Lyndsey Padget is a full-time software developer who has used her programming skills in a variety of settings.

“After two internships with Cerner Corporation, I was a software engineer there for five years,” Lyndsey says. “I then moved to Perceptive Software (now Lexmark International), where I became a team lead and architect. After that I did consulting and client work for a few years, and now I'm back to full-time software development, but this time at a small start-up.”

In each of these roles, Lyndsey says she’s been able to follow her passion for building things that help people.

“I am fortunate to be able to follow my passion every day by writing software. I love the challenge it provides, and it encourages me to keep learning every day.”

The Kansas City native earned a bachelor of science degree in Computer Science from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and in her free time enjoys sewing, reading and fitness.

She says some misperceptions about software development persist:

“Some software professionals inadvertently make this work sound daunting, but the reality is that it is one of the most accessible skills you can learn. But it does require perseverance.”

And especially for girls and women entering the field, Lyndsey suggests the same advice she would give to anyone: “Develop a thick skin. Spend less time feeling worried or upset and spend more time learning and becoming better.”

“I feel really passionate about sharing my story with young women because I am so grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given,” she says. “I want to empower the next generation of women to be even greater visionaries than those before them.”