A career switch doesn't have to be as daunting as it sounds with Hannah Beder

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From a Google intern to a leading role in educational technology at startup Cadmus, Hannah Beder’s story is not just about climbing the tech ladder but about finding and following one’s true passion. Find out all about her incredible tale as we dive in!

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Working at Google at 19

Hannah’s career took off at Google, an experience she found both overwhelming and exhilarating. Hannah still is in disbelief that Google hired her.

“It seems kind of wild that they hired students… but actually by then I was stepping into what was already a very well-established large intern program,”

Working on front-end projects, she quickly learned the importance of working with others. At university, Hannah was used to starting programs from scratch. At Google, she had to pick up the reins from a previous intern and start working on someone else’s code.

Taking on someone else’s work is always challenging.

“This was one of the first times I dived into a pre-existing codebase and had to work around that, improve that, work with other people’s code”

A day in the life of a software engineer

Hannah soon moved on from Google and was hired by Macquarie Bank. Her day typically started with checking project management software and diving into her current tasks before the daily stand-up meeting.

“We would meet with the rest of the team and talk through our projects for the day, what we would be working on, who we might need assistance from, any meetings that are coming up.”

The rest of the day involved a mix of coding, collaborating with teammates, and reviewing code.

“Sometimes we’d be pair programming, sometimes I’d be working directly with a manager, and other times I’d just be coding on my own,” she said.

Reviewing her teammates’ code was also a critical part of her job, helping her learn more about coding techniques and best practices.

What to do when your chosen path looks like the wrong turn?

Hannah was doing a great job. But one day she had a realization. What if programming wasn’t her passion? She looked at her peers who “were really conscientious, dedicated, committed to what they did, but also really, really loved coding in a way that maybe if I’m honest, I never did.”

This switched something for Hannah. She recalled her days as a tutor at UNSW with excitement. You could hear a shift in her tone as she described the rewarding experience of teaching.

Hannah was truly moved by both teaching complex concepts and engaging uninterested students in the material.

So on she moved. Leaving a lucrative career in software engineering behind for her passion. She questioned herself: “What if you’re throwing your life away? But it’s just a case of becoming comfortable with change, I think. And so when that opportunity arose (talking about her teaching job), I took the leap and I went there.”

Getting women interested in STEM

Hannah moved to Code Like a Girl, an organization dedicated to making coding accessible to women and non-binary people. As a Python programming tutor, she supported learners from diverse backgrounds.

“It’s been a fantastic way to meet people from all over the country and all over the world.”

Code Like a Girl has empowered women in remote parts of the world to change their lives with the education that she and her team have provided.

At Creatable, Hannah worked as a learning designer and research lead where she taught creative technology to hundreds of high school girls, and developed engineering & entrepreneurship syllabuses for young people in Burundi.

A tough goal: Reading 52 books a year

Throughout her career, Hannah has embraced change. Her advice to aspiring educators and technologists? Don’t be afraid to dive in and keep learning. “Don’t be shy just to put your hand up, even if you don’t know anything about the topic.”

Hannah is also an avid reader, aiming to read 52 books a year. “Books seem to stay in my head and impact my worldview,“

Time is the new currency

Hannah is excited about the future of work and education, especially the trend towards valuing time and flexible work. “Maybe the new currency actually is time,” she mused.

Her work at Cadmus and beyond reflects a commitment to making learning accessible and impactful.

Want to find out more about Hannah and the resources she mentioned?

Key lessons from Hannah’s journey

1. It’s okay to realize you’re on the wrong path

Hannah’s realization that she didn’t love coding as much as her peers is a powerful reminder that it’s okay to reassess your career choices. Many people feel trapped in their initial career decisions, but Hannah shows that pivoting is possible and can lead to greater fulfillment.

2. Follow your energy

When Hannah talked about teaching, there was a noticeable shift in her energy and enthusiasm. This is a clear indicator of where your passion lies. Pay attention to what activities make you feel energized and engaged.

3. Leverage your technical background

Even though Hannah moved away from pure software engineering, her technical background has been invaluable in her educational technology roles. Your previous experience doesn’t become irrelevant—it becomes a unique differentiator.

4. Embrace continuous learning

Hannah’s goal of reading 52 books a year demonstrates her commitment to continuous learning. In rapidly evolving fields like technology and education, staying curious and informed is crucial.

5. Think about impact over income

Hannah left a lucrative software engineering career to pursue work that felt more meaningful to her. While financial considerations are important, don’t let them be the only factor in your career decisions.

The importance of STEM education for women

Hannah’s work with Code Like a Girl and other organizations highlights the critical need for more women in STEM fields. Her efforts to make programming accessible to women and non-binary people are helping to address the gender gap in technology.

Why representation matters:

Different perspectives: Diverse teams build better products that serve broader audiences
Role models: Seeing successful women in tech inspires the next generation
Breaking stereotypes: Challenging the misconception that coding is only for certain types of people
Economic empowerment: Technology careers offer financial independence and growth opportunities

The evolution of educational technology

Hannah’s work at Cadmus represents the cutting edge of educational technology. As someone who has experienced both traditional software engineering and educational innovation, she brings a unique perspective to how technology can enhance learning.

Trends in edtech:

Personalized learning: Using technology to adapt to individual learning styles and paces
Global accessibility: Making quality education available regardless of geographic location
Practical skills focus: Connecting education more directly to real-world applications
Interdisciplinary approaches: Combining technology with other fields like design and entrepreneurship

Advice for career switchers

Based on Hannah’s experience, here are key strategies for successfully changing careers:

1. Start with small experiments

Before making a dramatic career change, try volunteering, freelancing, or taking on projects in your area of interest. Hannah’s tutoring experience at UNSW gave her insight into whether she enjoyed teaching.

2. Build a bridge

Look for ways your current skills can transfer to your new field. Hannah’s programming background made her particularly effective at teaching coding and working in educational technology.

3. Network in your target field

Connect with people working in the area you want to enter. Hannah’s involvement with organizations like Code Like a Girl helped her build relationships and understand opportunities in educational technology.

4. Be prepared for uncertainty

Career changes involve risk and uncertainty. Hannah acknowledged questioning whether she was “throwing her life away,” but she ultimately decided that following her passion was worth the risk.

5. Give yourself time to adapt

Career changes don’t happen overnight. Be patient with yourself as you develop new skills and find your footing in a new field.

The global impact of technology education

Hannah’s work developing engineering and entrepreneurship curricula for young people in Burundi demonstrates how technology education can have global impact. This international perspective is increasingly important as technology continues to connect the world.

Why global tech education matters:

Economic development: Technology skills can drive economic growth in developing regions
Innovation potential: Diverse global perspectives can lead to innovative solutions
Digital equity: Ensuring everyone has access to technology education and opportunities
Cultural exchange: Technology projects can facilitate cross-cultural collaboration and understanding

Looking ahead: The future of work and education

Hannah’s observation that “time is the new currency” reflects broader trends in how we think about work and life balance. As technology automates routine tasks, human skills like creativity, empathy, and critical thinking become more valuable.

Emerging trends:

Flexible work arrangements: Remote work and flexible schedules becoming more common
Lifelong learning: Continuous skill development throughout one’s career
Purpose-driven careers: More people prioritizing meaning and impact over traditional career metrics
Interdisciplinary expertise: Combining technical skills with domain knowledge in other fields

Hannah’s journey from Google intern to educational technology leader illustrates these trends in action. Her story shows that it’s possible to build a meaningful career that combines technical expertise with passion for education and social impact.

Final thoughts

Hannah Beder’s story is ultimately about having the courage to follow your passion, even when it means leaving behind a conventional definition of success. Her journey reminds us that careers are not linear paths but evolving stories that we have the power to shape.

For anyone considering a career change, Hannah’s experience offers both inspiration and practical guidance. The key is to stay true to what energizes you while being strategic about how to make the transition.