Rewriting Computer Science Experiences with Anaïs Lawson
In this episode of Debugged, host Medha Gupta and guest host Tushar Mehta sit down with Anais Lawson, a software engineer at Microsoft on the Xbox team. Anais reflects on her journey, from feeling out of place in AP Computer Science to discovering her passion for tech through programs like JADE and Rewriting The Code. She talks about the importance of mentorship, community, and networking, which helped her shape her career and ultimately led her to frontend development. Anais also shares her experiences in tech classes, how she made her career decisions, and practical advice for students looking to land internships at top tech companies. Tune in for an inspiring and insightful conversation about navigating the tech industry, overcoming challenges, and building a successful career in computer science.
In this episode, host Medha Gupta and guest co-host Tushar Mehta welcome Anais Lawson to the show! Anais is a recent graduate from Columbia University with a BS in computer science. She is currently a software engineer at Microsoft on the Xbox team, and was previously an intern there. She is also on the board of Rewriting The Code, an organization she has been involved with since 2019 through their fellowship award and Black Wings program, and is an early career leader in New York City.
Anais talks about her interest in pursuing a career in technology starting in high school, with AP Computer Science. She recalls her experience in a class that she found intimidating, and out of place in. However, through a program she discovered in ninth grade called JADE, she talks about various opportunities that changed how she thought about the field of computer science, and eventually, inspired her to take part in the discipline that was at the forefront of everything in the modern world. Reflecting back on panels hosted by companies, she also discusses not seeing lots of people who looked like her, and wanting to fix this.
Later in the interview, she goes on to describe her experience in specific computer science classes, like those exploring user experience and interfaces (UX and UI), and how they inspired her to focus on frontend development rather than backend or full-stack.
Alongside the electives and experiential learning opportunities that impacted her career, she also goes on to mention the mentors and communities that have helped guide her to where she is today! She talks about the importance of networking, and how the more people you know, the more opportunities you hear about or are referred to.
Finally, for the many student listeners of Debugged, Anais goes on to share advice for balancing many concurrent responsibilities (internship planning, academics, etc.), and setting yourself up for success to secure competitive internships at large tech companies. Tune in to this week’s episode of Debugged to hear more about Anais Lawson’s fascinating career story, and insights from working in technology!