Welcome to the Bondora Blog! Today we will kick off our new series of Superhero blog posts – the developer edition. Our developers are the ones who turn our dreams into a reality, and we want to showcase the incredible people behind the code with this new, tailor-made series. So log in, get a coffee, and get to know our first Developer Superhero – Helen Puhu!
Bondora Superhero #26 — Helen Puhu
👧 Bondorian since: November 2017
🖥️ Role: Front-end developer
🌱 Team: Dev: Grow
Helen’s journey at Bondora:
I recently saw an old email thread before joining Bondora in 2017 and had a good laugh. I got the job offer on LinkedIn, had some phone calls with the marketing manager, and awkwardly declined the offer during the homework phase as I did not vibe with the company. I was scared of working on just one specific product, as I previously worked in an agency and loved the versatility of working on different projects.
But the marketing manager convinced me to visit the office, and I’m glad he did – I was immediately sold. The vibe was great. Moral of the story: do not hire people over phone calls. Actually… do *not* call people at all; it’s scary 💀😭
Helen’s typical workday
I mostly work from the office because I love to be around people. I cannot open my computer before getting a glass of water. My absolute necessities when working are my lovely warm blanket and headphones.
Some coworkers find it weird that I do not like my tabs/windows to be full-screen, so almost every time someone helps me with my code, they always make everything full-screen. And afterwards, I have to make everything small again 😅
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment when I have created something that people actually use and enjoy.
And what makes being a developer at Bondora awesome?
- We are always learning and improving
- We can go to conferences in different countries
- DevClubs
- Awesome colleagues
- I feel valued, and my thoughts are heard
- Free food 🍔
How did you find your way into the world of programming? What has the experience been like so far?
I tried studying sociology at university and understood that I needed something the opposite of this. My experience so far has been amazing. As a girl in tech, it can get difficult proving your worth, but I have been lucky to work at such a fantastic company where girl-power is really appreciated.
‘I can’t start programming before I …’
…have had my morning coffee ☕
What programming language is your favorite and why?
JavaScript 💜 It’s easy to learn, has good community support, and cool frameworks.
What is your best investment advice?
My advice is Estonian-specific: Start saving and follow Kristi Saare (@kristiinvesteerib) on Instagram 💸 She gives absolutely the best advice about everything related to finances and investing 💰
Best cybersecurity/IT tip?
🔒 Always use two-factor authentication where possible!
And now, let’s get to know Helen even better!
What are some of your hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy doing makeup and brows for people. ✨ It’s like art therapy for me. And whenever I have time, I love to spend quality time with family and friends, accompanied by of good food.
What are your favorite games to play?
I still occasionally play The Sims 4. While I’m traveling, I like to solve Sudokus.
Which game have you clocked the most hours with on Steam?
Definitely The Sims.
Bacon: yay or nay?
Mostly nay, but somehow, I can never say no to hotel breakfast bacon🥓
What’s your favorite TV show/podcast?
I (unfortunately 😬) enjoy Netflix, and Estonian reality shows the most.
I do not have a favorite podcast currently, but I enjoy conspiracy theory/true crime content and girl-power-themed podcasts.
What’s your favorite kind of music (to listen to while programming)?
I enjoy high BPM music when writing code. I cannot stand slow/sad music at all; it makes me super uncomfortable. Anything from 2010 dance hits to raw hardstyle is what keeps me going.
Best meme that sums up being a developer?
Do you have any pets?
We currently have two cats – Kiti, the old lady, and a chonky rescue cat named Bert, who is the funniest cat I have ever seen. He is so whiny and needy and so masculine at the same time; it’s hilarious 😹 We plan to get a bird or two in the future 🦜
What superpower would you like to have and why?
Talking to cats. I wish I could know what they were thinking.
What’s something that you want to do but scares you?
I want to travel more, but I’m really scared of flying.
And that’s a wrap on our first Developer Edition Superhero blog post. Time to say goodbye to our wonderful Helen! We are happy to have her and that she shared her journey and experiences with our readers. If you are interested in becoming the next Bondora Superhero 🦸♀️ head over to our Careers Page to check out our open positions.
Join us again next month to meet our 27th Bondora Superhero!
The views and opinions expressed in this article are that of the individual and not Bondora’s official view. Before deciding to invest, consult with a financial advisor if necessary.