Cooper Dutfield

Get to know Cooper Dutfield

What are you looking for in your next role?

I'm looking for a challenging role that will stretch my abilities and allow me to continuously learn and grow. I'm excited to try new things and work collaboratively with others towards a common goal. I value a company culture that encourages innovation and creativity while also prioritizing work-life balance. Overall, I'm looking for a role that not only utilizes my skills but also allows me to continue learning and improving.

Why did you decide to change career and/or educational paths? What was your prior path and how did you end up down that road initially?

I decided to change my career and educational path because I realized that my prior path in business was not fulfilling and did not align with my personal interests and strengths. While attending a community college and later a four-year university, I initially pursued a major in business. I realized that I did not have a true passion in business and decided to change my major to software engineering. After doing once semester I fell in love with it but unfortunately, I found that changing my major to software engineering would require an additional four years of study, which was not feasible for me. I needed a more time-efficient option that would still provide me with the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue a career in software engineering. That's when I discovered Launch Academy.

Where have you been involved in the tech community (events attended, volunteer activities, etc.)?

I have attend TechCrunch Disrupt, GitHub Universe, Microsoft Build, and Microsoft Ignite. Each of these conferences were very informative not only specifically to their own technologies but the overall tech advancements and future outlooks related to tech. I attended these to not only grow my personal understanding but also to learn more and hone my interest.

What has been the most fulfilling aspect of your journey towards becoming a web developer? What's been your biggest challenge and how have you overcome it?

My biggest technical challenge as a web developer was initially understanding how to get started and fully comprehend the scope of what I needed to learn. However, I overcame this challenge by diving into the code base and taking it part by part. The most fulfilling aspect of my journey towards becoming a web developer has been seeing the results of my hard work and being able to create something from scratch that is both functional and visually appealing.

If you had an unlimited budget and resources, what would you build?

If I had an unlimited budget and resources, I would love to explore game design. With my passion for writing and the freedom to create without any monetary restrictions, the possibilities are endless, and the freedom to create without restrictions is an amazing opportunity. I can't think of anything more fulfilling than being able to bring my vision to life and share it with others.