Taiwo Oyeniyi shares his journey from aspiring aeronautical engineer to chemical engineering, and eventually transitioning into software engineering. Discover how his background in chemistry and math played a vital role in his successful pivot into tech. Taiwo discusses the challenges, learning curves, and key skills that aided his transition, as well as the importance of open-mindedness and critical thinking in both careers. Learn about his experiences at companies like Goldman Sachs, Fight Metric (UFC), and Distrobird, and his eventual move to a leadership role in technology.
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00:00 Introduction to Transferable Skills
00:19 Taiwo's Early Aspirations
01:13 Choosing Chemical Engineering
02:50 Transition to Software Engineering
06:04 First Job and Career Growth
10:40 Skills Transfer and Team Dynamics
16:06 The Value of a Diverse Team
16:31 Coaching vs. Executing
17:25 Career Pivot and Leadership
17:48 Hiring and Mentoring Junior Developers
19:18 Critical Thinking in Interviews
20:47 Handling Pressure in Interviews
21:50 Career Progression and New Challenges
22:46 Building a New Platform from Scratch
24:16 Balancing Technical Decisions and Business Needs
26:35 Estimating Project Timelines
29:58 Reflecting on Project Management
32:08 Guilty Pleasure Job
33:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts