Below is an article originally written by PowerToFly Partner 33Across, and published on February 16, 2018. Go to 33Across' page on PowerToFly to learn more.

As with most tech companies, our engineers play a major role in our company's success. One of our Senior Software Engineers Aparna Hegde, is no exception to that rule. Serving as a member of our high-performing engineering team, Aparna is responsible keeping 33Across' technology at its very best. Learn more about her including why she decided to become an engineer, how a non-technical person can learn engineering, and what her favorite weekend day is!

What made you decide to become an engineer? Was it your first career choice?

I love math but found the field too abstract to pursue as a career. Software engineering seemed to be the logical next choice for me.

How do you expand your knowledge-base and keep up with the latest technology trends?

I find interesting things outside of work such as side-projects, building apps, or contributing to an open-source project. I love learning new programming languages. I taught myself JavaScript a few years back by building a browser-based game in VanillaJS. The game I built was primitive however I learned JavaScript and the various quirks between different browsers. I now spent my free hours tackling Ruby.

What is the ideal environment for engineers to work in?

Engineers work best in environments that facilitate constant learning. Workplaces that provide reading material, sponsor courses, or allocate time for engineers to pursue "moonshot" projects are always great.

What engineering skills do you think that a non-technical person could benefit from?

A non-technical person could benefit tremendously by "thinking like a engineer." Software engineering is not about learning to use frameworks or a language's syntax, it's is about how you order your thoughts logically and solving the hardest problems in the most efficient manner. You could use the same algorithm to tackle a software problem to also formulate the most efficient plan to tackle chores during the weekend.

What's the best weekend day for you, and why?

I love Saturdays. My husband, son, and I begin the day with a bagel at our favorite place in the neighborhood (Bagel Bob's at University Pl). We then head to the farmer's market in Union Square which is a great place to buy fresh produce and also to people watch. We've spotted a celebrity or two there!