Episode 17: Selena Small
ARCHITECTURE - BUSINESS & ACCOUNTING - BAR MANAGER - OPERATIONS - SOFTWARE DEVELOPER - PROFESSIONAL KICKBOXER - HEAD OF DELIVERY
Selena has seen her fair share up of ups and downs - picking herself up again and again to continue on and thrive. She’s been able to tell when something isn’t right for her and pivoted her career to where she wanted to be.
From managing bars and restaurants to not only becoming a software developer but also a professional kickboxer!
This short blurb really doesn’t do it her journey justice - listen/watch/read now!
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Below is the episode transcript. This is automated through Azure Cognitive Speech Services. There is more training and customisation work coming for improved accuracy.
In the meantime please bare with any missing words/grammar/typos - the AI is learning!
Transcript
Akanksha
Welcome back everyone to another episode of Paths Uncovered Podcast where we get to go through all the untraditional pathways that people have taken into technology. And kind of make it a little bit of a more even playing field of kind of getting your way into the field. Especially if you've had a really. Cool. And like. Unmitigated. And. Career trajectory before. This.
And today's guest, I think definitely fits. The bill right on track. With the multiple different careers she's had in that whole like journey that she's taken to get to here, so I've got Selena Small with me.
Selena
Hi. I'm Selina, I'm really excited to be here today, sharing my journey. Hi. I'm. Currently. I'm a. Head of delivery for Fresho. In Melbourne. And I'm also a professional kick boxer, currently holding the Victorian state. Title for the. WNC 53 point. 5. Kilo benjamite a window that I do know that apartment that is.
Akanksha
Amazing congratulations. I love this. What a great I. Love it, this is going to be absolutely. Perfect and I think. I'm. Just. Some things with one that just. Got released recently in office.
Test guard the episode and she so this. Is where I was telling people like that. Women ECHO and I was like, somebody anybody? Who wants to share their journey and I'm. Sure, there's so many people. Who've had kind of on traditional. Pathways and things like Selena was. Just like yeah, it's me hot hello. Let's do this. Yes. More people like this please make my life so much easier so it was so good to hear from you and this is going to be such a. Good conversation I think. Well, I hope so. Absolutely no. Pressure no, but I think it would just. Be great fun to have, so let's dive. In and take me back to kind of. High school times. College like what were the? Decisions. What were the kind of tough?
Selena
Preston, where did you think everything?
Akanksha
Was going to go back back then. Wow, that's a really good question. Take me back a few years. Now, I definitely didn't think it was gonna be making it into software engineering, and I certainly didn't think I don't think I'm gonna be a kickboxer, either. Neither of those things are on the cards. I actually, I was really into graphic design and I wanted to be an architect, so I moved away from my family. After high school in new. Zealand. To be a. Studying architect at UNI. Yeah, it's about two years and decided it really wasn't for me. As I started. I recently had someone else who. Kind of went through that path of like. Accenture as well and it's saying. There's like I've got a friend. In college, who did the exact same? Thing right, she did about 2. Years as well and she's like.
Selena
No, this is this, isn't it? This is not for.
Akanksha
Me. Yes. Dad studying architecture and actually designing stuff is really two different things.
Selena
So.
Akanksha
I quickly decided no. I don't like spending other peoples work I. If I do this, this is. You know I wanna be drawing stuff and and. Coming up with my own ideas. So yeah, if you've got clue.
Selena
You decide to like.
Akanksha
Leave did you leave? A degree like two years? In is that we said. Yeah, that's right. So what was happening? Here. Well, you know my my family does. Well. OK, but they don't do well enough to pay for me to go to uni, so the whole time I was at uni, I kind of juggled a lot of jobs and hospitality, working in bars and restaurants and. Nightclubs I had. You know various different roles. As a bartender, I was a I was a. A cook like a brunch cook at a cafe? I think I picked up. Extra. Extra shifts over summer. Somewhere else like just another local bar. And you know, trying to. Fit it all in with UNI as well. Actually anyone who studied architecture knows I had to really full on degree like really intense so it can be quite hard to fit anything on top of. That if you want to do really well at it. I did try tried my hardest. But yeah, I. Suppose when I list. My degree, the only kind of. Thing I had to. Fall back on 'cause all my. Hospitality. Experience. And my connections and the bars and things like. That and. So. I kind of I kind of thought. Well I. Don't really know what I want to do. But what I? Could. Do. Is I could work full? Time. And. Make a whole lot more money. And not have a date. And at the same. Time what I could do is. Just go to. Like a local politics. Where? The. The causes and as intense as you need. And I ended up. Spending the next. I think. 2. Two years maybe working full. Time at A at a pretty pretty. Good. Bar restaurant in Wellington. And. Studying business management and accounting because I kind of figured that while I don't. Know what I want to? Do. But this made many accounting sounds like something that I could probably apply to to. Anything? In the future, yeah. That sounds pretty. Open-ended. I. Love that never mean it's like. Oh it's just become. Such an assumption isn't it, just like you?
Selena
Go to school. Go to college.
Akanksha
Or finish college and you'll. Have your life in the spirit that. It's. Interesting. When it's like well. Actually. Really hope works until meat. It's not for everyone is like I've been there. Was. Jeffrey Thompson College was just like what am I doing like why am I here? What is going on like? I think everyone kind of goes.
Selena
Through that, but I mean.
Akanksha
I think it's a whole different level of kind of being like actually no, this is definitely not for me, and this is a different step. I need to take. And I think it's. Just I mean, there's a whole different level of cars. That takes into. Account, it's just like. No, I'm just gonna. I'm gonna make my own. Path here we're going to change. This around so especially when there's so much kind of things are. Happening everywhere the dead. Part I'm like it's. Important, I mean it has to be taken. Turn off at that time. Yeah, definitely, and you don't. Know until you start doing something, whether you like not. So. Important. Because. I bring your sex. Yeah, yeah. Like I mean I'm like. A pig.
Selena
What I wanted.
Akanksha
To do when I'm 17, I'm sorry, I can barely like figure out what I'm gonna do like.
Selena
The next day, let alone the.
Akanksha
Rest of my life, like supposedly I guess bizarre.
Selena
Like the little lever of.
Akanksha
Pressure is like. No, no you'll. Make the right decision and I'm sure it will. Work itself out and you're like.
Selena
Will it?
Akanksha
Do. We know. And stupidly, yeah, a lot to put on. Someone who's exchange is in the next 60. Years of your life. I mean I'm. Doing that, but that's not the case anymore. At least we can have like different things, they're. Like
Selena
actually, let's just.
Akanksha
Let's pivot this. Let's make this something else. But like the whole point of like going. Back to kind of where you experience. Is right, it's like let's make the most of. Whatever they got to do. At the moment. And still make it like going to college on the. Side like that takes dedication and. My fair place yourself like working. Full time on top of. That is just so much effort. So you've now got. Your now I've gotten. The business management and accounting stuff sitting under the. Bells you've been? Working for a good little bit of time. What's? Happening next. Arm. So at this point. This point I think. I've I've taken on a new role so I worked. In it just. As a cocktail waitress in this in this. Great Bar restaurant for a long time. But I've kind of always been. Ambitious and so you kind of want to get your way. To the top. Of you know, wherever? You are, yeah. And. In that particular virus, right, there was a lot of experience and there was no opportunity for me to become the general manager or something, and so. I ended up. Moving to a. Nightclub. Really not a light hot bar like really freaking bar and taking. Over the position there is general manager. So I was running this tiny little late night bar. Probably one of the. Busiest. Places on 45 in. Wellington and we were open. Till 6:00 in the morning, five nights a week. It was. Hectic, it's like.
Selena
There was no.
Akanksha
Dance. Floor. People didn't go. To dance, they went there to drink. Yeah. And so we were the place. That after all the other bars were closed. Their. Staff came to. Came out. So we were. We were. Crazy. Busy. We were packed all night. It. Was insane, it was definitely a wild ride like. I was in my. Early 20s, my job was basically get drunk. Get these people drunk party have a great time. And it was *******. Awesome. I mean he just sounds great. I think I compare this to Ireland. Where like I think the latest visor light. Open till was two. I don't mean I. Think there's one bar in the country that opens any.
Selena
Later than that, like God that sounds.
Akanksha
Yeah, sounds like sounds very accurate. Yeah for sure. I. Ended up doing that for about four. Years so running that site. So wow. I don't know buddy book. Nobody. Thought I could do it. Lasted that long would have lasted that long. And I'm not surprised. Actually, so it is a very. Like it takes a toll like it's actually that kind of a whole lifestyle. Change. To work. Hours. And to deal with actually. Constantly you only deal with drunk people and so by the time I finished working there, I honestly I hated people. I just couldn't stand anyone, didn't want to talk to anyone and.
Selena
I just
Akanksha
hated people because I'd only been dealing with. These drunk, annoying, arrogant. You know, yeah. Yeah, here is a sample of one specific thing for. So long you're like Oh my God, get me away. From everything. Right? Yeah, that's right, and there's no life outside of that because you're working those hours, so you have to sleep all day to to make up for it. And so the normal. People are away, you're asleep. So there's no. Kind of crossover. Interaction don't get it wrong. There was some some lovely, some amazing people, but just the majority.
Selena
Were.
Akanksha
You know you come away with this mentality. Thinking like that's everyone in the world is like. That yeah, I mean, and it's not. It's hard. Sorry. It's not hard to see. God words are messing my brain up a little. Bit here, but it's not hard to. See why that's the case, like why? That that mindset was staying in as well, right? Like he's. He said, like. It's just the. Whole life signs change like. How? Was it? Coming out of that. After four years of it.
Selena
Well that was.
Akanksha
Probably the turning point of my life. To be honest, I spent four years doing. That, and by that stage I was kind of. Kind of thinking well. What else could I possibly do? You know I don't have any other. Skills yeah I. I have this this. Diploma, but who really? Cares about that. And I don't have any other kind of experience and. So. I did try to. Try to look around, but I also. Still just didn't. Really. Know what I wanted to do? I just knew I didn't want to do that anymore. Yeah. And so luckily the guy that I worked for, the guy that owned the. Place. He had his finger in quite a few pies and. So he had. Another restaurant opening up and I ended up working via for him so I was the operations manager for that. Restaurant. Which means I could work. Daytime. Hours. But because it's not like office mantidflies it. Was a little bit flexible. So I could work like. 10 'til 7 which was, you know, that was massive? Because yeah, coming from having hours of PM till 7:00 AM, there's no way you can flip that. Around from 9 to 5. So it took. It took quite. A long time actually to be able to even wake up a team. I mean, yeah. God, that's it. We're top, but yeah, I guess that yeah, well, more importantly, it took me a long time to even be able to get your sleep before 2:00 AM. Oh my God dammit.
Selena
I.
Akanksha
Just feel like. Shifts in like a whole life.
Selena
Like yeah, I mean like.
Akanksha
I I guess I'm saying the. Same thing that you've already said, but like. It really. Is just wild. How big of a change that actually is? Yeah, I, I think I think people people were surprised by it, but it's really hard to fully. Understand, unless you've done it, you know. I really don't think that mom like my mom. Knows like I've seen her do my chest and stuff like. The whole thing of. Like how we got. It quite during the day 'cause. It can't make any. Noises. And we, I mean, it's. Fine, but even then I guess in the first. Few days I'm just terrible, so like. It's trying to get into that, right? So like.
Selena
If she works a week of night.
Akanksha
Trips like the first. Few days should be up and awake. During the day at hours anyway and then.
Selena
There's exhausted, it's like this.
Akanksha
Weird cycle trying to get into. It and then by the time she does. It's over but. This is like. Such a sustained. Level of. It that I'm just like God, I don't know. How I can understand how hard it would have been doing that? It was. Different. My you know my. Chill. Was. You know? Vodka and. Fries? OK, look at the job done for that day. Yeah it was. Actually really quite bad. Thinking back to it, you know my on air like I was drinking a lot at that time and I know everyone drinks in their early 20s, but this is. Just. Insane. Like I actually. Had to drink to get through my shift.
Selena
By the end of. It.
Akanksha
And I was probably drinking. You know? 2. Liters of strikes for it's a week on average, so we're. Impossible. Shots shots shots. I'd. Probably two or three in the morning. That's when I have made. Dinner break and I'd. Just go across the road and get some fries and. Actually it was pretty bad like I. Actually ended up getting so. Will not get there. Well, not really skinny. But just so unhealthy. That you know on the weekend I would. Go for a walk. 20 minutes down the. Street and I would have to go home and. Have a nap.
Selena
'cause I was so.
Akanksha
Exhausted like I just couldn't keep walking, yes. It was on. It was a terrible last. Fall. Started. Out. Fun ended up not. Yeah, fair, it's like now you're at.
Selena
The. Bar.
Akanksha
The restaurant. Here now at the restaurant where it's. Back into the daylight living. Hours like in the change has been tough, but we're getting through it, so how? Was the house that holds here. So now you've. Got stepped up into operations management as well so. Maybe it's the degree coming in handy as well. Yeah, so it's like I said this is. Kind of weird, everything shifted like 100. Percent, this is where I had a. Little bit of. Like clarity. I could start. Thinking. Straight and I could start thinking about. What I would? Really want to be doing 'cause I really don't. Wanna work in hospitality? Forever at this point, like I've I've I. I quit. By my job is. General. Manager at the. Nightclub I broke up with my boyfriend. Kicked out of the. Apartment. I. You know? Like all of these. Things that have been. Going on for the last four. Years. And yet I'm so toxic I kind of just. Kept all these. Habits.
Selena
I sort of.
Akanksha
Didn't completely stop drinking, but I. Definitely cut down a lot. And yeah, I went to go work. With operations manager in this restaurant and so yeah, it was a little bit helpful having the degree I. Suppose. But I think probably. More more helpful was just the. Experience that I already had as a general manager somewhere. Else. And. Just having been in the restaurants and hospitality scene for so long. That was a huge. Benefit, but this is probably the time where we can start talking about two things. It's really. Exciting. One, this is where. I. Got in today. Work. So I could start. Kickboxing and number. 2. This is where I actually started learning to code. Ah. OK. So right? How do we break? Which one do we want to dive as differs? So maybe let's talk about the kickboxing. Right 'cause we're just? Coming out of the lifestyle stuff with like. It was really unhealthy and you're. Kind of not in the right. In the best place you could be. So. Was that kind of a case? Of like
Selena
this will.
Akanksha
Let me back. Into a healthier lifestyle is that where? Kickboxing started, or how did that kind of old? Startup. Yeah so. OK, but things are funny. We're going back to high school. West side a lot of sports, right? I was I would be catching by football team also. Captain of hockey team I was swimming champion. You know, I did a lot. Of sports and as a kid. And coming to you and it was. Really so long with the. Architecture like I said it is not. Really a lot of time for anything else. Then yeah, I needed to work. So you know, sports kind of went out the window. But at that time, that's actually when I started. Looking for other opportunities. For. For some kind of. Sport.
Akanksha
What's? Up sports team kind of means you need to. Commit to other. People, and so I thought I'd go. You know, do. Something. Solo. And that's where I first kind of heard about. Kickboxing and bought well maybe. That would be really cool. To do for fitness. Yeah. But like I. Said you know one thing lead to. Another we just, you know, over these last four six years, there just wasn't time to fit in, you know. I mean, I'm either studying and working or working these crazy hours. Yes, and so. Yes, I think my life around. After after many are. I kind of thought, well, you know what? I wanted to give kickboxing ego. Maybe I could give it a go now. And so like I said I, I got pretty. Sick. Towards. The end of May my time at. Minibar. And so I wasn't very confident to go into the. Gym and try it out I thought. I thought well. I might make an. Absolute. Fool of myself, I might be really unco and I'm also really unfit. But you know, if I try to. Work on one of those things, maybe I won't feel as bad if it doesn't work out, yeah? So I. Was really. Determined to go and try. It out. And. I started running and I the first day I went for a run. It was like this one hour run uphill up now Vic. And. Probably know 15 minutes and. I had to stop and start walking. But it is a one way. Track, so he had to go one way to. Get back to finish it. I thought you know the next. Day I was like it I. Think it was an agony. You know his big day off. And then I thought, well. Yeah, well, if I can run for an hour nonstop, I think Oldfield said enough and confident enough to go and walk. Into that gym. And so it took me about 6. Weeks until I could. Run everyday for one hour non-stop. Before I felt confident enough and I was like alright. It's just looking. At a let's just go. Let's go try it, see what happens. What's the worst that could happen at least unfit? Even. Franco I like that it's just like below steps. In like the little things of like let. Me just say this. One thing, and I'll do this and then if I do. This I'll do that. I'll I start like like methodical. Kind of way of doing it. And I don't. Mean I I've been to that Victoria like. I do not. Know how you did this is me. Trying to get back into my own. Fitness after the lockdowns have been thing I'm like, oh, wow. OK. I'll just run for 30 minutes. And if I can do.
Selena
That
Akanksha
I can get through this. Yes. I like it's a good way to do this, see. I mean you bought C have gotten, so he said again, like I'm genuinely, I'm like thinking back to mentor. I mean I drove up. That I didn't even look like OK. Well. Book. Talk so you're gonna send James and Michael getting into the kickboxing things. And how do I go with them like I was kind of diving into this whole? I mean, I guess I'm like a professional. Athlete World I guess. Yeah, well I started. I started kickboxing so I went to a gentle giant. And Wellington, New Zealand. And they they're not like a dirty grungy like fighters. Gym. They're really focused on like woman. They actually have a lot more women than men, even there, and they do mainly fitness classes. Too, so they do have they. Do have some fighters as well. But it's mainly focused on women who want to get fit and. So. That's kind of nice, 'cause it means it's not. Super intimidating and the other cool. Thing about it is that they. At the time, I don't know if. It's still the case, but at the time. That only had Thai. Trainers, but they were. Very much into my time, which is a type style of kickboxing. And. At the time I had no idea. One from the. Other. I didn't. Know there were all these. Variations I don't know a lot of. Things. But what I was actually. Learning was my time. So that was kind of cool because. Yeah it was. Just a really. Nice. Welcoming kind of environment it was. Sort of social groups as well. So there were a lot of people. You know? Who we're kind. Of. Not new, but they're just. More like doing it for fitness in for. Fun and they get together on the. Weekend and got hang. Out where her drinks or go celebrate someone's birthday or whatever. And. So. It was really cool to just be part of. This. Social group and some of those. People are still brings us now. Even though you know we're not living in the same. City or the same country? Anymore. And it's really cool that we've kind of made these.
Selena
Lifelong.
Akanksha
Friendships as far as. But yeah, I kind of started out just for the fitness and I felt like. You know, I went to this PT. Vision for the first time 'cause I didn't wanna. I don't wanna feel like an idiot in front of the class. Yep. And they were just they were. So nice and they were so friendly and it was so encouraging as well it. Just made me want to go. Back and. I think probably three months and they're like. They started talking about fighting. And so I was like. OK well. Maybe? Maybe I'll just have one fight, see what it's like. You know, a lot of people do that. And so yeah, it was probably. Probably would have been. At least the year before I ended up getting. In the ring for the first time. But yeah, it. Was just so much fun. I just loved it so much. I was literally there six days a week. Is. Every day for a class.
Selena
Cool.
Akanksha
I love this, I mean especially kind of. Static it's so interesting. I think these kind of things are just like all it took was just a good, supportive community around. It to be like. No, this is actually. Something I wanna. Where? I wanna be and I wanna be doing. This. Yeah, I mean, I thought you'd like those. Really are just. Telling me a little. Bit. Like I mean I finally got. Into I've gotten into such a good. Routine. Right before the original. Often happened, and I think it's like something like did. Right before last chance happen and stuff. And so I was in such a good place. And then. Boom, everything shut. Down. All 2020 Outback. Mission do it. Thank you, I'm just gonna get myself to do.
Selena
It.
Akanksha
And then, like 2021 I was like OK. Now I mean, we've gotta get back. Out, that's OK. We're gonna do those joining. Gym as in like the nicest. People there, and I mean I'm getting so. Fed. Again, and. Then they were back in. Stockton how many times? Can I just be like? Let's just.
Selena
Start.
Akanksha
Yes, will do. One more time, but I hope it will be. Fine, but yeah, like it just goes. Such a long. Way for those kind of things of like I used. To hate going to the gym and I'm. Like Oh my God, there's so many people here. And I I look. Like an idiot like it's. Always a pot and like oh. Yeah the community part. Really gets me. I don't like it makes. A difference, but it's OK. This has been happening with this. Kind of happened over a year and a. Half. Kind of a time frame. As you've gotta get done towards the fighting. But, and he said. At the same time, we were kind of starting. To code as. Well, so how is that? Going while. You're learning how. To like like Street, just fight and kick people this is great. Yeah. So they didn't. Start this like within months of each other. I kind of started. But yeah, the the software thing. So one of the.
Selena
One of the really good regulars for.
Akanksha
The early part of the evening. At the at. The late night bar that had been running mini bar. His name is Tom Kelly.
Selena
He
Akanksha
who. Would come into the early part of the. Evening, so he wasn't part of. Those. Horrible. Drunk people they had to deal with. At the end of the night. And. We caught up. In you know, like have a chat when he's having a drink in the evening or whatever. And. After a. After I stopped working at Minibar. Towards the end I mentioned. To him that I was planning to. Leave, I didn't know what I wanted. To do and. Is it what interests you? And I said, you know, I've been looking at various courses online. To see if I could get some inspiration. You know, fight.
Selena
Try to try.
Akanksha
To figure out, like. Is there a course that maybe sounds interesting, like what directions where I want to take, and I think the most interesting thing that I could find which wasn't still wasn't really that interesting to me, but it seems the most interesting at the time. Was I think a of course and. We've. Development we've developed, I think so. Yeah. We could tell how. Interesting, it was like something that was happening. Yeah, it wasn't that appealing. But anyway, I I mentioned to him means a net to him in time was actually his, you know. Hey there, please stop for architect he's you know 20 years in the game like since he was young. And he's.
Selena
Really.
Akanksha
Passionate about mentoring and teaching other people and so out of this conversation. Kind of just one thing led to another. And before I. Knew. It he was. Showing me how to write some. Code. Hey, soon after that he actually end up moving over to Sydney. Which is there. Unfortunately you would think right, but no. So we stayed in contact and he would seem they always. Like problems to? Go and research and I was just so excited to go and research these problems and I'm talking like.
Selena
Go and.
Akanksha
Find out. What one?
Selena
Human.
Akanksha
Architecture is and explain. It to me.
Selena
Go and figure out how.
Akanksha
To. Auto translate kicks into binary and back the other way. You know, go and find. Out what a linked list is and explain it to me. How do you traverse a binary tree efficiently? All these kind of things and I had. You know I'd. Never never. Knew anything about software engineering? I didn't know know. I'm probably like the moment mid 20s. Here I didn't. Even. Know you know. You could open a terminal. And essentially talked to your computer. Holy. ****. I didn't know any of this was real. And so yeah, I'd go and research these. Problems. And. Make the. Answer. You know he was only white firm and tell me that you know they're good or bad or whatever, and then eventually we started writing some assembly 68K. So we. I don't have dice. Game. And assembly 68 K He basically told. Me, you never? Go. Get yourself a Mac. Whatever it takes so long tech. Doesn't. Matter. Just get a Mac Mac event. Sheet one who. Kids. Would be. Expensive now, but in pilot. In the long run and. Whatever. It was like blind side, who knows? I would never do that, Yep. Well, I think it's. Probably most of my savings at that point. Going into this. Computer. And. I think I haven't even owned the computer. In last six years. So. You know? It's all.
Selena
Brand new.
Akanksha
Yeah. Starting yeah eventually we built this. Last. Game and then he taught me some free. So we build a chat server and. See. At some point. He came back to Wellington and we got together again and kind of advanced to Ruby, yes. So we did a little bit of. Basic Ruby. I think it must. Be. I don't know. Maybe a year as. Year later. Or a year and a. Half later that. He started it. He introduced me to some people. And I ended up getting my first first job part time contracting as a junior software engineer. I. Love. This and I I love. How and this is where like mentoring? And. Actual like sponsorship. Of. People comes in, so it's so. Important, and I think I mean. Like it was a little bit of his time on the side, but like. He basically taught you like. What you need great could would teach this. Handsome, right like your property. Learning and it's. So much better weather is kind of doing it for yourself. And you're just. Like yeah, I'm just. Go figure this out, then people like, here's. Something go through. US which? Is I mean it has its own merits where it's needed. But like I. Never, definitely didn't find that either a lot. Or barely anything. When I was like a catfish piece of paper to get a market to get a piece of paper at the end of this but.
Selena
God that is so good.
Akanksha
To hear it so like this is literally. Just lining itself up now. Isn't it like in a? Book about year and a half. Taking about a year and a half to get to the same. Level of log. Getting your first job. At the same time, going in properly. Find this is so cool to hear. Yes, so it sounds like it's all going well, right? Yeah. It's really exciting. We're like a year and a half. And I'm like. Yes, I got my first. Junior. Software. Yes, I'm about to fight. And I think those two things. The next two things. Probably happened in like a week of each other, so I had my first about the rest, unpadded like how much advice. And. It was going really, really great, right? I was I was doing really. Well, like it was definitely on point. Some. Third round comes around. We fell down and I just looked at my shoulder. So. Yeah. Fight was over last. It's a. Little cold God. Yeah. It was pretty bad. It was a really, really bad just location. We kind of both fell down on them at the same time they did on my elbow and shoulder popped out backwards. So. Yeah, that was. Definitely yeah I couldn't. I couldn't do any. Training for six. Months. Yeah. Like I was in a shoulder immobilizer for two weeks. Can do anything. Devastating, especially when it's been such a big part. Of your life. For such a long time to be like no nothing, nothing. At all for now. Yeah, and. I did that. I was so angry I was like I was.
Selena
In a lot of.
Akanksha
Pain. From the injury and I was. Just. So. Angry. You know, I. I put so much if it in and I got sitting everything and. It. Doesn't matter what. I tried, I dropped, you know, like I would try to go for a run. It hurts too much I would. Try to hit the bag it. Hurts too much. You know? Obviously can't fire or.
Selena
Anything?
Akanksha
With that kind of injury. So yeah, it was. It was pretty rough. Another at the same time. Having to do your first. Role while.
Selena
Injured.
Akanksha
Alright, well yeah, you think so, right? You think so right? Troll was a. Contract role and it's kind of like. Part time, so I was there just a couple of. Days a week. OK. Uhm, while I was still. Have my job at the restaurant. Has lost the rest of the time. Come. And say. It was a startup. So. You know they didn't have huge amounts of like. Funding and time and stuff it was. Literally just me. And the CEO and they. Probably about the same time. They decided yeah. We don't have the capacity for you. So I'm back to the restaurant and I'm crippled. Only simple, just that one way. It's so annoying to hear is that it was just. Like are you? Kidding me. There is so much going right and then this. Yeah, it definitely definitely took a bit of a blow. At that. Stage. And I guess a lot of people. Would give up. At that point, right? Me not going to gym because. It was kind. Of not there. So they stopped. Completely like I get it. 100% would not have come back. Rams. Oh yeah. But I really didn't wanna. I really didn't wanna just have a whole life in hospitality, yeah? It just was not for me, and so the only. Choice really is. That I keep. Going. Right, if I if I give up? Bad and what have I? Got yeah so I just keep going. And. Like I said, I've been doing operations in this restaurant and we've been. Working on a. No. We've been working with. A. This online reservation system. And it was just giving me a. Hard time and I was like, you know what? I could do something so much better. I'm gonna go build my online reservation system, so I think I kind of just like I was like I can't train, I'll just throw myself into software and. I'll get a better job. I'll go, you know. I'll go build. Something myself, whatever it takes.
Akanksha
And so I had this. Project this idea for an online reservation system and that's when I started. Is using reviewing rails so rows is really easy to kind of get started. With. But obviously I'm still pretty naive to how software works in.
Selena
General.
Akanksha
And. I'm actually end up introducing me to another friend of. Hers. Who was really? Interested in software and it had a lot of side projects on the go and he was, you know into doing stuff and so we got together in. He helped me come. You know, I told him what?
Selena
My plan was for this.
Akanksha
Verizon system and we just, you know, spend a couple of hours every other weekend talking about. Things he showed. Me all these gyms and libraries he went. You know what? You've done there, but. It's a bit ****. Don't do it like that. Don't like this. Instead. And so then I'd go spend. Weeks trying to like figure it out. And yeah, I was like you know what this preservation? System is going to be amazing. And I probably spent a few months working on. It and it was actually really good, you know. Having a project. Now I'm interested in that I'll come up with that I'm kinda skinny, passionate about. They drove. Me to. Actually. Learn more. And eventually get to the. Point where I was like well. Full well and.
Selena
Good, but.
Akanksha
What I really need to do? Is get some real life real world experience? And then come back to this later. Yeah, so I really need to get a job. And this this. This guy had been helping. Me out, he was quite good because he.
Selena
He
Akanksha
worked for a big company and he was quite high up as a manager in that company and so he kind of gave me a lot of tips with my CV which was. Great. Because he said, you know, I look at CVS. All the time.
Selena
What you need to do is your CV needs to stand out from.
Akanksha
Everyone else is.
Selena
And.
Akanksha
Hear me some tips how to do that, you know? Tell you know tell people how do you rate your. Skills. Towel painful. What projects? You've been. Working on. You know, give. Them something that they want to talk to you about and so by that. Stage. You know I had a. Blog. I had my. Reservation.
Selena
System.
Akanksha
And. Me up probably help me out.
Selena
I mean, you definitely.
Akanksha
Working on bunch of things at the same time. Yeah, for sure just trying it. Just trying really hard to Costco. And they said the other thing is well. You know you don't have a degree. Right, but you know what would be really useful right now. And. If you were a WS certified because. Everyone in the cloud now. So I was like OK, yeah. Uhm? Why don't I go and do? That then, that sounds straightforward. You know that, yeah? Way easier than been studying for a. Yeah, I'm going to uni or anything like. That I'm gonna study in Biw certified. So I put all. That on my CV. You know? That I'm I'm. Planning to do this and. These projects and everything else. And I think. It's that. Point I would have. Seen. To my CD out to. 131 companies and. Melbourne and Wellington. Yeah, pleading and begging and begging. We're not begging. But you know, played in my house, being. Like, well, look, I'm I'm a junior software engineer. I. Really. Really want to do this, I'm super passionate. Please give. Me a chance. To talk to me and actually. The response actually wasn't too bad, I did. End up having. Quite a few interviews, quite a few second. Interviews, even I didn't quite make it past.
Selena
Second view.
Akanksha
But I. Did. I did get a. You know, a lot of conversations going on. Which clinical? Yeah, special events coming up from like. People, I think it's so hard. Trying to make sure. About people who are so stuck in the hole. You get a degree and you get a job and. You know, I've taught you everything.
Selena
Which is so not true. And. They just get.
Akanksha
So caught up with the others.
Selena
Don't consider the other ends of energy.
Akanksha
So hard to be like. Please just listen. That would just. Hold on a second. Yeah, absolutely. So yeah, people were really interested by my story and they were really keen to chat and see what I'm all about. But when push came to shove, it was just like you know, we just look for the capacity. You just. You two junior. Yeah. And so that's. You know that can be kind of hard. Because. Everyone. At some point is 2 junior. How do you? Get from being two junior to junior, it's, you know. Yeah, just junior enough. Yum.
Selena
But yeah, I did. I did, I think.
Akanksha
I think I did actually sorry I. Did get off at one job, yeah? I turned it down. Because.
Selena
The.
Akanksha
Fully remote. It didn't. Sound. Like it sounded like I. Should be on my phone the whole. Time. Yeah. And it sounded like it would be terrible. So yeah, the one job. That I got off it, I turned down.
Selena
But I mean by.
Akanksha
That is important, either in terms of funding specially. When you know. At the level of like you. Want and need? Support to start. Then, like you didn't want to be around people to come and get it going, and so.
Selena
It can be.
Akanksha
So hard I was like Oh my God. Spirit like if I just do this it would. Be enough to get to the next one, but. It could be just so detrimental. At times, being in opposition to. Like he had no fair play. So good on you for turning that one then. Yeah, 100 hours in. I. Definitely, yeah, I definitely think it's important to consider like what offer it is. It's coming your way. Like is it going to really help you get to where you want to be because? I have heard loads. Of horror stories about. You know people who did come straight. Out of you and he had no.
Selena
Idea what they were doing.
Akanksha
Got hired by some big company. And they were kind. Of you know.
Selena
Pushed off to the.
Akanksha
Side or. Down in the basement. Or whatever. On their own on some system. And they just had a terrible time. And I think there are a lot of people. Who would have been? Write. Software engineers who ended up just. Pursuing. Something else, yes, because I had. Such a terrible. Time, so definitely definitely wanted to find something where. They had the capacity. You know to to help me as well? Yeah, it's. A two way trade. You doing enough for them, that is. At least we can have is just like you can support me and being a better developer, I think we can make this time. Yeah, well, it's beneficial for them as well right? Yeah, so you know that's how it goes. But yeah, so by this point. What have I done over? Applied to all these companies. Had a few interviews are pretty. Well. Sorry, I did actually. Get one other job offer around the same. Time. So the other job. Offer I got. This is where it gets exciting. Again. 'cause I'm like. Everything is gonna workout. So. The other job. Offer that I got. Was. A. It wasn't a. Reservation system. It was an online ordering system so it was like it was like a hospitality related online ordering system. And obviously I had a lot of experience in hospitality. So it's like, yeah. Cool, when I talked to them and. They they. Wanted to offer. Me. Something. That was like.
Selena
You do.
Akanksha
A little bit of customer. Service like hospitality kind of thing. And then you do a little bit of. Development and in overtime we've. Gradually, you know cut out the customer. Service then you end up being a full time developer. And answering it, thinking like. This is *******. Great. Why would I? Not take that so it is amazing. And I went through the whole interview process with them and everything. It was great. And it will. You know right up to the Friday. And I. Said yeah, we will send you a. I remember. They had already being a weekend, they said, well, see.
Selena
You
Akanksha
boosting? His offer in writing. Because apparently it's. Really important to ask the offer in writing? Before. You actually quit your previous job. Anyone who's watching make sure you get the offer in writing. So they said, yeah we. See you and offer. And I'm like, OK, cool, this is exciting. This is this is awesome. This is great. My next. Age. I'd. Also. Studies have been studying. Really hard for this a W. S certificate today. I said if I did not developer. And you know that the IWS. Certifications, like one reason you know. A lot of people look at this online. Certifications and they. Go well, yeah, they're a bit. Of a joke. You're a bit of a waste. Of time, but you know one reason. That this one was. Kind of a big deal was because. It's a proctored. Exam so you go into a testing center. It's not, you know. In a couple of your own home there's no. Way you can cheat. You using the testing facilities machines. And so yeah. At starting to that, and had that lined up as well, like I will. Look down really go. And I'm thinking. Yeah, this is great. You know I've got this job offer coming. I'm lined up my headset of Catan. And here we. Are must be six months. After my previous you know. Injury in fighting. Yeah, I'm being. Only way to rehabilitate from injuries really just.
Selena
Go to machines.
Akanksha
And then get into the weights terms so. I've been lifting a lot. Of weight finally got back into kickboxing and lined up another fight. As well, this is the local fight in Wellington. So. I'm like, yeah OK this month everything's on got everything lined up good to go. This is my break. You know? I'm I'm conscious for an hour and and you think we're at the end of the. Story, but we're not. No, not at all. I'm just like I'm like. Oh my God, this is another life. Turn coming here and I'm like prepping myself for this. Yeah, so I think the first floor. I think the first blow was the job offer didn't come through. Came to London. Was like this is really weird. And. My. Boss at the restaurant. It's like I'd worked for this guy for seven years and he really supported me in everything and he was really really keen for me. You know he. Didn't want me. To leave, but he was really keen for me to go. And go and. Pursue my career.
Selena
And so.
Akanksha
He came in on Monday. And I was pretty upset he goes. What's wrong and I said? Well. This. Lasted they give. Me a job offer and on by Friday and it's Monday and it's always it happened. And we both. Knew someone who worked at their company? So. He called the guy at the company. Actually he said, what the hell is going on and. The guy said. Well. You know it's not my. Decision. But they decided, yeah, they been organal make the offer. And likewise. And we couldn't really get any good answers. They didn't actually come back to me and say, yeah, we're not gonna give you the offer now. Or maybe they did and that's why I was upset. I think maybe. They didn't come back to me and say, yeah, look, we've. Changed our mind. Yeah, we couldn't figure it out like we couldn't figure out why. But obviously you could kind of imagine that someone. Said yeah, you got a job. And then they turned around. And said, you're not actually. You don't. Come. Yet.
Selena
As. Leader
Akanksha
cited. Yeah. Every year apply at your applied to 13131 companies. Had so many interviews I've. Turned down this other. Job. And yeah, it. Just. Blew up my face. Uhm? Thankfully, you know I still had a lot of friends and support and and my mentor around me at the time as well. I think yeah, I mean probably I went out and got really drunk for like two days and cried and stuff and everything else. And at the end of it all kind of I suppose snapped out of it like you do after a few days. You OK? Well that's it. Yeah. And one good thing is that I had. These these two other things. Lined up so I had this fight endless. Constipation lined. Up lawyer tackles. At least I've got something else. To be looking forward to and working on. So I think next. Was the. Fight. Uhm? And it was my. First, you know. First flight back after. Six months after a really bad injury.
Selena
And.
Akanksha
I didn't dislocate my shoulder. Again. The stress is I was like Oh no. What's? The. Injury uhm? But yeah, I just. I lost on points. And yeah, it again it's like it's not a huge. Deal like it's. Just an amateur fire clearly gives a crap. Yeah, but you know at the time. It's. Just taking up. So much of. My life and it's so much so much of. Me. And this is going to be my comeback. Yeah. Lost. The fight. So yeah, that was it was pretty sucky, but. You know the. Positive is that is that I didn't. Have an injury? And sorted out let's. Just focus for the next two weeks for getting this service certificate and it's gonna change everything. Uhm? Yeah, I thought. So I. So. That part that I lost. It was a split. Decision so that means. That one of the judges just scored her one point above. Me so it was. Literally one point that I lost by. So then yeah, this. Exam two weeks later, I'm like, yeah, OK. I'm ready to go down with practice exams. I used to cloud guru. I know I've been. Studying this for months, I'm good to go. So I go in there. And I think. You need to see my views the pass. Right? Something like that, and they tell. You straight away at the end of the pacifier. I think I got. 69 disease yeah. Yeah, I I see all the things. Like I remember the first things in. Microsoft Edge that I thought for. Exactly the same. Like I lost about like. They do like points. There was something that you have. To hit 700 Amazon like 695. I was like how? Like why? Oh God, that is yeah, that's. So. Great, I'm like I was just so irritated. It's like. No yeah yeah, sorry wow, that's just. It's unbelievable. That's my mom's phone. Just everything falls apart, right? Yeah. So that's another big. Blog and it's like yeah it is. Six months after the first thing blow is sorry. I don't know how you need to come back. From that either. You know you kind of ****. Now. What like I? Have really. Given this. My old. Twice. I thought maybe I don't know if you're listening to this, but you might be thinking like maybe you're doing so much. Maybe you should just. Focus on one thing at a time. But it's not like. That it really isn't. You kind of have to. Kind of balance. Things up and have lots of things going on. It's not lost, but you know, maybe at least two. So. I wasn't. Like you know. Killing myself on these two things, we're doing them hot, asked like. Sometimes, sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't. I mean, ultimately I don't think luck has anything to do with it, but yeah. Uh, but yes so. So it was there.
Selena
Yes.
Akanksha
So after. All that that was really, really good at devastating. And I remember it. Being famous. Train. What year are we? Now 2021, it must be in 2016 or 17 and I remember it being right at the start. Of the year. So it was like. January, February kind of time. And obviously I just moved back to. Where I just went back to. Training working on my side projects and working at the restaurant. And so yeah, we're probably a couple of years. And now where my day basically looks like, you know 10. AM till 6. PM and the.
Selena
Restaurant.
Akanksha
6 till eight training at the. Gym and then eight till 2:00 AM working on.
Akanksha
Thanks basically every day I think. And. I went back to studying for that 8 WS ticket. Because I was like, you know. It's really, really a bit of a blow here. But now I kind of know what. I'm in for. So let me just try again, you know. Some of these? People that I talked to a kind of emphasized. The fact that you know you have. A much better style of your CV. Sticking out if. You know something about a W S. Like it's instantly transferable skills that things that companies need now. Yep, and so I went. Back to studying that. And. That year in. May I? I wouldn't set the exam again in the past. I don't remember the score, I just remembered I passed yes. Knows, I mean, that's all that matters. Really.
Selena
Yeah, exactly.
Akanksha
So obviously that wasn't like a huge relief. I was like, holy **** I was so proud of myself. I think I walked out of the testing center at straightaway called Tom and I was like, hey, I've I. Passed. And he's like, well, you talking about them like I don't listen. To him, I thought. Yeah, and we celebrated in India. It was Greg and I think also probably within. You know a couple. Of hours I. Was so excited. I joined online. It's all my profiles, you know, speak and LinkedIn and indeed and everything and. Updated it to be like yes. It'll be a certified. Boom mother. ******* got it. So excited and you know what? It was was really like the icing on the cake. I got an email the next morning. And. Just out of nowhere. You know? This guide from a company in Auckland said, hey, so you see that it's still your job. Profile on LinkedIn. Do you wanna come and interview with us? And I'm like. This and talk like. I didn't. Apply to anywhere outside of Wellington. My you know my thing isn't that good. You're asking me to come and apply with. You like interview with you, but holy ****. And I was like well. Yes.
Selena
Yeah.
Akanksha
He's a really like. Slim to none chance of me getting this. Job. So why don't you **** it? Let's go. So yeah, OK.
Selena
He paid.
Akanksha
For the flights until the flight details page. For the taxis. And everything, and I'm thinking like. But how did this guy think I am? I'm just like I. Write so I go up there.
Selena
And.
Akanksha
Send text to the airport. Picks me up and everything. And we have a coffee and. You know the coffee goes. Well. He doesn't really ask anything typical. He just, you know. Tell me about you. You told me about your. Background and. Everything obviously I'm like, yeah, I'm really. Junior like I'm. I'm. Super fresh and everything. So. Yeah, OK and this is a Friday and so. Then the debt. Company. Hemisphere interactive and. Auckland. Uhm, they kind of go for lunch every Friday.
Selena
Paul couple of years and stuff small.
Akanksha
Company, so we they invite me out to lunch with them like OK, cool. So yeah we have lunch and then I. Checked the developers. And it's kind of cool and everything. And then you know. Developers go back to work after. Lunch. And it's just me and the. Boss and he goes alright, so let's cut to the chase. You know what's it gonna take for you to come and join us come and work with us. And I'm just in the back of my mind, I'm just. Like but. The stock is going on. This is great. And. So. I tell him another. And I'm thinking. This. Way more than you know, it's way more than he's gonna pay me. Uhm? He tells me a number. And I go and I stick to my original number. And in the. End he. In the indigo. Yep, OK, will tell you. What you want? And I'm like OK and I shake his hand and everything and he's put through the taxi. And since we got to the. Airport and hunters. This whole time I'm like this is not real real, you know. Uhm? And. By the time I get home I have. The offer in writing. Not like the last time I lost it. I'm just like. Holy ****. And he. Even offered to pay for the relocation. For me to move to Oakland to go work with them and I'm just like what the UM and I talked to my friend Tom. I mean girl. He's actually a really good friend, but we still very good friends. I talked to. Him. And I go. I should have asked for more money. Young. And I guess you know he's always gives me. Whatever. You know, always ask for 20. Percent more than what you think it were, yeah. And I just didn't. Believe him, I was just like not. There's there's no way anyone would give me a. Job I asked for for that much. And yet my gosh.
Selena
This morning right here.
Akanksha
But yeah, obviously I'm just like holy **** this is amazing. So. All it took. Was I I'm guessing like I updated my link my whatever profile and it just maybe came to the top of the feed to be like new changes or new. Updates or something? But yeah. This this guy. Glenn, her arms, hemisphere interactive media, and he's. He's an interesting. Guy like he's really. Just. He had a bad. Experience. When? He first started working in software. And he kind of has this mentality of like I hate. The thought of. Other people having that bad. Experience as well. And so I. Kind of want to give somebody an opportunity. The pain but gives them a good experience. To. You know where? They can kind of have have a good. Time and learn and everything, yes. His wife, like really lovely people there, there, you know they're involved in a lot of charities and giving. Back so they were great to work with. But yeah, so so it's opened. Well, yeah. I. Think my stocks and then myself up talking. Yep. And it was kind of. Good. Timing for me actually as well because the. Gym are being training at in Wellington, Jai. They had just.
Selena
Opened up a branch in Auckland.
Akanksha
To be. And I ended up finding an apartment. Right? Across. The road from the gym. And it was probably, you know, like a 10 minute drive from work. So it was. Really very. Convenient. I think by that stage I got matched. Permits up for another fight in Wellington on one of Wellington's biggest shows. And I thought this girl from the South Island, Caitlin Tucker. And it was a. It was a battle. Like it wasn't even caught up again.
Selena
This.
Akanksha
Is another show they flew me down. They pay for everything you know and I'm just. Like wow superstar life. I dream. Of like I love this. Caitlin Soccer is actually. Currently the The New Zealand champion so. She's kind of a big name over there. But yeah, this this is definitely. This is early on for both of.
Selena
Us
Akanksha
and it was a bit of a. Clinch war. So. I don't know if you know. Anything about my tire, but there's an. Aspect of. Of. Clinching and. It's. Very technical. And in the end. I took out the win, unanimous. Win. No no.
Selena
Disputes on that.
Akanksha
And it was. Awesome that that was a great feeling, you know. Violate this is me like I'm.
Selena
Checking all the boxes.
Akanksha
Here. You know? I I've got my certificate. I got my job I got my. Win. I got everything, so yeah, it's super exciting. Hello, who's from like everything is lining up to be ready? And going to like. OK, no, it's actually working and everything is happening and this is it. Yeah, it's it's amazing. It's definitely it's surprising. How? When you. Look back. Everything. Kind. Of. Lined up at the same time and then everything falls down at the same time or everything. Works out at the same time, you know, yeah. And I've noticed that. Since I've been in it as. Well. You know, since I got my job, definitely yeah. I mean after that obviously I came over to Melbourne and and things have changed since. Being this
Selena
year
Akanksha
actually. Is when I was promoted. To head of delivery for sure. And. This. Year is also the year, a few months beforehand that I took out the Victorian state title. So everything kind of always seems to be lining up at the same time, which is which is why I think. I don't know. I mean so. Interesting because it. It all comes together and then hopefully we'll come together now. Yeah, so I mean that. That was it, that was. Kind of how I got from. High school to actually. Working in software and I think. It's I mean I just it's Vince. Foster great chat. I think I'm gonna. Probably like not.
Selena
So much at all. Because I was just like this is it's.
Akanksha
Riveting and you're. Like building it off and you're like. Well this is happening like Oh no, it's gonna be like that. I'm awake that it's just not like it's just so good to hear it and I think I'm like. It's good. I mean, I'm glad that you talked about it. Because it's so great to. Hear kind of the other. Aspects of it. And it's like so you can hear it. Yep, we did. It we got it, we got there at the end. Without
Selena
hearing.
Akanksha
Examples in the middle. So we're really. Glad that you shared. That yeah. Definitely, I hope that. I hope that some of the. Lessons, you know. They can be reassured that. No one has. An easy ride, nobody. Nobody just walks through the park and just those Lidar fix up some daisies. And hey, I'm software engineer. I think. Everyone decently has. Downfalls. And it's just.
Selena
How? You
Akanksha
respond to those downfalls you know. Are you going to give up because you took the wrong path? You know you got a little bit sidetracked or. Are you gonna just try? Again, that's really what it comes back. To any other thing too is the support. It works I think is hugely important. To have the right people around you. Like when I was working at Minibar. I was basically surrounded 24/7 with toxic people like. Just, you know, drunk people, high people. Yeah. Some of the people. I worked with for lovely but don't get me wrong but. Most. Of the. People around me would just. You know, talk so I can just horrible to be with and as soon as I stop doing that, like I said, I didn't really want to interact with anyone. But I did. Find in the end some really good mentors and some really good friends and they supported me nonstop the whole way. And. So you know to the point. That initially I was kind of. Embarrassed or afraid to say what I really want to be doing? But you know, in the end, like my later dies in Wellington, I would go to parties and go and tell everyone I want to be a software engineer and find myself like in the corner with this guy bailed up against the wall telling him why I want to be a suffering. He's the only other software engineer at this party. Ah. And you know, it's it's there talking in there having the confidence to talk about what you wanna do. That's we're. Opportunities can be created.
Selena
'cause none of that.
Akanksha
You know I didn't get lucky I created. Opportunities for myself by talking to people. About what I want to do. And having a little bit of faith. Sometimes as well.
Selena
Is.
Akanksha
You know? You might think I got lucky. But even though you know. And I think I mean I was. Gonna say this reads like. On paper, if you just looked. At kind of the progression.
Selena
Of like this? Happened this happened this.
Akanksha
Happened right? It's like, oh you fell. Into it because we did. We got this person. Column like. No. I and this is. Why I like? Talking about luxuries. Like this where it's like.
Selena
You get to see the. Years.
Akanksha
Of. Approach. To line things up to a level of life. And I did the. Search and literally there. Everything worked itself out because he lined. Up everything to.
Selena
Get stuff and that's. Not.
Akanksha
Like that's just expert and making yourself go through constant. Like chess and testing and all these kind of different parts of those. Yeah, well, lately I'm just not a big fan of. Saying, you know? I got lucky. Yeah I did not get lucky. This might have been a. Little bit of luck, but it was a lot of opportunity creation, yes? And I mean. That is the way to go and I think communities makes us better friends and this is also why I'm very excited. So Salinas joined us at women who codes in Melbourne, some very excited for all the things that we can create and everything that's going to come up and next month. But thank you so much for spending your afternoon chatting to me and tell me all about it. Everything that's happened so good to hear it. Well, thank you. It's been really good talking on Skype. I feel like a weight off my chest. I like Adam short. I mean I think. There's no way someone listened to it. Doesn't have something to take away from this conversation. Whatever else it might be, some very sad that we have is and I will leave you with today and I'm sure in the. Next whatever, many. Time left, I'm saying. There will be a past continued. Here, and we'll hear more about.
Selena
Exactly what you been up too. 'cause there's gonna be so much.
Akanksha
More to come yet. Like we know that's where that's used. Raelian title. Like I mean that would be. Fun to hear about. It would be. Fun to hear about exactly. Well. Block everything over. There are some things in the. Pipeline will see what grows well, so I like. Hearing that, and that's a great way to wrap themselves. So we'll leave it there for today. And we'll be back again. In two weeks time with another episode. And in the mean time. Take care of yourself and thank you for. Listening.
