Thoughtworker Spotlight: Gaby Quilliam

Discover the journey of a dynamic full-stack software engineer who designs innovative systems and tackles technical challenges head-on. Gaby Quilliam ’s career began with a childhood fascination for coding, ignited by browser-based games and evolved through hands-on experiences.?

The secret to her success? Confidence. It’s the same advice she’d give to her younger self and to folks starting out in their career: confidence is not arrogance, trust yourself and your expertise, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.?

As a lover of music, she enjoys dancing and producing tracks which is why her favourite product is something that impacts her every day (and probably you too!).

Tell us about what you do in 50 words or less

As a full-stack software engineer, I design cool systems, learn new things, face technical challenges, share knowledge, communicate ideas, and work with smart people every day!

What’s the most interesting challenge you're working on?

The most recent interesting challenge is migrating a domain within a Python monolith into a Kotlin microservice. There were many tradeoffs to factor in during the design of the new service - balancing cost with performance and cleanliness with speed of delivery. It has been a lot of fun getting to lead the design and delivery of this migration!

What inspired you to have the career you have today??

When I was a kid, I loved to play browser-based games, mainly Runescape. One day I accidentally opened the console and saw minified javascript code. I spent hours trying to figure out what it meant, only to realize years later that it was obfuscated. Regardless, it sent me on this career path, as it inspired me to make websites using Dreamweaver. I got my first freelance gig updating press releases for company websites, and was accepted into a Computer Science program a few years later.

What achievement are you most proud of in your career to date?

Whenever I see a feature I worked on being used by people I know, there is a sense of pride in knowing that I contributed to something that helps add entertainment or value in their lives. I have had the privilege of experiencing this multiple times, and I am grateful for those opportunities, many of which occurred during my time with Thoughtworks!

If you could go back in time and give yourself career advice, what would it be??

Confidence is not arrogance. You know what you are talking about. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

What do you love to do outside of work?

Outside of work, I pursue my other full-time career as a mother to an amazing four-year old girl. We love to go on adventures together, from camping to learning new sports like snowboarding!

For my personal passions, I love music and I love to dance. Most nights you can find me dancing in my basement or producing terrible songs for my own enjoyment.

If you were stuck on a deserted island, what album, movie, and book would you take with you?

Album – My 21st Century Blues - Raye

Movie – 50 First Dates

Book – ACOTAR series.

And finally, what’s your favorite product and why?

My favourite product is a speaker. From headphones to soundbars, portable speakers to the ones in my laptop, I am constantly using speakers to listen to audiobooks, play music, make music, and have conversations. I find it incredible how we can convert electrical energy into mechanical energy in the form of sound. It is something I depend on every day.