Women In Tech Spotlight – Nimot Imran

“Although she’s not in tech, my mom is my role model. She’s very hardworking, and that’s one thing I learned from her. Likewise, I may not be the smartest software developer, but I work hard and put in the hours.” – Nimot, Software Developer at Tunga.

The number of women in tech is on the rise, and we are excited to showcase the incredible work of female tech engineers at Tunga in honor of the IWD 2023 theme. We want to highlight their unique opportunities, challenges, experiences, and success stories in the industry. Although progress is still being made, we are encouraged by the growing presence of women in tech and are committed to supporting their continued success.

For this Women in Tech Spotlight Series, our Partnerships Manager, Pearl, interviews Nimot to discuss her tech journey and how she finds fulfillment in her career. Nimot Imran is an experience-driven Frontend Engineer who constantly seeks innovative solutions to everyday problems.

She is well-versed in Javascript, Vue.js, Vuex, and Nuxt to perfectly fuse functional requirements and creative elements to produce optimal and intuitive interfaces.

So let’s dive in;

Nimot Imran

From Pen and Paper to Laptop: Nimot’s Journey as a Software Engineer

How did you get interested In software development, and what inspired you to pursue it as a career?

“I studied computer science at Kwara State Polytechnic, Nigeria. However, I couldn’t write code because there were no practical programming classes. So we used to write down the codes with pen and paper and cram the results to pass assessments and exams.”

“After graduating in 2019, I joined Semicolon, a training institute for software engineers in Nigeria. The institute provided us with a laptop to learn and practice what we learned in design thinking, Javascript, and other programming languages. This was when my career as a software engineer began fully.”

As a lady, what was your family’s reaction when you told them you wanted to go into tech? and what’s their reaction right now?

At first, I didn’t tell my parents about my decision to become a full-time software developer because I wasn’t living with them. But when I visited after my training at Semicolon, my mum was curious as to why I was always on my laptop. Now, she understands what I do and how flexible my work situation is as a remote software developer.

Who Do You Consider A Mentor in Your Career Path?

Although she’s not in tech, my mom is my role model. She’s very hardworking, and that’s one thing I learned from her. Likewise, I may not be the smartest software developer, but I work hard and put in the hours.

Can You Tell Us About A Project You Worked On That You Are Particularly Proud Of, And What Made It Stand Out For You?

I am proud of how far I have come three years into my career. I plan to build a product that software engineers can use. One of my proudest projects was a product my team built for Semicolon after one year of software engineering training.

And the product is currently used to onboard and train new cohorts at Semicolon today. I’m also looking forward to getting a leadership position since I have some knowledge of project management.

Reflections on the Skills and Qualities of a Successful Software Engineer

What Are Some Of The Biggest Challenges You Face In Your Day-To-Day Work?

“You can’t be a software engineer and not be smart, especially when working across different sectors. There are certain programming issues that may take days to resolve, and the same logic can be applied to real-life experiences. Being a software developer has taught me to plan and think constructively before making decisions.”

What Do You Enjoy Most About Your Work As A Software Developer?
“Software development is a very dynamic field, and over the years, I’ve learned a lot from working in several industries. But, on the flip side, being a developer is time-consuming because there are specific problems that you have to work overtime to fix.”

What Skills And Qualities Do You Think Are Most Important For Success In This Field, And How Have You Developed And Honed Those Skills Over Time?

Anyone can write code, but you need design thinking and critical thinking to understand the project or implement a user story. Secondly, you need to hone your communication skills to comprehend what’s expected of you.

Lastly, you need to be a team player. As a software developer, you can’t do everything independently, so you must learn to depend on your team.

Nimot Imran

Finding Your Niche and Building Your Skillset: Advice for Aspiring Software Developers.

How Do You See The Role Of Women In Software Development Changing In The Future?

“The onus lies on us that are already in tech to help other women get into software development. Back then, we all thought banking was a noble profession because of how they were perceived. We must show that becoming a female software developer is possible and encourage more women to join the field.”

What Advice Do You Have For Women Interested In Pursuing A Career In Software Development?

“My advice to young women considering a career in software development is to do background research to determine what aspect of software development they want to get into. You can also discuss your interests with someone to get guided on making the right decision.”

“Once you decide what to specialize in, focus your time and energy on learning as much as possible. At first, it might be challenging, but you have to be patient and trust the process.”

What Are Some Of Your Future Career Aspirations, And How Do You Plan To Improve your Skills as a Software Developer?

“Right now, I am three years into my career, but I hope to build a product that software engineers can use in the future. I’m also looking forward to getting a leadership position since I have some knowledge in project management.”

“For now, thanks to Tunga, I now have the chance to work with a diversified team and a global firm. This adds to my skill set as a software developer in terms of experience and knowledge.”