This article was originally published on Work180 and is republished here with permission.
When Shanaye Appiah first sat behind the help desk phone at a life insurance call centre for her first corporate role, she never imagined her path would eventually lead to coding bots at a fintech. But curiosity, courage, and the right kind of support sparked a career pivot that’s become her proudest achievement.
How Shanaye’s journey began
“After my role at an insurance company, I started at HUB24 Group in the Operations team,” recalls Shanaye, now an Associate Software Engineer. “At the time, I was maintaining Excel macros and dabbling in code. When a developer joined us, I’d help out whenever I could. That’s when I knew I wanted to explore tech full time.”
Coming from a customer service and finance background, Shanaye had a degree in computer science but no formal experience in software engineering. Still, her managers saw her potential.
“They kept asking me what I was passionate about. Once I shared my interest in tech, they created space for me to learn and encouraged me to apply for a role in the Technology team.”
Creating space to grow
Shanaye’s progression at HUB24 Group is a testament to how inclusive career pathways can truly work. Her journey from Investment Administration Officer to the robotics and automation team wasn’t typical, but it was thoughtfully supported.
“I didn’t have all the skills at the start, but HUB24 Group helped me gain exposure. I was allowed to shadow developers, contribute to projects and eventually grow into a full-time engineering role.”
She’s now thriving in a dynamic tech stack and using both her technical skills and finance know-how to create meaningful solutions.
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Confidence, community, and continuous learning
“I’m proud of how far I’ve come,” says Shanaye. “I’ve grown so much beyond what I learnt at university. Now, I can confidently contribute ideas and talk through technical problems with my team.”
The flexibility and learning culture at HUB24 Group also empower her life outside of work. Between gym sessions, car adventures, photography and family time, Shanaye has crafted a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.
“Whether it’s using LinkedIn Learning or jumping into new projects, there are always ways to grow here. And I’ve never felt like I had to choose between career and personal time.”
Seeing potential beyond experience
While some workplaces focus solely on formal experience, HUB24 Group’s approach centres on potential. By backing employees through career pivots, they unlock talent that might otherwise be overlooked.
“They saw something in me that I hadn’t fully recognised in myself yet,” says Shanaye. “That belief made all the difference.”
The power of believing in people
From finance to full-stack, Shanaye’s story proves that no path is too winding when you have the right support.
What passion will you turn into your next opportunity?
Discover how HUB24 Group empowers career changers and future tech leaders. Explore our employee policies, benefits, and open roles today.