Meet Jennifer Sanchez, a Senior Software Engineer based in Valle del Cauca, Colombia, who’s been with us for the last four years.
“Jennifer is the glue that holds our team together,” said A.J. Singh. “She’s the perfect embodiment of our values and always leads by example.”
How did you hear about Modularis?
I had two friends who were working at Modularis. They recommended that I take a look and emphasized how many opportunities there were to learn and grow.
Why did you choose to work at Modularis?
It wasn’t an easy decision. At the time I was a technology lead at my previous employer, so this job meant I would have to take a step back. But, the opportunity to come into an organization that promised to place such an emphasis on my learning and growth was too good to pass up. Plus, I saw a working environment that was built to genuinely support women and help them thrive. This excited me beyond words.
What did you do before joining the team?
I was a tech lead for a near-shore service company that worked primarily with people in Spanish-speaking countries. It was a tough gig, to be honest, because the culture wasn’t very women-friendly. There were few opportunities to grow, and the ones that did come around put me in a position where I felt like I needed to work twice as hard to demonstrate that I knew what I was doing.
Where did you go to school, and what did you study?
I went to an engineering school at Universidad del Valle in Colombia and studied Software Engineering.
What motivated you to follow a career in Software Development?
I was studying to be a lawyer and had a teacher who thought I would actually be better suited as a software engineer. He knew I had really strong grades in math, so he kept bringing me engineering books to read. He said, “Jennifer, you have an opportunity to do something great in engineering and I think you should follow it.”
I wasn’t sold at first.
In Colombia, you have to take tests to be accepted into the schools you want to attend. So, I ended up taking the tests for both law school and for the engineering program. I got into law school, but was denied entry to the engineering program.
But, my teacher refused to let me give up. So, I studied for six months with a renewed determination to get in. I retook the test and got in! He was so happy for me, and I honestly don’t know where I would be if he hadn’t pushed me so hard to study engineering.
What is your favorite project you have worked on at Modularis?
The mobile platform for PlatformPlus. This is the component almost all clients will use at some point in their work with us. When the project started, I was working with one of my closest friends in the office to build it out. But, he eventually left Modularis to pursue his dream, which meant the project was now my responsibility.
A.J. and Jaime never wavered in their belief in me. They said, “Jennifer, you can do this. We will be there to support you and provide guidance, but you got this.”
This kind of trust and freedom to succeed was something I had never experienced before. I was inspired and determined to finish the project – which I eventually did!
“Jennifer is a special part of our team. Her greatest strength is that she provides a steady hand on the tiller. She is very resilient and exhibits a calm and positive manner regardless of the situation.”
Tell us about your life outside of work.
I love to ride my bike, meet up with friends, and go dancing. But the pandemic changed all that. My son now attends school from home, which means I am a full-time mother, full-time teacher, and full-time employee. At first, it was overwhelming, but now I’ve got a system and a routine in place. We make it fun. I even find time to dance…at home…with a broom!
What do you want people to know about women in technology and how do we bring more women into this industry?
First of all, the assumption that being a software engineer isn’t suited for women, or that it’s boring or not interesting, couldn’t be more wrong! I love my job and I love the opportunities it provides me on a regular basis.
Secondly, women need to remember that they can do anything and must have the confidence to take a chance in life. Break those glass ceilings and go after something that isn’t typically thought of as “women’s work.” This kind of thinking always leads to great things happening!
Jennifer Sanchez according to A.J.:
Not only does Jennifer embrace supporting more women in technology as a software engineer, but she went above and beyond with our latest intern, Rhea. As a young woman exploring an opportunity in technology, there wasn’t an expectation by any of us that Jennifer was responsible for turning Rhea into an employee or even converting her into a tech major. But, in typical Jennifer fashion, she devoted an immense amount of time to mentoring Rhea and showed her how to be successful. This is just another example of Jennifer’s incredible leadership abilities.