- Transitioned from the beauty industry to software engineering after the lockdown forced her to close her business.
- Studied through SheCodes and Melsoft Academy, learning full-stack development and working on real-world projects.
- Passionate about building user-friendly applications, integrating APIs, and designing intuitive web experiences.
Nicolette Steenkamp never imagined herself in tech. Just a few years ago, she was fully immersed in the beauty industry, running her own business. But when the COVID-19 lockdowns forced her to shut down, she found herself at a crossroads. With an uncertain future ahead, she had to rethink everything. “I’ve always been curious about technology and how things work behind the scenes, but I never imagined myself in tech,” she admits. “Even three years ago, if someone had told me I’d be pursuing a career in software engineering, I would have laughed it off.”
Her curiosity soon turned into determination. She saw how powerful coding skills could be and how they could open doors to new opportunities. With no prior experience, she took a leap of faith and started learning to code.
Breaking into Tech: The Learning Curve
Starting from scratch was no easy task. “One of the biggest challenges I faced was the steep learning curve—especially as a complete novice who had never even typed a single line of code before, not even <h1>Hello World</h1>.”
Errors, debugging, and complex programming concepts felt overwhelming at times. There were moments of frustration—and even tears. But she pushed through by breaking problems into smaller steps and staying consistent. “I leaned on online communities, coding forums, and structured learning platforms. That made a huge difference in my confidence and understanding.”
To build a strong foundation, Nicolette chose SheCodes and Melsoft Academy, two platforms that helped her develop her skills in a structured way.
“SheCodes provided a great introduction to coding in a beginner-friendly way. Later, as they expanded into a full bootcamp, I completed that as well. Melsoft Academy, on the other hand, allowed me to further develop my skills in a more project-based environment. We had weekly cohort meetings, had to explain our code, and present our projects—just like in a real-world work setting.”
Both experiences solidified her passion for software engineering, giving her the confidence to take on real-world projects.
Building and Breaking: Projects That Defined Her Journey
For Nicolette, coding isn’t just about writing lines of code—it’s about bringing ideas to life. She has worked on several projects, but two stand out as her favorites.
CryptX: A Cryptocurrency Dashboard
A real-time cryptocurrency tracker that integrates multiple APIs.
Challenges:
Managing complex API integrations.
Ensuring a seamless, responsive UI.
Lessons Learned:
API handling and data visualization.
The importance of clean UI/UX design.
AI-Powered Road Trip Planner
A Python project that integrates APIs to help travelers plan road trips with cost estimates, weather forecasts, and local recommendations. “This project was both technically challenging and incredibly rewarding. I loved integrating different APIs to create something practical and user-friendly.” Each project has reinforced her belief in problem-solving through technology.
The Thrill of Software Engineering
For Nicolette, the most fulfilling part of her journey is seeing her ideas come to life. “There’s nothing like building something from scratch and seeing it work. Whether it’s a small feature or a full project, that sense of accomplishment is unmatched.”
Beyond coding, the sense of community in tech has been a game-changer. Connecting with other developers, learning from their experiences, and growing alongside them has made her journey even more rewarding.
So, what does it take to succeed in software engineering? According to Nicolette, these are the essential qualities:
- Problem-solving mindset – “Being able to break down problems logically is crucial.”
- Patience & persistence – “Debugging can be frustrating, but perseverance is key.”
- Willingness to learn – “Tech evolves rapidly, so staying adaptable is crucial.”
- Attention to detail – “Small errors can cause big problems in code.”
- Mental resilience – “If you’re not resilient and don’t have a good sense of humor, you will get discouraged easily.”
Taking the Leap: Advice for Career Changers
Many people hesitate to switch careers, fearing it’s too late or too difficult. But Nicolette believes otherwise. “I would tell them to take the leap and not let anything hold them back—not even age. I was 34 when I started learning. Begin with small steps—choose a language and build a solid foundation before moving on. Don’t jump around; take a structured course and build projects along the way.”
She also stresses the importance of community. “Surround yourself with supportive people and don’t be afraid to ask for help. The transition may be challenging, but the opportunities in tech make it worth it.”
Learning Never Stops
In an ever-evolving industry, continuous learning is essential. To stay motivated, Nicolette sets small goals and celebrates every milestone.
Her go-to resources include:
Courses
SheCodes
Melsoft Academy
freeCodeCamp
Communities
Twitter tech spaces
LinkedIn groups
Women Who Code
Discord
TikTok & Instagram
Podcasts
CodeNewbie
Syntax
TruthTalk with Larreth Jimu
She also credits online mentors and tech influencers for shaping her perspective on the industry. “Seeing experienced developers share their knowledge and struggles has reinforced the importance of continuous learning.”
What’s Next?
Nicolette has big plans for her future in software engineering.
Short-Term Goals:
Refining her full-stack development skills.
Working on more real-world applications.
Long-Term Goals:
Moving into tech entrepreneurship.
Building her own tech-driven solutions.
Her dream? To contribute to groundbreaking industries like AI, space exploration, and big tech companies like Google and SpaceX. “The blend of innovation, exploration, and the impact these technologies have on the world excites me.”
Her journey from beauty to software engineering proves that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself. With resilience, curiosity, and continuous learning, she’s carving out a space for herself in the tech world—and she’s just getting started.
Meet the Developer
Full Name:
Nicolette Steenkamp
Occupation & Industry:
Front-End Developer / Software Engineering
Qualifications & Institutions:
SheCodes, Melsoft Academy
Beyond Code: Fun Facts About Nicolette
When she’s not coding, Nicolette enjoys:
Baking and experimenting with new recipes.
Exploring new tech tools.
Reading in her free time.
