Beyond The Build
Beyond The Build is a podcast about the real, unfiltered experiences of being a software engineer. Hosted by two seasoned engineers, Uma and Ope, we dive into the highs, the lows, and everything in between—from career growth and technical challenges to work-life balance and industry insights. Whether you're an aspiring developer or a seasoned pro, join us as we explore the parts of tech that don’t get talked about enough.
Connect with Ope - https://www.linkedin.com/in/osunkoyaope/
Connect with Uma:
Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/umacodes)
Tiktok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@umacodes)
Twitter: (https://twitter.com/umacodes)
LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/umaabu/)
Beyond The Build
EP4: Developing "Taste" As A Software Engineer
In this episode, Ope and I break down what it really takes to build strong technical skills as a software engineer. We go beyond just writing code and dive into how to deliberately sharpen your expertise by:
- Building a portfolio of projects that showcase your abilities
- Developing taste in engineering and writing about what you learn
- Surrounding yourself with an environment that pushes you to grow (or creating one if it doesn’t exist)
- Seeking scale—working on problems that challenge you
- Asking the right people for problems to solve—and actually following through
And, of course, we emphasize something engineers often forget: taking care of yourself. Knowing when to disconnect and have fun is just as important as grinding through hard problems.
This episode is packed with practical insights for software engineers at any stage. Whether you're early in your career or looking to sharpen your edge, you'll walk away with actionable advice.