Digest

Sue's Hinton, a software engineer and security researcher from Melbourne, Australia, shares her unique and winding journey through tech. Starting with a Commodore 64 in the early 90s, she developed a passion for computers and eventually pursued a multimedia degree, gaining a diverse skillset that proved invaluable throughout her career. After a stint in advertising, she found her way into education, teaching and rewriting curriculum at a TAFE institution. Her love for embedded hardware led her to explore the world of physical computing, building projects like a replica New York City Metro card that plays train noises. Sue's journey took her to the United States, where she worked at companies like Zappos, Microsoft, and CrowdStrike, gaining experience in various fields and learning from top-tier engineers. She also became a pioneer in live coding on Twitch, sharing her knowledge and passion for open source development. Sue's dedication to learning led her to pursue a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, earning numerous industry certifications along the way. This academic pursuit ultimately helped her transition into a security researcher role at CrowdStrike, where she leverages her technical skills and deep understanding of security concepts to contribute to the fight against cyber threats. Sue's story highlights the importance of embracing a diverse skillset, the power of continuous learning, and the unexpected opportunities that can arise from pursuing your passions. Sue discusses her recent experience with burnout, which led her to take a break from her research job and focus on her master's thesis. She shares insights into recognizing burnout and emphasizes the importance of taking time off to decompress and rejuvenate. Sue also discusses her plans for the future, which include pursuing online education courses and working on personal software projects. She highlights the importance of finding joy in the things she enjoys, even during periods of burnout. Sue concludes the conversation by recommending resources for listeners, including YouTube channels like Nerd Forge, No Clip, and Splash Wave, and books like "The Dream Machine" and "Space Rogue." She encourages listeners to explore these resources and find inspiration in the work of others.

Outlines

00:00:00

Early Days with a Commodore 64

This Chapter discusses Sue's early experiences with computers, starting with inheriting a Commodore 64 from her uncle. She describes how she learned to use the computer through trial and error, exploring batch files and eventually discovering the world of websites. This early exposure to technology sparked her passion for computers and laid the foundation for her future career.

00:00:37

A Winding Path Through Tech

This Chapter delves into Sue's educational journey, highlighting her decision to pursue a multimedia degree after initially considering a career as a veterinary nurse. She describes how this program provided her with a broad range of skills, including sound production, 3D modeling, and video creation, which she has utilized throughout her career and personal life.

00:13:00

The Value of a Jack of All Trades

This Chapter explores the benefits of having a diverse skillset, as Sue explains how her multimedia degree prepared her for her early contract work and helped her navigate various roles in the tech industry. She shares anecdotes about her first jobs, including creating flash banners for a major car company and working on interactive projects for an advertising agency.

00:20:05

Moral Dilemmas in Advertising

This Chapter discusses Sue's experience working in the advertising industry and her ethical concerns about the manipulative nature of advertising. She reflects on her time at an advertising agency, highlighting the fast-paced environment and the pressure to create engaging but potentially misleading content. Sue expresses regret for contributing to the rise of intrusive online advertising and shares her perspective on the evolution of advertising technology.

00:29:59

The Joy of Teaching and Live Coding

This Chapter focuses on Sue's transition into education and her passion for teaching. She describes her experience teaching multimedia at a TAFE institution and how she rewrote the curriculum to incorporate more relevant technologies. Sue also shares her inspiration for starting live coding on Twitch, citing the influence of other streamers and her desire to demystify open source development.

00:35:14

A Love for Embedded Hardware

This Chapter explores Sue's fascination with embedded hardware and her passion for building physical projects. She recounts a pivotal experience in her TAFE course where a teacher brought in a custom-built arcade cabinet, sparking her interest in electronics and hardware hacking. Sue describes her collection of old keyboards and her excitement when the Arduino platform emerged, allowing her to pursue her hobby more effectively.

00:44:32

Ambitious Hardware Projects

This Chapter highlights Sue's most ambitious hardware project, which involved working with a medical equipment company to develop a live-streamed 3D virtual experience for the HoloLens. She describes the technical challenges of streaming 3D content in real time and the importance of optimizing for latency and user experience.

00:47:26

Formative Years at Zappos

This Chapter focuses on Sue's experience working at Zappos, a company known for its unique culture and customer-centric approach. She describes the high-caliber front-end team at Zappos and how their focus on performance and innovation helped her elevate her skills. Sue also shares her perspective on the cultural differences between Australia and the United States and the challenges of navigating immigration paperwork.

01:02:30

Back to School and a New Path

This Chapter discusses Sue's decision to return to school and pursue a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity. She explains her motivation for seeking a structured learning environment and her desire to gain a deeper understanding of a field that she found both fascinating and intimidating. Sue also shares her experience earning numerous industry certifications as part of her degree program.

01:10:32

Transitioning to Security Research

This Chapter details Sue's transition from a general software engineer to a security researcher. She describes how her certifications and experience in security-focused roles at Stripe helped her secure a position at CrowdStrike. Sue emphasizes the value of her cybersecurity degree in understanding the technical concepts and terminology used in her new role.

01:19:10

Capture the Flag Events and InfoSec

This Chapter explores Sue's involvement in Capture the Flag (CTF) events, which are hacking challenges designed to test security skills. She describes her participation in collegiate CTFs and her experience competing in a reverse engineering competition hosted by the National Security Agency (NSA). Sue shares her unique souvenir from the NSA - a lime green fidget spinner - and reflects on the thrill of receiving a package from such a prominent organization.

01:22:17

Rapid Fire Questions and Reflections

This Chapter concludes with a series of rapid fire questions, covering topics such as Sue's approach to customizing her tooling, her thoughts on Vim, her perspective on the importance of not putting your identity into a single tool, and her experience with real-time versus asynchronous communication. Sue also reflects on the impact of live coding on her career and her decision to create her own streaming platform.

01:37:58

Burnout and Rejuvenation

This Chapter delves into Sue's experience with burnout and her strategies for recovery. She describes the gradual onset of burnout, characterized by increased anxiety, disengagement, and decreased productivity. Sue shares her decision to leave her research job and focus on her master's thesis, emphasizing the importance of taking time off to decompress and rejuvenate. She highlights the importance of finding joy in the things she enjoys, even during periods of burnout, and shares her personal strategies for recovery, such as reading, watching documentaries, and engaging with inspiring communities.

01:49:45

Recommendations for Resources

This Chapter concludes with Sue's recommendations for resources that have inspired her, including YouTube channels like Nerd Forge, No Clip, and Splash Wave, and books like "The Dream Machine" and "Space Rogue." She encourages listeners to explore these resources and find inspiration in the work of others.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are some signs of burnout and how can you recognize it?

  Sue describes the gradual onset of burnout, characterized by increased anxiety, disengagement, and decreased productivity. She mentions feeling overwhelmed by normal tasks, withdrawing from colleagues, and experiencing a significant drop in productivity. If you find yourself struggling to get out of bed, feeling guilty about not working, and avoiding conversations with colleagues, it might be a sign of burnout.

• What are some strategies for recovering from burnout?

  Sue emphasizes the importance of taking time off to decompress and rejuvenate. She suggests finding joy in the things you enjoy, even during periods of burnout. Her personal strategies include reading, watching documentaries, and engaging with inspiring communities. She encourages listeners to find what works best for them and prioritize self-care.

• What are some resources that Sue recommends for those interested in technology, gaming, and computer history?

  Sue recommends YouTube channels like Nerd Forge, No Clip, and Splash Wave, which offer creative and engaging content related to technology, gaming, and pop culture. She also recommends books like "The Dream Machine" and "Space Rogue," which provide insightful narratives about the history of computing and the early days of hacking.

• What are Sue's plans for the future?

  Sue plans to pursue online education courses and work on personal software projects. She is also looking forward to graduating with her master's degree and taking a break from the industry to focus on her personal interests.

Show Notes