At Principal®, community matters.
That means our team members help ensure prospective interns feel comfortable interviewing, support students looking to break into our fields of expertise, and mentor rising talent. Many of us consider it part of our jobs.
Senior software engineer Angela certainly does. Ahead, she shares her experiences finding her path and helping forge paths for others, too.
When did you join Principal, and what’s your role today?
In college, I interviewed for exactly two internships. One interview process was extremely intimidating. The other—at Principal—was essentially a conversation about why I was excited about tech and what I’d like to bring to the table. Clearly, I took the Principal internship.
Fifteen years later, I’m still here, on the software engineering track.
I think of myself as a full stack engineer. I do a lot of modernization: balancing the use of old tech with new, and moving into more cloud-based platforms.
What excites you about the work?
It’s thrilling to be learning something new. It’s also humbling to have been here for so long and continually be introduced to new concepts.
How else have you gotten involved at Principal?
I consider my engineering work my “day job.” Another big part of my job is working with students getting into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [STEM].
For example, a group of us run a coding project for a STEM conference at a nearby university—specifically for girls, non-binary individuals, and allies—helping apply computer science in the context of, say, a game or fashion.
I also work with middle- and high-school students in the Principal Community Learning Center, mostly on Python. I know a few students from the program are pursuing tech professionally now.
How have you helped support others in tech at Principal?
Full circle from where I started, I co-chair our intern recruiting program. I like making sure our interview process still feels comfortable, while also helping identify potential and shaping what a successful coding program looks like.
I’m also involved in the global mentorship program. I’m on my third matchup!
And how have you been supported?
On an individual level, I’ve worked with my own mentors—especially early in my career—to navigate where to push. By that I mean going beyond “getting assignments done” to gather new information and work more proactively.
I’ve also found opportunities and support in the Global Women’s employee resource group—from book clubs to leadership training sessions to various subgroups that allowed for networking.
What’s your advice for someone looking to break into tech?
Just start. If it brings you joy and you enjoy the problem-solving of it, you’ll begin to see more patterns and get more efficient. The hardest part is just getting started.
