When people imagine a successful software engineer, lines of code often come to mind. But for Mumbai-born tech professional Namaswi Chandarana, who now works in the United States, her journey proves that coding is only one piece of the puzzle. In a recent conversation with Business Insider, she reflected on how soft skills, communication, and resilience have been just as vital as technical expertise in shaping her career.
Her first professional breakthrough came at GameChanger, an American tech firm, where she started as an iOS developer. Today, she is a senior engineer and is also pursuing a PhD in Information Technology at the University of the Cumberlands.
Beyond coding
Landing her first job was only the beginning. As a new graduate and an introvert in a male-dominated workspace, Chandarana recalls struggling to speak up. “It wasn’t easy for me to communicate and speak up at first,” she told Business Insider. Over time, she realized that technical skills alone could not sustain growth. Clear communication and collaboration, she said, became her “most important survival skill.”
Her ability to connect technical details with real-world impact helped her bridge the gap between engineers, designers, and product managers. From simplifying jargon to creating visual workflows, Chandarana found ways to ensure that ideas translated seamlessly across teams.
Four lessons from her rise in tech
Chandarana distilled her career journey into four crucial lessons that go far beyond writing code:
Team success trumps individual brilliance
Early in her career, she was hesitant to share ideas, fearing it would expose her limitations. Observing colleagues, however, taught her that collective problem-solving often led to faster and better solutions.
Break the communication barrier
She learned to adapt her language for non-technical colleagues. Whether through accessible documentation or workshops on error handling, she made complex systems easier to understand.
Structure beats stress
By applying the Eisenhower Matrix and introducing focus hours, she managed competing priorities without burning out. This shift gave her clarity and protected her energy for deep work.
Overcome imposter syndrome
Often the only woman in the room, she combated self-doubt by making at least one contribution per meeting and documenting her impact. This not only boosted her confidence but also offered evidence of her growth. The human side of technology
Looking back, Chandarana emphasizes that success in tech is not confined to mastering new programming languages. “This isn’t just about code — it’s about transformation, resilience, and the human side of tech that we rarely discuss in the industry,” she told Business Insider.
She points to a shift in the definition of a “good engineer.” In today’s global tech ecosystem, where projects hinge on teamwork and user impact, coding is essential but no longer sufficient. The ability to communicate, collaborate, and adapt is what truly sets professionals apart.
Chandarana says, her fascination with technology began in her school days. She built her first HTML page in eighth grade and later pursued a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Mumbai University. With her passion firmly set, she moved to the US, completing a master’s in computer science at the University of Illinois, Chicago in 2019.
Her first professional breakthrough came at GameChanger, an American tech firm, where she started as an iOS developer. Today, she is a senior engineer and is also pursuing a PhD in Information Technology at the University of the Cumberlands.
Beyond coding
Landing her first job was only the beginning. As a new graduate and an introvert in a male-dominated workspace, Chandarana recalls struggling to speak up. “It wasn’t easy for me to communicate and speak up at first,” she told Business Insider. Over time, she realized that technical skills alone could not sustain growth. Clear communication and collaboration, she said, became her “most important survival skill.”
Her ability to connect technical details with real-world impact helped her bridge the gap between engineers, designers, and product managers. From simplifying jargon to creating visual workflows, Chandarana found ways to ensure that ideas translated seamlessly across teams.
Four lessons from her rise in tech
Chandarana distilled her career journey into four crucial lessons that go far beyond writing code:
Team success trumps individual brilliance
Early in her career, she was hesitant to share ideas, fearing it would expose her limitations. Observing colleagues, however, taught her that collective problem-solving often led to faster and better solutions.
Break the communication barrier
She learned to adapt her language for non-technical colleagues. Whether through accessible documentation or workshops on error handling, she made complex systems easier to understand.
Structure beats stress
By applying the Eisenhower Matrix and introducing focus hours, she managed competing priorities without burning out. This shift gave her clarity and protected her energy for deep work.
Overcome imposter syndrome
Often the only woman in the room, she combated self-doubt by making at least one contribution per meeting and documenting her impact. This not only boosted her confidence but also offered evidence of her growth. The human side of technology
Looking back, Chandarana emphasizes that success in tech is not confined to mastering new programming languages. “This isn’t just about code — it’s about transformation, resilience, and the human side of tech that we rarely discuss in the industry,” she told Business Insider.
She points to a shift in the definition of a “good engineer.” In today’s global tech ecosystem, where projects hinge on teamwork and user impact, coding is essential but no longer sufficient. The ability to communicate, collaborate, and adapt is what truly sets professionals apart.
Chandarana says, her fascination with technology began in her school days. She built her first HTML page in eighth grade and later pursued a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Mumbai University. With her passion firmly set, she moved to the US, completing a master’s in computer science at the University of Illinois, Chicago in 2019.
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