From Curious Kid to Tech Leader: Cassidy Williams' Self-Taught Journey

Picture this: you're 13 years old, walking home from school, when you overhear a neighbor mention "check out my website." That simple comment changed everything for Cassidy Williams. She realized regular people could build websites, not just big companies. That moment sparked her journey from curious eighth-grader to one of tech's most respected voices in developer experience.

Learning to Code the Hard Way

Williams didn't wait for permission to start coding. After that conversation, she went straight home and started researching how to build websites. She taught herself HTML, CSS, and JavaScript using free online resources. No bootcamp. No fancy courses. Just determination and an internet connection.

Her first projects were simple but functional. She built colorful web pages, photo galleries, and chat rooms for her friends. These weren't sophisticated applications, but they served real users. This hands-on approach became her learning superpower.

Facing Challenges Head-On

High school brought its first real obstacle. When Williams walked into her AP Computer Science class, her teacher said, "Well, as you see, we have a girl this year." Instead of backing down, she used comments like this to fuel her determination.

Williams graduated from Iowa State University in 2014 with a computer science degree. Only four women remained in her graduating class. This experience later drove her passion for helping other women enter tech.

Building a Non-Traditional Career

Williams refused to fit into typical engineering boxes. She combined technical skills with communication and community building. Here's how her career unfolded:

Starting Out (2014-2016): Joined Venmo as a software engineer but quickly expanded into developer evangelism. She spoke at conferences and organized hackathons while still in her early twenties.

Growing Phase (2015-2019): Worked at Clarifai, L4 Digital, and Amazon. Each role brought more responsibility in both engineering and developer relations. She kept creating content and speaking, even when it wasn't her official job.

Leadership Years (2019-2024): Moved through senior roles at CodePen and React Training, then became a director at Netlify. Most recently, she served as CTO at Contenda before joining GitHub as Senior Director of Developer Advocacy.

The Secret: Giving Back While Growing

Williams follows a simple philosophy: "lift as you climb." Throughout her career, she has created content, taught workshops, and mentored others. She understood early that helping others strengthens the entire industry.

Her content approach stands out too. She writes technical blog posts and creates humorous TikTok videos about programming. This combination makes technology more accessible and welcoming. Her weekly newsletter and social media following prove that technical expertise plus authentic communication creates real impact.

Lessons for Self-Taught Developers

Williams' journey offers clear guidance for anyone breaking into tech:

Build immediately. Don't spend years studying theory. Start creating websites and applications from day one. Make simple but functional projects that teach you practical skills.

Learn everything. Williams approached web development holistically. She learned coding, design, SEO, and user experience. This broad knowledge became valuable in leadership roles.

Network authentically. Build relationships by genuinely helping others. Attend meetups and engage with communities. Focus on giving, not taking.

Refuse boxes. Don't choose between being "just an engineer" or "just an evangelist." Create roles that combine your interests.

Start giving back early. Even as a junior developer, begin speaking at conferences and mentoring others. Build your reputation as someone who cares about the community.

Why This Story Matters

Williams' career challenges common tech myths. You don't need an elite computer science degree to succeed. You don't have to choose between technical depth and communication skills. You don't need to wait until you're senior to make an impact.

Her story also shows how tech roles evolve. Developer experience and developer advocacy barely existed when she started. By combining technical skills with empathy for other developers, she helped create entirely new job categories.

What's Next

Now at GitHub, Williams continues improving developer experiences while mentoring others. Her journey from that curious eighth grader to senior director at one of tech's most influential companies proves something important: the best tech careers combine technical skills with curiosity, persistence, and genuine desire to help others succeed.

Williams lives by a Helen Keller quote: "One never consents to creep when one feels an impulse to soar." Her impulse to soar began with simple curiosity on a walk home from school. That same curiosity continues inspiring others to reach for extraordinary achievements in technology.

For anyone considering a tech career, especially from non-traditional backgrounds, Williams' story offers both inspiration and a practical roadmap. With curiosity, determination, and commitment to continuous learning, you don't just enter the tech industry. You help shape its future.