Q: Tell us about yourself!

I am from the Netherlands. I am currently running my own consulting firm. We help clients and organizations set up internal and external communities.

I work 40+ hours for my business, am married and have two children. So, the idea of in-person bootcamp is off-limit. As I looked for a different way to learn to code, I found Altcademy!

Q: Why did you pick Altcademy?

There are a couple of reasons. I am fond of learning JavaScript, and Altcademy’s curriculum has a big portion on JavaScript. The cost is also an important factor. Altcademy has high-quality learning materials, but it’s not too expensive, so that’s a unique selling point. I have also looked through the detailed syllabus outlining different topics which I found both interesting and important.

Q: Why did you want to become technical as a businessperson?

It all started with an interest in programming. I enjoyed math challenges back in school, and I thought it doesn’t hurt to know more about programming. This is the first time I am learning programming.

I don’t know if I will become a full-time programmer in the future, but coding will for sure be a hobby of mine. I am also really interested in seeing how my ability to code fit can fit into the consulting business we are doing.

Q: How do you like Altcademy so far?

My progress has been quite fast up to algorithm challenges. Since solving algorithms is an acquired skill over time, it can sometimes feel frustrating. Other times, I am able to produce a solution, but my solution feels more clunky than the model solution provided by mentors. But, as I see more code, I know that if I encounter similar problems in the future, I can use it too.

When I am really stuck, I can reach out to my mentor for help. My mentor, Xiao, has been extremely patient and willing to help. At times, he pushes back to let me solve a problem because he wants me to go the extra mile.