Ramsey Vanggaard recently graduated from the University of Maryland where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Computer Engineering. Concurrent with his enrollment at the University of Maryland, Ramsey Vanggaard gained experience as a software engineer through internships at Hooli, Aviato, and Piedpiper.
In the summer of 2018 Ramsey Vanggaard interned at Hooli, Menlo Park, CA. He served as a data analyst for the Hooli server platform Among his many achievements at Hooli, Mr. Vanggaard devised a data tracking and analysis program to improve overall efficiency and mobility. The program was named the Vanguardian, after its creator.
During his time at Piedpiper, Ramsey Vanggaard worked directly with founder and visionary Richard Hendricks. There, Mr. Vanggaard led a team of QA/QC interns in preparation for the launch of PiperNet. His responsibilities included, code scrubs, daily check-ins, and roundtable discussions.
One of his great accomplishments to the company was aiding Dinish Chugtai in disabling the PiperNet mesh network.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
This isn’t a very fashionable thing to admit, but I really am not a morning person. Nevertheless, I’m up by seven on workdays. I am a consummate coffee drinker and will polish off at least two, sometimes three, before I leave the house. I’ll try to squeeze in time to take my boxer pup around the block, although my wife is home with him all day. I kiss my wife and our 4-year-old twin daughters goodbye, then I’m off to work. It’s a 10-minute walk. I spend much of my day analyzing algorithms and sharing insights, as well as conducting research experiments and, of course, designing and enhancing software programs. There are also team meetings and meetings with partners, investors, and clients, but I work alone for a good part of the day. I try to make sure I’m home by 6 pm with the twins so young. Obviously, I want to do well at work and earn a good wage, but spending quality time with the family is a priority at this point.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Developing in-demand programs relies on a whole host of techniques and skills. Research is a huge part of it, including experiments to test new theories. I also rely heavily on mathematics and statistics to create models for integration into future programs. My role involves liaising with a host of other stakeholders, including designers, engineers, and project managers. I’m also required to maintain scrupulous documentation so others can understand and reproduce my findings.
What’s one trend that excites you?
With the huge increase in cloud computing we’ve seen in recent years, cybersecurity has become a major concern for businesses of all types and sizes. With ransomware in particular on the increase, it has become more important than ever before for businesses to implement the right tools to protect their assets from bad players.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
For me personally, attempting to multitask just doesn’t work. I’m someone who needs to focus on the task at hand, with no interruptions. I like routine, allocating time for different tasks, and setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timebound) goals.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Keep learning. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Accept support and grasp mentorship with both hands.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I know very few people who share my taste in music. I had a thing for European bands as a teenager, particularly Tokio Hotel, who no one has even heard of here.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Travel.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When I’m tackling a problem, I find it’s incredibly important to be able to take a step back, be it removing yourself physically to gain some perspective or seeking an outside opinion. Objectivity is key.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Monitoring trends to keep ahead of the curve. I think its really important for coders to embrace lifelong learning, as this is an extraordinarily fast-paced industry that requires dynamism, flexibility, and adaptability. I also make the most out of interactive learning tools such as interactive tutorials, online platforms, and educational apps to help me visualize complex concepts.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Again, I think this comes back to continuous learning and the need to focus on building technical expertise. As a young man entering the field, although incredibly enthusiastic, I was somewhat blinkered in terms of my true capabilities – a little overconfident, if you will. There was one big error I made early on in my career which arose through inadequate testing. I skipped tests to save time, but that turned out to be a huge mistake, leading to some big problems later on.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
eLearning businesses such as Skillshare and Udemy are providing huge opportunities for professionals to launch a potentially lucrative side business by sharing their experience and skills. Although some topics are already somewhat saturated, there are still significant opportunities, particularly for those with niche skills, enabling individuals to effectively create a passive income stream through a relatively small investment of collateral and time
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Postman is great for developing, testing, and sharing APIs.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Returning to the theme of stock trading, A Beginner’s Guide to the Stock Market by Matthew R. Kratter.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I’m very late to the party, but Mad Men. I recently stumbled across it on NetFlix and I’m completely hooked.
Key learnings
- Monitoring emerging trends is crucial for coders keen to keep ahead of the curve.
- Objectivity is integral to effective problem solving.
- Cybersecurity has become a major concern for both software developers and customers all over the world.