From Biotech to Tech: My Unconventional Path
How a Biotechnology graduate found his true calling in building software products — and why unconventional paths can be an advantage.
The "Safe" Path
Like many Asian kids, I grew up with well-meaning parents who wanted me to become a doctor or pharmacist. Coding? That looked like playing games to them. So I followed the safe path and earned a Biotechnology degree.
I don't regret it. That degree taught me systematic thinking, research methodology, and patience — skills that transfer directly to software engineering.
The Moment Everything Changed
My first "real" job was at ALFA and Friends, an ed-tech company in the STEAM industry. I was doing science education work, but every evening I'd go home and code. Building small apps, taking freelance gigs on Freelancer.com, learning new frameworks.
One day, it hit me: I was spending 8 hours doing something I liked, then rushing home to do what I loved. Something had to change.
The Leap
In 2019, when Kelvin invited me to help digitize his printing business, I said yes without hesitation. It wasn't glamorous — no Silicon Valley startup, no venture capital, just a traditional Malaysian business that needed technology.
But it was real. Real users, real problems, real revenue. And for the first time, I was building products that people actually used every day.
Why Unconventional Paths Work
Looking back, my biology background gave me something most developers don't have:
- Systems thinking — Biological systems are incredibly complex. Software systems are simple by comparison.
- Research discipline — The scientific method is basically product development: hypothesis, experiment, measure, iterate.
- Communication skills — Explaining biology to non-scientists prepared me for translating technical concepts to stakeholders.
Advice for Career Switchers
If you're considering a switch into tech from another field:
- Start building — Don't wait for permission. Build something, anything.
- Your background is an asset — Domain knowledge from other fields is rare and valuable in tech.
- Find a real problem — The best way to learn is to build something people actually need.
- Be patient — It took me years to get comfortable calling myself a software engineer. That's okay.
The tech industry needs diverse perspectives. Your unconventional path isn't a weakness — it's your superpower.