6Q4: Mixtiles’ Rona Lankry Levy, on Not Over-Designing Software

Our “6Q4” series features six questions for the leaders, innovators, and operators in the real-time analytics arena who are leveraging big data to transform the world as we know it.

RTInsights recently asked Senior Software Engineer Rona Lankry Levy, who spoke at Women On Stage Conference last month, about software design, her journey, and more.

Q1: When did you become interested in tech?

I majored in computer science in high school, [where] we learned C and it was easy and fun. At university, I actually chose math first and then wanted to add another major that would be more practical.

I ended up preferring the computer science courses over the math ones.

Before and during my studies I worked at a tech company as a manual tester for flight simulator projects, and after one year of studying, I switched to a developer role.

Q2: What is your current position and how did you get there?

I’m currently a senior software developer at Mixtiles. I was recently on a job hunt and was looking for a great place with great culture and great people. A friend referred me to Mixtiles and it was exactly what I was looking for.

Q3: What is your background in software development and development architectures?

I had the privilege to lead many big projects both as a developer and as a team leader like a new data layer protocol in C++ and a new Ruby Server that serves its own UI. I’ve worked in various technologies, from very low-level ones like C and C++ to high-level ones like Ruby, Java, NodeJS, and React, so I have a wide perspective on projects and architectures.

Q4: You mentioned you recently were looking for a job. Could you comment on the process? Any tips for people out there doing the same?

Keep reminding yourself that an interview is a two-way street, it is also about you interviewing the company you are considering to work in, we tend to forget it while we are in an interview.

If you are feeling insecure about your abilities and skills, find a person to remind you what you are worth! keep practicing, and do mock interviews. 

Interviewing is a skill, you have to practice it, also the ‘tell me about yourself’ part, not just the technical part.

Remember that you will fail in some of the interviews and it’s ok. It doesn’t mean anything about your skills, it just means that this specific interview didn’t go well.

Question 5: Your talk is titled “Don’t Over Design It.” What are some examples of developers over designing software? What are the consequences of over designing? 

It’s not rare that developers plan for potential needs, but what you actually should worry about is the actual needs you have now and the very near future.

When you’re trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist yet, you can create a solution that won’t fit for the future problem.

And when you’re over designing it costs double – once for developing time, and second for maintaining this unnecessary code.

Question 6: What advice, comments, or tips do you have for other women in tech?

First, read about ‘Imposter Syndrome’ and know that it’s very common to feel like it! Especially at the beginning.

Have a group of people you can count on, in your company and outside of it, people you can trust and consult on different work-related subjects.

Find a workplace you love, don’t be afraid to leave a workplace if it’s not good for you.

Be open with your manager, ask for feedback and give feedback, it will be much appreciated.

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