Agentic Coding Tools
An iced latte
You've interned at NASA, and you're heading to Gusto this summer. What has that progression taught you about the kind of engineer you want to become?
More than anything, this progression has shown me that I want to become an engineer who builds things that make people’s lives simpler and less stressful. I’m drawn to technology that creates moments where people feel more supported in their day-to-day lives. That’s the kind of impact I want to keep building toward as I grow as an engineer.
You co-host the Locked[In] Series alongside your engineering work. What made you want to create that space, and who did you have in mind when you built it?
I wanted to create a space that felt honest about what it actually looks like to grow in tech, and to speak to people who don’t always see themselves reflected in traditional narratives. So much of the journey can be messy or nonlinear. I wanted Locked[In] to change that, leaving people with confidence and the thoughts of what if it does all work out.
At the heart of Locked[In] is a simple principle: no gatekeeping. So much about recruiting and internships can feel hidden, confusing, or unnecessarily hard to figure out, especially when it seems like everyone else has access to information we don’t. We built Locked[In] because so much of this needs to be shared, and we want to really democratize this information. We built it for the students who are figuring it out on their own, and we kept it interactive, honest, and useful, because that’s the version we wished we’d had when we were first starting out.
You've built everything from wildfire prediction tools to AI interior design assistants. Is there a through line in the kinds of problems you're drawn to?
The common thread is building systems that help people make better decisions in complex, often ambiguous environments. Whether it’s wildfire prediction or AI-assisted design, I’m drawn to problems where there’s a lot of information to process and the right tool can turn uncertainty into clarity. I also tend to gravitate toward spaces where technology can meaningfully reduce risk or increase access. For me, it’s more about whether the solution helps people feel more supported in moments of complexity.
You've been building tools that make complex things more accessible, from robotics education to disaster prevention. When did access start to feel like a personal value rather than just a design principle?
Honestly, it was a cumulative process. Looking back at the projects I built in school and on my own, I realized I kept gravitating toward the same instinct: reducing barriers to entry, so that anyone, regardless of background, ability, or experience level, could actually use what I built. At some point, I stopped seeing that as a design choice I was making and started recognizing it as a value I already held. Access is something I want everyone to have, and once I noticed that pattern in my own work, it became something I built around on purpose.
How did you get into tennis and pickleball, and which one has your heart right now?
I took tennis lessons growing up and would play for fun with my friends. Pickleball came later. I picked it up during the summers when it started becoming the new trendy sport, and it quickly turned into something I really enjoyed because of how fast-paced and social it is. Right now, pickleball definitely has my heart. It’s the one I find myself wanting to play the most.
What's the story behind landing at Gusto this summer?
Last summer, Gusto hosted an event with Rewriting the Code called “Penny’s Trivia Night at Gusto.” I took the train out and got the chance to learn more about the company, hear from a panel of current interns about their experiences, and connect with people during the networking portion afterward. What really resonated with me was Gusto’s mission: creating a world where work empowers a better life. It’s not just about building software; it’s about building tools that genuinely help small businesses and the people who work for them. I left feeling excited about the possibility of working at Gusto, and continued attending a few virtual events to learn more about the internship program and the work being done. Once their applications opened up for the software engineering internship, I applied. Going through the interview process only reinforced what I’d felt at the events I attended, and I was fortunate to receive an offer in December.
What does being a member of Rewriting the Code mean to you?
Being a member of Rewriting the Code means a lot to me. It introduced me to a community of driven women from backgrounds similar to mine. I’ve really enjoyed the events RTC hosts because they create such an intentional environment for women in tech to come together, learn from one another, grow as a community, and lift each other up. Through RTC, I’ve met so many friends and people I look up to, and it’s made the tech space feel a lot less isolating. Most importantly, it’s a community of ambitious women who show up for each other.
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Meet Zaynah
Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence , Swansea University
I am choosing a career technology because it's an interesting field that is continuously changing and has the potential to…