Name: Lynsey Ussher
Role: Software Developer, Teamwork
Biography:
I’m Lynsey, a software developer at Teamwork where I mainly work as a Golang dev on the API but sometimes meander into the frontend. I left QUB with a degree in Applied Maths and Physics and went into Consulting where I worked as a backend developer on various FinTech projects. My hobbies include long walks on the beach, bug hunting, and caffeine.
What does your typical day look like?
I’ll usually spend most of my day working on my current feature, either pair programming with the interns or working with the rest of the dev team. If I'm not doing this, you’ll find me debugging, writing tests or kicking butt at Mario Kart. We only have one scheduled meeting a week but sometimes there’ll be other smaller meeting with the Project Designer or Tech lead to discuss any issues that have come up with features. All of this is powered by copious amounts of coffee .
What are you currently working on?
I work on Teamwork Spaces, a collaborative workspace for content creation. This quarter I’ve been working across three different features doing API and frontend work on Page Tags, Page Mentions and Trash.
What inspired you to join this company in particular?
Unlike other companies, Teamwork doesn’t feel like there’s any hierarchy between senior and junior staff members. Your work and ideas are recognised and appreciated. It’s pretty cool to see an idea you had come to life in the app! It also helps that I get to work with an amazing team!
Did you always want to work in this industry (tech)?
No, I did a degree in Applied Maths and Physics and was sure i’d go down a scientific route but after a few programming modules I fell in love with the problem solving and worked my way up into getting a dev job.
What’s your favourite part about your work?
I love collaborating with other people on projects; there’s nothing better than a great brainstorming session or when you finally figure out where that bug came from.
What would you say to other people considering a job in this industry (tech)?
Do it! The amount of support and opportunities out there now is phenomenal! Get involved wherever you can and make the most of every opportunity given to you. Anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.
How do you see this technology impacting on our lives?
We don’t leave technology at the workplace. In fact, our private lives might be even more tech-enabled than our professional lives. The development of technology has led to so many incredible discoveries, better facilities, and better luxuries, but at the same has dramatically changed our daily lives. Various gadgets, connected to the Internet, have changed the way we communicate, study, work and shop.
Who inspired you to work in this field?
My dad. He’s been writing code since before I was born and worked in management consulting my entire life. The rebellious teenager in me is still adamant that he had nothing to do with it, but he pushed me in the right direction all these years and gave me a passion for business and a love for solving problems. Thanks dad :)
What do you consider to be the most important tech innovation or development in recent years?
Blockchain has the potential to disrupt so many industries and open whole new worlds of possibilities, we've barely scraped the surface of what it can do. It won’t be long before people are exploring new and unique ideas to tap into the prospects that blockchain offers. It'll be exciting to see what happens in the next few years with it!
What tech gadget could you not live without?
As cliche as it sounds, my phone. It’s got everything I need on it from all my contacts to my memories in photos. I can see my family at the click of a button or check my step count, and it gives me the ability to work from wherever so I can sit on the bus and review code or check in with the chat while I’m out of the office.
