe also speak with Brianne Burrowes, the founder of I want her job, about how the website was founded, and a lot more!