“I might forget how to code”

Says a software engineer with 5 years of experience. His main concern is that AI is writing so much of his code that he might soon forget how to write code. But he continues to say that there is too much work every week. One might think that with AI writing code, people must have more time on their hands, right? But no, it is merely changing the way we work, and we are now focusing on other things. The shift is already happening. Big companies are now “security-first” along with being “AI-first,” so all the code that AI is writing has to be made secure, and this is how you naturally upskill on the security part of things.

With AI, it is an expectation that you will be a generalist with expertise in a few areas. Until a few years ago, one would have to remember syntax, but with AI in our IDEs, if you know how to work on the logic and have a basic understanding, learning new things only takes a few days. While it might feel like we are taking a “shortcut,” it isn’t; every company’s go-live time has been reduced by half. So, if you do not speed up, that is when your chance of becoming redundant becomes higher.

For professionals like us, “going with the flow” is more important because the transition is naturally happening, and upskilling is already a part of it. So if you do not restrain yourself and are open to taking on new challenges, along with spending some time on new things that are coming up, you should be good. To be honest, when we entered the tech world, we knew that the industry needed us to be updated all the time, so it is not a shock to any of us, it is only the speed that gets us scared. Have faith in your capabilities and you will be just fine.

“There’s so many new things that are coming that we need to go outside the curriculum to teach the students”

Recently, I visited a college, and the professors were talking about how they spend time obtaining certifications and reading research papers to teach students about new technology. If you are a professor or someone in the education industry, you should try your best to include more practical and real-life use cases along with theory. Most institutions do not have the required labs, and students end up learning hands-on topics like DevOps only through books. The education industry is here to stay and thrive. To make it better, you as an educator should focus on how you can collaborate with communities or companies that have student-focused programs to bring those opportunities and sandbox environments where they can use the skills they learned in the books.

And finally, if you are a student, please focus on the foundation and improving your understanding of code and machines. Even with AI writing code, problem solving skills will be needed and that is what differentiates you and AI as an engineer.

I wrote this thread on my recent observations from a student-focused hackathon, and the main thing that I found missing is: understanding of system and code, and critical thinking.

Jobs are here, and the demand for engineers will continue being the same. Below is a screenshot of developer openings in Hyderabad, even with recession in place. Our focus should be to work on the skill-gap and just continuing to challenge ourselves.

Other than this, here are some tips that I have received and gathered from the internet to help us stay afloat in the AI job market is:

• Go deeper into any skill or project that you are building. Try to understand everything and how every little part of a solution works. The better you understand systems, the more your value as a problem solver/engineer increases.

• Build an online presence. As cliché as it might sound, your work being visible on the internet helps you find opportunities and helps opportunities find you. Here’s a podcast by my friends on how they found jobs online 👇

• Build your network. This is not new; having a network or people who can vouch for you has been effective forever, and now, with competition being so fierce, it works better than ever.

• Build and ship. Spend some time learning beyond your work and build your ideas. This could be your first big side project, or you might end up building something that improves your current workflow. Either way, it's a win-win for you. Follow the right people on the internet to learn how and what they are doing; this tweet below is a great example of that.

  

  With that, I end by saying that all of us are figuring it out; we don’t know what jobs AI will create and what jobs it will make redundant. The best we can do is upskill and embrace the new tech that is coming our way.

The only thing you are taught in college or career fairs is how you can upskill and how you can GET a job, but how do you KEEP it? Over the last 4.5 years, I have observed a few things and learnt from them, these have helped me in getting a job + keeping it + also switching when necessary.

Well there is no trick to keep a job, it is 80% on the work you do and how your performance has been, but a career is not a marathon it is a sprint, and you are here for a good number of years.

When I say “keep” a job, I mean how do you build a good reputation and keep building on top of it?

Do and show impactful work

What helps in your resume is when you mention that you have done “x” to achieve “y” and got “z” results. Numbers easily justify impact. I know it might be “easier said than done” because it is really hard to get tasks that drive impact assigned to you, especially when you are beginning your career. The first step is to work with perfection and excellence on the tasks that are given, have a hunger for learning, and treat your manager as your mentor; they can help you with your career trajectory. One good way to show impact without getting things assigned is by having a “go-getter” attitude. For example, if you identify problems in processes or other areas, write a document with a solution, or even build a solution over the weekend. (If you are thinking about work-life balance here, treat such things as a learning opportunity or something that you can talk about or write a blog about if it doesn’t work out internally. Keep in mind not to leak any sensitive info.)

Talk about your work

You are your biggest cheerleader. Communication, both written and verbal, is an important skill. You need to be able to put forward your points and ideas. If you feel you are lacking here, take up courses, but build this skill. Other than this, have a brag doc, a simple document where you mention month-by-month the work you have done, the collaborations, and the impact you have had. This is helpful for you to assess the work you have done, see if you are growing or learning new things, and it also helps in having talking points during mid-year or end-year reviews. If there are public channels, all-hands, or some other places where you can talk about your work or demo it, sign up for those.

Upskill - take up that training/certification

If you had told me this (the certification part) a few years ago, I wouldn’t have agreed, but now? Especially with AI in the scene? Upskilling and having credentials attached does give you an edge. For example, MCP is the talk of the AI town. If you have learned about it and built something around it using the products you are aligned with, you are already seen as someone championing this new technology and will be automatically included in discussions about it. This also leads to how you can deliver more impact.

Also, every company will have a learning budget to help you learn something new. Use this to take up a new certification or maybe even a nano-degree and showcase how this can help you in your job. Extra experience and knowledge are always appreciated.

Understanding how the company is performing and what direction it is moving

Sadly, layoffs are a common part of almost every company these days. Nobody knows when you might be impacted (I have written some issues before on how you can navigate such scenarios), but one can try to understand the general sentiments. I will say pay close attention to all-hands meetings and every word that is spoken. It helps you understand which direction the company is moving, how the financials are, and what areas they are focusing more on. Honestly, it is hard to predict these things, but carefully listening to these messages and assessing your contribution to the company’s north star metrics can help you understand how important a resource you are to the company. All of these, combined with some gut feeling, will help you be prepared and know when to pivot.

Along with all of these, I also highly recommend having a peer group who can support you, vouch for you, and mentor you!

And that’s a wrap for this month. Hopefully these tips will help you maximise shareholder value for the next six months 😉.

I recently built nomado.live and it went a little viral (500+ active users with a global audience is viral to me), and if I had to say, it is one of those rare side projects that actually makes sense and is functional.

You can check out the video on my announcement tweet. Here’s a snapshot of the tweet:

What further validated my idea was a random ad I received from an SF-based founder. Her startup essentially does what my side project does, and this is a STARTUP!

Well, enough of self-eulogizing; all of this was to make you believe that I am really fit to rant about building side projects 😏 (not really, this is what most of my DMs are about).

Let’s get to the main content now.

P.S. - If you are interested to learn how this works (mostly an overview), you can checkout this article that I wrote for work.

How do I get these ideas?

This is a common question from college students, and as someone who was there not very long ago, I know how difficult it can be to get new ideas and move past the clones/common projects that we see online. In reality, building projects is not very easy, and the hardest part is coming up with an idea.

So I deal with it in two ways:

• I use my funny side to think - I see a meme or something trending on X/LinkedIn (Instagram might not be the right choice for tech project-related memes), and then I think, “How can I use this meme to build something funny?” That is when I built the Chill Dev Analyzer, and this idea stemmed from my social-media viral project GitHub roast(credit for this idea goes to my friend ).

• I think of problems that I face or things I read about online (I cannot emphasize enough how reading random articles, newsletters, and discussions on X/Reddit forums has helped me). Nomado was built out of the frustration of applying for visas and being stuck in the endless loop of poorly designed government websites.

  Bonus: Since my work also involves developer education and building with the products I align with in my company, I have developed a skill in thinking of ideas that cater to the right audience and also use my company’s tools

How do I actually build it?

Most of you reading this are developers or know how to code, so I do not need to get into the details of actually building it. What I can share is how you can use AI to build faster (something that I do).

I have a set of tools and rules set up, and these tips shared by Pietro are also great:

Coming to the tools I use (they may or may not be the best choice for you, but they can certainly help):

• For frontend, I use Next.js and TailwindCSS. Since I use components from shadcn (design is not my forte), it already becomes easier. For further refinement, I use v0.dev.

• It has been a month since I started using Cursor as my IDE. It does a few rewrites on its own, which can break your code even more, so as a precaution, you can write some rules. What I like about Cursor is that it supports MCP (so I can build my own or use existing ones like the MongoDB one for Database/DigitalOcean one for hosting), and it is contextual (not new for AI tools), but I also use it to write my README files, and it does a fairly good job at it.

That’s it for AI tools. You do not really need a lot of them to get the job done. One tip for getting the most out of AI is to prompt it to build section by section, instead of prompting it to build the whole app (a very bad idea, which can cause serious issues, especially if you do not understand the code it is writing).

How do I make money out of it?

Well, this is the part where I have no definite answers for you. I don’t build with money in mind; mostly, I build because I want to learn something or because it’s just fun. However, it would be entirely wrong to say that I have not made money from my projects. Many of my projects are open-source, and I link either my GitHub sponsors account or Buy Me a Coffee account, and to my surprise, a few people did end up sponsoring a few bucks (which is helpful in keeping up with the infra cost). For Nomado, I had a founder reach out to me on LinkedIn who was interested in buying and hiring me (but I had no intention to sell, so I let it go).

But one thing for sure that you should do once your app is built and before posting it on social media is to optimize SEO (you can take AI’s help here) and add some analytics (numbers always help).

How do I design the app?

I am not a designer, and my design sense is lacking, but I am great at developer experience. Most of the tools I build are catered to the developer audience I have, so it is easier to plan (since I have done this developer journey drill for almost 5 years now).

A few things for the developer audience:

• Keep it simple.

• If you want more people to try your app, skip login (if that’s an option), or try to make it really fast.

• Plan a journey. Taking the example of Nomado, what would a traveler first do? Look for visa info, plan an itinerary, then look for special visa cases, and finally look at real feedback. So that’s the journey you need to design.

• Figma is not my jam. Excalidraw is. I draw a really high-level diagram of what my app will look like and what the architecture will be. This helps me plan out the tech stack and break down the entire app into 3-4 sections.

P.S. If you are more focused on a proper UX research, this guide can be helpful.

How do I get the users?

The only “marketing” channel for me is social media (primarily X and then LinkedIn). Since I already have some audience there, it helps in getting organic outreach. I also share it with my close group of friends, who help in amplifying it. But if you are very new to all of this, what I will suggest is to make nice demo videos of your apps (use ScreenStudio if you can buy it), or just use Canva to make it look nice (people need to click). Then, along with sharing on social media, also share it in communities like “Build in public”. You can also post it on Product Hunt and Hacker News to see if you get some luck there. Finally, you can also publish projects on Peerlist’s Monday project spotlights. Doing these will help you get traction and also build an audience, which will help you in your future projects.

And that’s a wrap! Let me know what you think of this article and if you are going to use any of these tips for your next side-projects.

To be honest, I don’t have the answer to the question. In fact, it is hard for anybody to correctly predict what’s going to happen and how AI is going to change our lives. As someone in tech, I already see the changes. For us, we now write code faster since it is easier to research, understand, and get help, and this has also brought a lot of non-tech people into coding (you all are probably aware of vibe-coding). My take on this - it is great for those who understand code and are using it as a “copilot.” For others, it might be good for hobby/side projects, but if you are going to build a business out of it, the answer is no (we all know how the vibe-code SaaS went down).

AI is not yet able to write code that is secure and scalable, and it adds a lot of technical debt in my opinion. Software engineers are here to stay, and we have been through shifts like these for ages. The initial years are a bit rocky, but in the end, it creates more opportunities, and that is what I feel will happen with AI too.

Now comes the Ghibli image part that took over the internet since March 26th. What seems like harmless fun did get a lot of backlash from artists and people who love art. You can find some debates in the tweets here, and then people also drew an analogy to how calligraphy died because of the printing press and worried if the same is going to happen to art. If you ask me, AI is not able to think like humans or be creative like humans, and neither is it able to really personalize things (both art and text). The thinking ability is what makes us different, and it will also remain the case, so be it artists or engineers, nobody is going to be replaced. It is all about evolving and seeing how we can use tools like these to get more creative.

Another thing I noticed among my friends is using AI as a therapist. I made the below tweet, and surprisingly, the number went up from 3 to greater than 3 in just a few minutes. Some say AI is more comforting, there is no judgment, and it is also more accessible and cheaper than humans. A few said humans are using AI for therapy because AI is trained on heaps of data, and the responses are such that it makes us “feel good” about ourselves, instead of asking questions, making us think, or having a conversation that a human therapist is capable of. If you ask me, AI still lacks “emotional quotient (EQ)” and it cannot be a replacement for things like mental health that need special care and understanding. It is an easier resort for us because we grew up not taking mental health seriously (at least in Indian households), and the thought of having to spend $$$ on therapy goes against our mindset. I am also curious about all the possibilities of AI, but medical is one thing that I wouldn’t trust AI with. I am not only consenting to use my personal health records as training data, but also risking my life (as somebody who uses AI a lot, trust me when I say it makes a LOT of mistakes).

With all of these examples, one pattern that I noticed is that the general population is becoming more tech-savvy. For example, I saw people across all domains and ages using AI to generate Ghibli-inspired images. Something like AI, which is supposed to be very technical, is now being used by the masses. This creates awareness and change. Similar to how we saw the change when the internet became accessible and affordable in India. It did stall offline businesses for a while, but they all adapted and are now thriving, and it also ended up helping folks from remote parts of India to start making a living for themselves by posting online (Take for example Nancy Tyagi who went from stitching clothes at her home in UP to wearing her own stitched clothes in Cannes). What I mean to say by the end of it is, it is easy to be scared when we see something come close to the kind of work we do, but let’s use this opportunity to level up and use the tools to be even better. Nobody can rightly predict what the next few years with AI are going to look like, but what we can do is be more aware, read recent trends, upskill, and also pivot if necessary.

I will be eager to hear your thoughts on this. You can comment below, or also DM me @HaimantikaM.

After almost 5 years in the industry, what I have learned is that "stability" does not exist in the tech industry. I am not making this up. I have had numerous coffee chats with people across the industry, at different experience levels and job titles, and everybody said the same thing: "go with the flow," "keep learning."

We all have the “impostor syndrome,” and to some extent, it is okay to have it. At least that is what pushes me to learn new things and keep upskilling. But it is not easy. We get tired, burned out, and keep asking ourselves, “For how long do I need to do this?” The answer is simple: you need to continue the hustle as long as you want to work. Whether you are at the IC level or in a managerial position, the pressure is equal and only increases as you keep leveling up. This is not just with employees; the truth is even companies do not have it figured out. You must have seen the latest news on how DeepSeek shook the stock prices of the biggest tech companies in the world. The truth is NOBODY KNOWS. It is trial and error for everyone, and while companies are figuring things out for themselves, we as employees are affected the most.

While we cannot control the businesses much or understand what’s next (because these things are more than just technological advancements; there is politics and a whole lot of other things), we can take some calculated risks or steps that can help us sail through the stormy times.

Here are some of the best tips that I have received and that have helped me:

1. Always be ready to interview. Layoffs can happen anytime, companies may shut down, and if you are not ready, it might take you months to land a role. So do that extra learning, revise those good old computer science concepts, and know what the interview process looks like (because it often keeps changing).

2. Build that network. As cliché as it may sound, having a network that can vouch for you and your skills does help A LOT. The market is overcrowded, there are thousands of candidates with similar or better skills than you, and probably ready to work for a lesser salary than you. It is your network that can help you reach the interview round at least.

   Example:

3. Save and invest money. I am no financial advisor, but having 6 months of runway can help you relax a bit and prepare if you ever get hit by unforeseen circumstances.

4. Know what is trending in the industry. For example, your job role might have nothing to do with AI, but with the way the industry is moving, companies now want domain experts who are also generalists. Put in that extra effort to know what is trending and how you can make use of it in your role.

5. Know how to shut down the noise that you see on social media. This is something that is not easy, and as much as we do not want to admit it, consciously or unconsciously, we do get impacted when we see people doing multiple things and we feel we are not doing enough. This is a common feeling. But the truth is, what you see on social media might not be the entire truth. Focus on your own growth and goals.

6. Save yourself from brain rot (Oxford word of the year 2024). Many of you might disagree and say that our intellectual level does not decrease while in a tech job, but the truth is, it does. Many of us keep doing the same thing and stop learning new things. So challenge yourself with a new math lesson, or maybe practice some LeetCode questions. Do whatever it takes, but keep that brain running (this is what differentiates us from AI, until AGI is achieved xD).

7. Be flexible with your job role. Are you a software developer but getting a new job as a design engineer? Do your own calculations, and if it aligns, take it up. The tech industry, especially at this phase when it is going through a change, expects you to be more flexible. That is how you stay relevant. More experience and knowledge under your belt is always a plus.

Halfway through writing this, I worried people might think I have everything figured out. I don’t. I just noted some points I’m following, and together we’ll figure it out. A few years from now, I’m sure we’ll have some great stories to share. Let’s do this together! 💪

I started the year with a job that I didn't enjoy. Since I was spending 8-9 hours a day at the job, I was not only unhappy but also questioning myself a lot. However, at the same time, I also "moved" to Bangalore (meaning I stayed there for 3 months, came back home for 2 months, and then went back again), so I met a lot of nice and talented people and also did fun activities like pottery, learning how to ride a horse, travelling and aerial yoga.

The job market was bad, and I was interviewing actively. I got rejected by some really amazing companies (after reaching the final final step) and even turned down a few offers (mostly startups, and I identified which ones to turn down using the tips I mentioned here). Fast forward to December 2024, I have now joined DigitalOcean as an L3.

But, all through the while I was consistent at:

• Building projects and learning new concepts.

• Writing. Either for my blog, or book, or for my newsletters (this and my weekly tech newsletter).

• Showcasing myself as a thought leader, and meeting a lot of talented folks, especially through the meetups that Sunny hosts.

Even while doing this, I was facing a lot of burnout professionally, imposter syndrome of not being good enough for the tech industry, followed by poor physical health and a really bad acne breakout (this wrecked my confidence). To top that, our mom fell sick and needed to be operated on urgently. It was scary and the longest month of our lives, but thanks to the doctors, everything went smoothly, and she is fine now. All of this happened in October, the Indian festive month, something that I wait for all year.

As you could probably guess, the year was a rollercoaster (figuratively and literally), but I am proud that I held on and continued believing in myself while trusting the process.

Ending this issue with hope that 2025 is better for all of us. While I don’t make any resolutions, I hope to continue building, upskilling, and networking the same way I did this year, while focusing more on health and building good habits.

See you in 2025 👋

~ With love,
Haimantika

Oh, and I also run a weekly tech newsletter, so if you want to keep up with tech, subscribe to the weekly one (or you can also read it for free, like this one).

Back to the actual topic, how do you know which startup to join? In case you are wondering if it is just about the product, the team members, and the culture, there is more to it!

I know startups offer plenty of growth and learning opportunities (I've learned a lot in the past ~3 years in startups), but along with learning, you also need to assess the startup's longevity (90% of startups fail, so how do you know if it's the right one to invest your time in?).

This issue is to help you navigate the unanswered:

1. Do thorough research on the founders

I know this is not a usual step (but in this newsletter, we only write the bitter truth). In an early-stage startup, you are betting on the founder as much as the founder is betting on you. Your experience will depend a lot on the founders. Try to understand their vision (and if they even have one), question them often (healthy debates are important; in an early-stage startup, your opinions do and should matter), and look at their previous experiences (if they have had startups before, how did they do, which VCs funded them, and if they are funding them again).

2. Try to understand the finances

At the end of the day, it's a business, and knowing how much runway is left will help you plan your next move, discuss the product roadmap, and plan the go-to-market strategy. While working at startups, it's easy to become emotionally attached and overlook these facts, but you shouldn't. Your career should be a priority, so focus on your personal growth.

3. Look at the company culture

Every startup these days has a handbook that highlights its company culture and ideals. I personally look for words like “empathy” and “customer obsession” and stay away from words like “hustle.” Choose your own poison, but make sure you know what to expect once you are in the company.

3. Understand the product well and ask a lot of questions

Startups are filled with uncertainties, but if you can understand the product and the founder’s vision, it will help you judge the product-market fit. You might not be a growth person, but some research, looking at sites like Crunchbase, industry trends, and analysis will help you understand if there is a fair chance for the product to do well. Ask questions about how the company plans to monetize and how far away the product is from being monetizable. There are graphs and research you can read online that explain startup valuation, when they should start monetizing, and how the next rounds of funding and acquisition work.

We talked a lot about some serious points, but remember that startups also depend a lot on winging it and trusting your gut feeling. If a startup passes the "vibe check," and you like the people and the product, then you might consider taking the leap of faith. This article by Akash Bhadange from Peerlist is a perfect read if you are thinking about whether or not you should join a startup.

That’s a wrap for this month. Will see you again next month. If you have any suggestions for topics, feel free to DM me @Haimantika

So, why am I bringing up something that seems so obvious? Our generation is all about the hustle. Even if it's something we don't really want to do, we often feel like we have to. For instance, getting a tech job now requires way more effort than it did 3-5 years ago. And it's not just about landing the job; we also need to keep improving to stay relevant.

And that’s just the work part of your life. We also have other goals, like getting fitter, hitting that 10k step goal, learning a new hobby or skill, having a side gig, or even starting something of our own. We often think, “We have so much to do, but so little time,” during one of those late-night overthinking sessions. So, we decide to start fresh the next day. The excitement lasts for a day or two, but then other responsibilities or urgencies come up. We start making excuses, telling ourselves we'll start again on the 15th or after finishing some other task. More often than not, we end up not resuming that hobby or activity, or we think about it so much that we lose interest.

Then, in another episode of overthinking, you get the urge to do something new, and thus the cycle continues. Well, you are not alone in this; I face it too. A LOT.

But, since the beginning of this year, I started doing certain things, like building a project every two weekends, learning a new tech stack, and continuing to write this newsletter (I couldn’t write one last month because of some issues, which I hope I can talk about soon), and I have been able to achieve it.

I do not have a mantra to share with you, but here’s what worked for me:

• Not putting a lot of things on my plate. I am aware of my routine, and I know that I can focus on only `n` number of things at a time.

• Have a priority list. What is it that I want the most? More online/offline presence? More learning? More fun activities or hobbies? Make that list. It helps.

• Have a rough draft somewhere. It could be your notes app or even a diary. Write the things you did, and trust me, you will see how far you have come. (I do not write my future goals anywhere; I live in the present, but you can do it if that helps).

Maybe you have other things that helped you remain consistent. If you do, feel free to add comments or DM me @HaimantikaM.

With that, I sign off, and I will see you next month!

Oh, by the way, I started a new weekly newsletter, The Algorithm, where I will share purely tech content. The first issue is dropping this Monday. I would love to see your support there!

Haimantika: Personally, talking about my mistakes took a lot of strength, but it is a “hard to swallow” pill. Most of you will probably relate to it. It's never easy to talk about our own shortcomings, but here we go:

Sonia: Sharing my mistakes wasn't easy either, but it's an important part of growth. We all make mistakes, but the key is to learn from them. Here are some of my experiences and what I learned from them:

Not being vocal enough

I worked on many things, both tasks that were my responsibility and those that weren’t, but I did not talk about it enough. Not only that, when I had an opinion on something, it was always very feeble. Even though I knew my thoughts were correct, I was scared to put them forward. Healthy debates are very common in companies and should exist because that is how you build the best product or program. I always thought, “What if I put forward a different opinion and it hurts them?” I wasn’t wrong, but this is not how businesses work. I learned the difference between business and personal emotions and how I need to be more vocal and communicate my thoughts.

Not spending enough time building with the product I am advocating for

This is a big mistake that I made. As DevRels, we are user 0 of our product and should be building with it extensively to improve it and advocate for it. Now that I think about it, it was mostly due to my lack of time management skills. DevRel as a job includes a lot of context switching and involvement in activities that can take up a lot of your time, but you NEED to make time for yourself to build with the product. The more time you spend with the product, the more you know about it, and the easier it is for you to advocate for it.

Not spending enough time coding

In my first DevRel job, I focused too much on writing content and engaging with the community, neglecting my coding skills. While writing blogs and engaging with the community were important, my technical skills started to slip. This hurt my credibility and made it harder to connect with developers on a deeper level. Coding is at the heart of being a DevRel person. Without strong coding skills, it’s tough to relate to the developers you’re trying to help. They expect you to understand their challenges and speak their language, which you can only do if you keep up with coding. To be good at DevRel, you need to balance writing and community work with regular coding. 

Poor slack communication skills

Early on, I wasn’t great at communicating on Slack. I often sent short, rushed messages without much detail, thinking everyone would just get it. This led to a lot of confusion and wasted time. People often had to follow up with questions, and we lost precious time clarifying things that should’ve been clear from the start. Write clear, detailed messages. Include all necessary links and make sure your instructions or questions are easy to understand. It might seem like overkill at first, but it prevents misunderstandings and keeps projects moving forward. Good communication saves everyone time and keeps things running smoothly. Plus, your colleagues will appreciate the clarity and effort you put into your messages.

Unclear expectations with the manager

One big challenge was not having clear expectations from my manager. DevRel roles often require a mix of writing, speaking, and being active on platforms like Twitter and YouTube. Without clear boundaries, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to focus your efforts. I found myself stretched thin, trying to be a jack-of-all-trades but master of none. Have open conversations with your manager about your role. Make sure you both understand your responsibilities and priorities. This helps you focus on what’s important and manage your workload better. It also helps to advocate for a realistic scope of work, so you can excel in specific areas rather than spreading yourself too thin.

And with that, we wrap up this month’s newsletter. We hope you found it helpful and that it aids you in your career journey. If you'd like to share your learnings, feel free to DM us on X or leave a comment here :)

To read more from Sonia, subscribe to her newsletter here:

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Before I get into the details, let us not forget how employees have been treated - A significant percentage were laid off via email, some companies hired "bouncers" to escort employees out the door, and others woke up the next day unable to log in, only to realize their time at the company had ended. These incidents serve as reminders that IT IS JUST A JOB. No matter how hard you work or contribute, during hard times those hardly matter, and you are treated like a “resource” who needs to be cut down to save money. I wrote about this in one of my previous issues, you can read it here.

Now, back to the topic. So how do you sail through the recession that is going to stay for who knows how long?

Let me start with people who are fresh out of college, or willing to start a new career:

• The good old way of hiring no longer works(where you print some pattern, and get asked basic questions). The market expectations are very very high (even for a fresher), so you need to be a good generalist. Companies want somebody who can get the job done and is quick to pick up skills.

  

• Now is the time to put your creativity into action. Applying for a job that you really want? Be creative! Find ways to stand out from other candidates. I have seen folks contribute to code (if the company has open-source projects or is open-source), and make video resumes showcasing their skills. You need to put in some extra work to get shortlisted from the pool of thousands of applicants.

• Things like cold emailing/DMs have worked in the past (for me as well), you can try too, but do not expect to get the same results as other folks. It was good as long as it was unique. Now, even cold emails are templated, and recruiters/hiring managers tend to ignore them.

• The final tip is - be vocal about your skills. Build projects, and demos, write about them, talk to people who are in the same industry, and build connections. This is a long process but will help you in the long run as well.

Now, coming to the group who already has a job, and knows the drill, I know most of you wake up anxious every day thinking “Do I still have a job?”

While you cannot make yourself recession-proof, these tips will have you prepared:

• First things first, save a part of your salary and have a decent runaway. This will help you panic less if you are caught up in a situation like this.

• Next up, find time for yourself. Tech as a domain demands time. You need to be always learning and upskilling. Build a project, do a certification, take a course - whatever works for you.

• We all love a comforting job, don’t we? But, do not choose this over learning. Dennis wrote it in a better way 👇

  

• Finally, call your own shots. Nobody knows it better than you about what you want to do next. In all fairness, at this point, even I do not know what I want or where I see myself in the next five years. You can either chat with your peers to learn from them or find a mentor and seek guidance, you may also take up a career coach who can guide you.

With that, I end my monologue. I hope there is something that you could take away from this issue.

P.S. - I write a newsletter issue every month, if you have any topic suggestions for me, send a DM to @HaimantikaM

DevRel, or Developer Relations, is a field dedicated to building and maintaining relationships with developers who use an organization's technologies or products. DevRel professionals serve as a link between the company and its developer community. Their activities typically focus on the three Cs: code, content, and community. They advocate for the product and contribute to its growth through various means, including developer education, community engagement, and go-to-market strategies. While the specific responsibilities of a DevRel can vary from one company to another based on organizational goals, the fundamental aspects of the role generally stay consistent.

While the explanation might seem straightforward, the role of a DevRel professional is complex and not easily defined. This complexity arises because there is no standard definition of what a DevRel should do. Professionals in this field often find themselves wearing multiple hats within a company and dealing with context-switching.

DevRel initiatives can include building product documentation, building programs that convert “users” to “advocates”, building content strategy, and so much more. While you can justify your efforts with data, most of the time it is difficult to measure the impact. For instance, when building a content strategy, you might know from experience that it will help onboard more developers and increase the reach and awareness of the product. However, questions about timelines, specific targets, or the amount of content required to achieve desired impacts typically have no straightforward answers. Often, the response to many of these questions is "It depends".

Very often DevRel professionals find it difficult to justify their work. It is a known fact that the work they do will have a long-term impact, but how do you map it to your company’s short-term goals?

It is important not to use "it depends" as an excuse when there is ambiguity but rather a way to offer potential strategies and understand what is measurable and what is not. This approach can also guide decisions on which efforts are more likely to yield returns. Keeping the company's primary goals or "north star metrics" in mind is also beneficial in steering efforts effectively.

During challenging economic times, such as a recession, DevRel teams can become vulnerable targets due to difficulties in directly linking their activities to revenue generation. This underscores the importance for DevRel teams, particularly in startups, to align their efforts with revenue growth. For example, if you are speaking at or sponsoring a conference, it is crucial to prepare a detailed trip report. Document every interaction, including the connections made and the nature of the discussions, and then loop in the sales team if you find any DevRel-qualified leads. While most of our answers will be “it depends”, try to report how you and your team’s efforts influenced revenue.

The article is here to remind you that if you often find yourself saying "it depends" in various situations, you're definitely not alone. We're all in this together. What really matters is keeping up your passion for tech, developers, and the community.

Well enough of family history. In this newsletter issue I will try to address the burning question that most young professional have “Should I save or travel?”

Note: This issue is purely based on personal learnings and might not fit everybody.

Should I save or travel? This question can be answered by you only, but I can help you get some clarity.

Quick assignment for you. Answer these questions:

• “What do I like?”

• “What are my plans?”

• “What are some things that I want to purchase before I turn x years old?”

• “How do my finances look?”

• “What do I really enjoy?”

If you ask me, I do not fancy buying a car, or a house and my monthly spending is comparatively less (I like clothes and food, but I try to spend within a budget without compromising in quality). I enjoy taking a few days off, spending time in a different country, learning about people, their culture, their history and see the wonders of the world. In my recent trip I saw an active volcano, saw lord Ganesha and Shiva and learnt how Indians made a temple thousands of kilometres away from home, that was a WOW factor to me. The experience is what I pay for (thanks to my elephant memory, I will likely remember most of it for a very long time, if not, I have a travel journal with travel highlights and a lot of shenanigans).

Done with the assignment? Did travel fall into the list of things you want to do? If yes, let’s get straight to the point!

1. The first and most important thing is MONEY (If you have watched ZNMD and think that passion is enough, I am sorry to disappoint you, you cannot buy plane/train tickets with passion only). Before you spend any money on traveling, make sure you invest, and plan your finances. Ask yourself questions like “How often do I want to travel?”, “What is the maximum I can spend?” . If you can, make a separate account and keep dropping some amount every month for your travel budget (once you are outside, you would want to indulge into luxury or make purchases, so plan your surplus as well).

2. Make your own itinerary (Google is literally your best friend). I have heard a lot of folks complaining about how they did not like a place because they watched some reel. This step is crucial and also very time taking. For the trips where I am accompanying my sister, she does the hard work, but for the rest, I do my own research + ask friends who are locals or have been there for recommendation.

3. Travel smart. Here’s how:

   • Have credit cards that can get you miles.

   • Book your tickets in advance.

   • If you are travelling international, be thorough with the visa process and book your tickets only after you get the visa (before that, you can book fully refundable tickets, visas can be notorious).

   • Book stays that are near the city centre.

   • Research about local transport system, and how it works.

   • Research about food options, the city or the country you are visiting might not have food you prefer, so you will need to plan accordingly.

   • Carry medicines! (Something for flu, digestion, stomach issue, fever and allergies)

   • Always carry cash, and if you are traveling abroad, also carry 0% forex cards.

   • Knowing few words in local language is helpful, if not, make use of Google translator (English is not as common in many countries).

   • Make sure you have a health insurance.

   • Send your stay and flights details to close family and friends (especially if you are traveling solo)

   • Bonus: Add an airtag or similar tracking device on your luggage.

And that’s it! With this, you are travel ready!

P.S. - If you have read till the end, THANK YOU. I wrote something out of my typical genre, but something that I really enjoy. Let me know what you would like to read about in the next issue either here or shoot a dm @HaimantikaM

The recent industry has taught us that no matter how much effort you put in or deliver, you are an employee, and it is the market and profitabilities that matter more.

The hustle never stops, you strive towards one goal and once that is achieved you aim to achieve something else. While it can help you checklist all the items on your bucket list, it can also severely burn you out.

While starting a career we all have a “dream job”. In an ideal world it is something that is supposed to give us a sense of fulfilment in all aspects, once you are in it, you realise that it does not come with the full platter of your expectations. Here’s an article by a friend who has beautifully put up how “dream companies” are overrated.

Moreover, we often forget that our personal lives, hobbies, and passions outside of work are what truly enrich us. The liberation comes when we realise that work, while a significant part of our lives, doesn't have to be the centre of our universe. This realisation allows us to reclaim our time and identity, focusing on what truly brings us joy and fulfilment outside of our job titles.

In this pursuit of balance, it's essential to redefine what success means to us. It's not always the next promotion, the bigger pay-check, or the recognition by our peers. Success can also mean having the time to enjoy a hobby, being present with our loved ones, or simply allowing ourselves the space to breathe and be.

Here are some tips that helped me in setting boundaries that protects my personal time, while being efficient at work:

• Make a list of tasks that you need to finish at work and form a timetable by when you want to finish those. Try to follow it as much as you can ( I understand that you always cannot do it, but try to set realistic deadlines for yourself and consider backlog)

• Spend the 5-9 spending time with your friends & family, working out, playing a sport, basically doing what you love.

• On the weekends take the much needed break , use it to reflect on the past week, and prepare for the coming.

Remember, the goal is not to demonise ambition or discourage striving for excellence in our careers. Instead, we are aiming to have an approach to life, where work is a part of who we are but not the entirety of our identity.

Let me know what you think about it in the comments below or shoot a DM @Haimantika

Let’s start with internship experiences first.

Here are some of the phrases or instances that you may come across, and if you do so, try complaining about it or looking for alternate opportunities:

1. “It is an unpaid opportunity, but you will get a lot of exposure” - Internships should be paid, the amount does not matter, but it should be paid. You can earn and learn at the same time, it should not be mutually exclusive.

2. “You will need to pay for the internship and after completion you will receive a certificate” - If this is what the company says, it is a training or a bootcamp and definitely not an internship.

3. There is no manager or lead to guide you. While this is not entirely a red flag, this can be a hindrance to your learning journey, which we look forward to having as an intern.

If you have faced anything else, please comment in the thread here or DM me @HaimantikaM.

Moving on to the full-time opportunities, this is where the tricky part starts, because now you are expected to know a little more than what you knew during your internship. Many companies seem like a perfect place to work at first, but only when you stay there for a year or more is when you realise that all that glitters is not gold.

Here are some common red flags, that you can avoid as a fresher:

1. When your job expectations (what you were hired for) suddenly changes and nobody informs you about it prior.

2. When somebody makes you feel “stupid” and is abusive towards you (trust me this happens with a lot of folks). Remember, no job is above your well being, report that person and LEAVE.

3. When you are expected to work on weekends (On call does not count) and your seniors/manager makes you feel that you NEED to be available during the weekend.

4. If you are working at a startup and your company is not transparent about the finances, and if your salaries are delayed, you know the boat is sinking.

5. If you are being micro-managed and your opinions does not matter at all, it is time to question the culture of the company.

And some more 👇

While future-proofing yourself from red flags is not possible and this is something you can learn only from experience, here are some tips that can help you understand the company better:

• Talk to folks who work in the company and who have left. People who currently work will help you understand the company culture and people who left will tell you what to avoid.

• Stay away from gossips or company politics.

• Do not invest emotionally in any company. Give your 100% at work, but do not get emotionally attached.

• Do some thorough research on sites like “Glassdoor”, “Fish Bowl”, people are brutally honest here and you will be well prepared for what is to come.

And, to finish with a friendly reminder, no company is perfect, use your job as an opportunity to learn. Be selfish, use this opportunity to upskill yourself and build a network.

Learning 1:

Be a go-getter and always have a “learn-it-all” attitude. This stands true in every industry. If you are in the tech industry, try your hands on newer tech stacks through fun side projects, but keep learning.

Learning 2:

Nobody is a friend. You can get a mentor, yes, but friends? I doubt that! Once you are in, it is the business that matters the most. At work, keep your feelings at bay, and never get too attached. As hard as it might be to digest, each one of us is replaceable.

Learning 3:

Ask a lot of questions and be very clear with communication. Be vocal. If there is something that you don’t like, speak up. If there is something that you want to do, ask for it (the worst they can say is no).

Learning 4:

Do not limit yourself to a particular role. Learn all that you can and always be open to different opportunities. This helps in creating more revenue streams than just one. If you are a software engineer today, maybe learn product management or anything that interests you other than software engineering. The market is such that the more skilled you are, the better your chances are to be hired.

Learning 5:

Network a lot! As the saying goes, “Your network is your net worth” is 100% true. The more you network, the easier it is for you to get mentorship, learn from others' experiences, and get opportunities, if needed.

These are my top 5 learnings. When I asked a question on X (formerly Twitter) about learnings that other folks from the industry would like to share, here are some of the responses that I received 👇

And that’s a wrap! I hope you learnt something from this issue. Feel free to add your experiences here, and if you have ideas about what you would like to hear from me next, drop your suggestions to 👉 @Haimantika

The title must have made you think "Is that a real term? Does that even exist?” or it could be sigh of relief, “I am not alone in this”. As we transition from adolescence to adulthood, the cold period, often filled with stress, anxiety, imposter syndrome might hit you. This is not uncommon, a lot of people in their 20s and 30s feel it, including me. To me, quarter life crisis is more of a “feeling” than a “condition”.

I have days where I feel “Am I doing enough?” , “I am not good enough”, there are days when I want to lie still in my bed and not move at all, there are also days when I am in my highest and motivated to do a lot of things. While the quarter-life crisis can be overwhelming, it is also a transformative phase that presents opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery.

This newsletter issue is not about how you can solve it, it is more about dealing with it. It is a part of our lives, it can make you feel terrible, miss deadlines, face burnouts, but it is more common that you know! Don’t believe me? Read the comments here.

If you are going through any of these:

• Lacking direction in your career, relationships or overall life purpose.

• Having difficulties making decisions.

• Struggling to figure out what’s missing.

• Lack motivation.

• Signing up for multiple things, and failing to achieve it

• Struggling with fatigue, stress, anxiety or depression.

• Fear of getting left behind.

There is a chance that you are facing quarter-life crisis. This is often a result of overthinking, impact of social media where everything seems perfect, or some kind of trauma.

There is no solution for it. You need to try different ways and see what makes you feel the best to get over the feeling.

Here’s what works for me:

• Venting it out on some platform (like this newsletter or in the notes app of my phone).

• You may try talking to a friend, it can help (never really helped me).

• Changing the environment, staying off gadgets, and fresh air

• Having something to look forward to - this can be a vacation, a course, a blog or learning something new (like dancing)

• Lastly, reminding myself that these feelings are normal, and I can cope up with it.

• Thinking about good memories

The one thing that keeps me going is - this is not a forever feeling, it will go away soon, I just need to believe myself.

Writer’s note - Even while I am writing this, there is a constant voice in my head that says “The writing is not good, you need to write better” and trying to stop me from sending the `send` button. This is where I take a step ahead, mute the voices in my head and press “Send”. If this issue has reached your email, share it with someone who you think needs it, it is the “I am not alone in this” feeling that keeps us going. 

But why did businesses do away with the role? The answer is simple -

1. Over-glorification of this role and in turn the over-expectations👎

2. Limited understanding of the importance of this role🙄

3. Confusing Product Management with Project Management🤔

I often get asked: "Why should a Product Manager work on wireframes, aren't designers supposed to do that?", "Why is a Product Manager needed to sign off feature specifications, engineering team should do that?", "What's the role of the Product Manager in creating GTM, how is it different from what marketing does?", "Why should Product talk to customers, Sales is doing it already?"

On top of these, the popularity of Product Influencers teaching "How to bag a Product Manager role" just highlights the bubble around people loving the title but caring less about building and shipping products that matter. Once you become a Product Manager, the glamour wanes off, you have to:

1. Take complete responsibility for the product you are building

2. Make difficult decisions daily

3. Crack the Product-Market fit

4. Distill Strategy into a roadmap

5. Get buy-ins from all stakeholders involved

6. Unlearn and Learn based on market dynamics and consumer trends

7. Wear the shoes of your customer

8. Need to know the basics of design thinking

9. Understand what those lines of code mean and what is feasible and what is not

10. Write lengthy and monotonous product requirement documents

Hence the latest turn of events is a good thing for expanding the role beyond the mandate. Safe to say the Product Manager role will remain valid and evolve into more realistic & logically viable roles such as Product Marketing Manager, further morphing into a Product MarkOps Manager and eventually into a General business manager role, responsible for the end-to-end success of the product and its many functions.

To sum up, this role just got upgraded to 50% of its true potential. You will be okay as long as you can get things done, make your customer happy and bring in ROI irrespective of what your title calls you. This is my hot take and I'm curious to hear what you think! Let's engage in comments🤝

Note: Since I work closely with tech communities, my takes and experiences will be aligned with it.

To go by definition:

“Tech communities are groups of people with a common interest in technology and a shared passion for staying up-to-date with the latest industry news, trends, and developments. These communities exist both online and offline, and they play a crucial role in personal growth and career development”

What led to the growth of tech communities?

To know this, let’s go back to the early 1950s, according to sources, the first tech community was formed during the early days of the computer revolution. One of the earliest and most prominent tech communities emerged around the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. This community laid the foundation for what would later become known as the "Hacker Culture."

Why was it formed?

The main driver behind the formation of this tech community was the spirit of collaboration and curiosity. Early computer enthusiasts were passionate about exploring the capabilities of these machines and sharing their knowledge with others. This community was driven by the belief that information should be open and freely accessible, leading to a culture of information sharing and collective problem-solving.

How is it different from the recent day communities?

As computers evolved, so did the tech community. The advent of the personal computer in the 1970s and 1980s further democratized computing, allowing more individuals to become part of the community. This laid the groundwork for the thriving and diverse tech communities we see today, which continue to foster innovation, knowledge sharing, and technological advancements across the globe.

Now that we know what is a community and how it was formed, let’s hear from people who are in the present-day community and how they benefitted from it 👇

And there are countless others, including me.

How do you get these opportunities?

To be honest, there is no “roadmap” or “guideline” that can you follow to get an opportunity. What worked for me, may or may not work for you. I also know many people who never joined any communities and are still doing great in their careers. It is you who decides what you want for yourself.

Getting to the question of “How do you get these opportunities?”, let’s tell you my story:

Like many college students, I didn’t know what I want to do after my degree is over. My batchmates said “I want to become a Data-Scientist” and some said, “I want to become a web developer”. I would listen to them all, come back home, try going through some tutorials (yeah the tutorial hell), and end up learning nothing. This was me until I found the “Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador Community” (then known as “Microsoft Student Partner”). It was an eye-opening moment for me, I saw peers my age and even younger being so skilled and smart and having a vision. I knew this was an opportunity that I have to grab, I started going through all the resources the community provided, often cold DM’d folks from the community (almost everybody was very helpful and helped me learn), started participating in different events (as an attendee), made sure I am learning a lot and documenting my journey either on blogs or Twitter (this was before “public learning” was cool). I started upskilling on various Microsoft technologies and building with it, to my surprise, I received an email that invited me to speak at “Microsoft Build”

☝️ This was the push I needed to continue learning, collaborating, and networking with people. Fast-forward to 2023 (3 years since the above post), I have a full-time job where I am working closely with the community and helping many more like me achieve their dreams.

While the stories might sound like an easy thing to do, you must remember, that the road to it was bumpy, and had a lot of breakdowns, frustration, and failures. There is no shortcut to skills and consistency.

The answer to your question - Can communities help you land a job? Yes! Can it guarantee you a job? No!

Communities are a great place to learn tech + soft skills. A lot of times, we as developers, forget that people’s skills are equally important, along with tech skills, attending meetups is like a social gathering without nosy aunties and more folks like you. Embrace these opportunities to build a name for yourself, make friends, and learn from each other.

Thanks for reading this long post! I wrote my heart out. If you liked it, do not forget to subscribe :)

While most Millennial and Gen-Z is starting to earn, you see these subscriptions or in our parents’ words “faltu ke kharche” starts increasing. Even a few years back, if you would have asked me to pay to listen to music ad-free, I wouldn’t have done it, funny how now it is a part of my monthly bills. This is just one example, most of us shop online more than visit shops, be it for clothing, gadgets, or grocery.

But, what changed between now and then?

The generation before us saw cell phones for the first time and adapted to them. Our teenage days saw frequent visits to the internet cafe, the www boon made us more tech-savvy. We are early adopters of digital platforms and e-commerce, which has significantly impacted India's retail landscape. Online shopping, mobile payments, and digital wallets have become increasingly popular, providing more convenience and accessibility for making purchases.

Before we move forward, ask yourself a question - What do you do on the weekends?

Some answers that might have come up are - weekend getaways, cafe/pub hopping, fine dining or maybe spending time cleaning the house ( the aesthetics are worth it). This shows how much we focus on experiences, rather than just materialistic possessions. This saw the growth of businesses like Ikea, small businesses that make things for the “gram”, in turn aiding the growth of hospitality, tourism, and entertainment sectors in India.

Remember the handloom and handicrafts industry that was said will be dying soon? That isn’t going to happen! Thanks to the newer generation who is aware of environmental and social issues. ( You can name at least one time in your house that has the label “organic”). Millennials and Gen-Z tend to value sustainable practices and are willing to pay more for products and services that align with their values. As a result, businesses in India are adapting by offering eco-friendly and socially responsible options to cater to this consumer demand.

Do you remember how metered taxis, buses, and metro (only in metropolitan cities) used to be our traveling option? Booking a cab used to be very expensive, until the sharing economy gained traction. Concepts like ride-sharing services, co-working spaces, and peer-to-peer platforms have changed the way people spend on transportation, workspace, and other services. This has led to cost optimization and increased access to resources, contributing to a change in spending habits.

India changed from being a country where people didn’t think of generating revenue, to being the largest consumer of certain services and contributing 40% of revenue to some of the biggest names in the industry.

The workforce / earning population in India is high in numbers and pretty young in age. Apart from the above listed reasons, since the earnings have increased, it has also increased the spending capability and general standards of living. There are a lot of factors that come into play, be it the changing Indian rupee, or the 2020 covid period where people could work remotely and earn in a higher value currency (end up paying higher taxes and inturn growing the economy 😌). The role of the young generation is not only helping India, but a lot of other countries who has the highest consumer base coming from India (also thanks to our population).

Ending this with a hope that this growth will open doors to more opportunities for the entire country.

Note - This issue is just to highlight how the economy has changed for good and does not aim to target or promote anything. It is based on personal observations.

I spent my teenage either refraining from capturing photographs or heavily editing them, all in an attempt to conform to a world that associates fair skin with beauty. Hormonal acne and racist jokes from schoolmates were the icing on the cake. I found my solace in fairness creams and the famous YouCam Perfect app, that would lighten your skin tone, soften the texture, thin your face, and do everything that the typical beauty standards had defined. The journey of self-acceptance and embracing our true selves was not easy. It took a lot of courage and effort to accept myself as I am.

Here’s a recent picture of me, being confident of myself and the person I am today 👇

They say, “You shine when you are happy and healthy”. I was quick to realize that physical appearance is temporary, it is who you are as a person that matters the most.

Taking one step at a time -

1. I started expressing gratitude - had a good lunch? Say, thank you. A good day with nice weather? Say, thank you. I made a list of everything that made me happy in a day.

2. Nutrition plays an integral role in nourishing your skin, muscles, and hair - I invested in a healthier diet and a proper exercising schedule.

   Note - It wasn’t easy to be consistent, I failed a lot of times until I finally stuck to my routine

3. Spending lesser time on social media was of great help since I was no longer seeing reels and setting unrealistic body or image standards.

However, these are some things that worked for me and there is no one mantra for self-appreciation.

Here are some steps that you can take 👇

• Self-Reflection and Awareness

Techniques and practices such as journaling, mindfulness, and self-assessment exercises can help us uncover our passions, strengths, and values.

• Nurturing Self-Compassion

Embracing imperfections, perfectionism, and self-criticism often stand in the way of self-acceptance. By cultivating kindness, forgiveness, and acceptance toward ourselves, we can form an environment that allows us to grow and flourish authentically.

• Cultivating a Growth Mindset

Embracing our own skin is not a destination but a continuous journey of personal growth. We continually evolve and embrace our ever-changing, authentic selves.