Hackathon Awesomeness, Career Benefits and Culture | Sashrika Kaur | Beyond Coding Podcast #106

Community Support

Hackathons are more than just competitions; they are vibrant communities that foster both personal and professional growth. Sashrika Kaur, a software engineer at Google and a hackathon coach, shares her journey of overcoming initial hesitations and embracing the supportive nature of hackathons. She emphasizes that these events are not solely about winning but about learning, networking, and having fun. Patrick Akil highlights the global connections formed through hackathons, which help participants find friends and support networks worldwide 1 2.

Hackathons are much more about just winning or completing a project the way that you scoped it out. It's about learning, it's about networking. It's about just having fun.

--- Sashrika Kaur

The community aspect is further enhanced by the support from companies and coaches, making it easier for beginners to get started and thrive in these environments 3.

   

Vibrant Atmosphere

The lively atmosphere of hackathons is a breeding ground for creativity and collaboration. Sashrika Kaur describes the adrenaline rush and fulfillment that comes from participating in these events, which often involve intense sprints and teamwork. She notes that hackathons provide a pseudo-working environment where participants can simulate real-world project development and teamwork dynamics 4. Patrick Akil observes that the enthusiasm surrounding hackathons is infectious, with many people finding joy in the process of building and learning together 5.

It's just that notion, that adrenaline rush of organizing and working or participating in a hackathon that can give you that idea.

--- Sashrika Kaur

This vibrant culture is supported by major tech companies like Google and Microsoft, which recognize the value of hackathons in fostering innovation and creativity among their employees 5.