Elaine Loke

Elaine Loke has had a varied career since leaving Kent. After gaining a BA in Journalism she spent several years working as a magazine journalist in Malaysia, before returning to Kent to complete an MSc in Computer Science. This career pivot has proved fruitful and following her graduation she joined J.P. Morgan’s graduate programme where she works a mobile developer for their Chase mobile banking app.

Tell us about your career path since graduation.

After graduating in 2018 with a Journalism degree, I returned to my home country Malaysia to work as a magazine journalist. It was the largest magazine publisher in Malaysia, with local titles such as FEMALE (which was the team I worked for) and international titles like Marie Claire and Harper's Bazaar. The company closed down during COVID and I moved on to work as a social media analyst at a local online grocery delivery company, HappyFresh. 

I returned to Kent to pursue my MSc in 2021 and after graduating in 2023, I started working for J.P. Morgan as a software engineer under the Software Engineer Program (2-year graduate program). Specifically, I work as a React Native mobile developer for the Chase mobile banking app. 

What does a typical work day look like for you?

My work day is usually a journey filled with problem-solving, creativity and collaboration. I start every morning with my team's stand-up where we discuss our current workflow, blockers and plan for the day. This is usually followed by a dive into coding and the task varies each day depending on the requirements. This can be building new features, refining existing functions or tackling challenges such as bugs and glitches.

Occasionally, I collaborate with other developers to brainstorm ideas, solve complex problems and perform peer reviews to maintain the quality of our codebase. 

Can you share a professional highlight from your career so far?

During my time as a magazine journalist, I had the opportunities to interview celebrities such as Calum Scott, Lukas Graham, Anne Marie and Honne. I also had my own column "Ask Elaine" in the magazine where I answer readers' questions about food, technology and travels.

In my current role, I was given ownership to build a feature in the Chase app which has recently launched to our UK customers. It was an exciting experience as I was the main developer for that feature and to see so many customers using it now is so surreal. It was a project I thought I may not do well as I'm only a grad but I'm glad my managers believed in me. 

How did your time at Kent help you achieve your current career?

Kent provided me with a good foundation in computer science which was crucial for me to get started as a budding software engineer. The courses in object-oriented programming, algorithms, software engineering principles etc proved to be very useful when I started working in the industry as they enabled me to approach new languages and technologies with confidence as I already possessed a solid grasp of underlying principles.

We also had a Project Week which gave me valuable hands-on experience in developing an existing software to make it more user-friendly to visually impaired users. It was a great experience as I got to apply theoretical knowledge into action and understand the software development lifecycle, version control systems and project management methodologies that I use in my everyday work now. 

As a Journalism graduate, I was also trained to possess valuable soft skills such as communication, teamwork, interpersonal and time management, all of which were instrumental even after I made a career switch into software engineering. I believe my Journalism background provided me with a unique set of skills and perspectives that complement my current role, allowing me to think critically, convey complex technical concepts, and adapt to challenges with confidence. 

What advice would you give to our current/prospective students who are looking to get into the same line of work?

Focus on acquiring a solid foundation in software engineering fundamentals; always be curious about the whys, i.e. why is this an issue, rather than focusing on the hows, i.e. how to solve this issue. Learn to embrace the mindset of lifelong learning as technology is always evolving and engage in hands-on projects or internship opportunities to gain practical experience. 

Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Kent?

Ethnic food nights with my flatmates! I was living in Woolf with 7 other international students, all from different countries such as Italy, Korea, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand and the USA. We used to rotate hosting dinners where we serve food from our home country and celebrate each other's cultures. It really ingrained in me a deep appreciation for the rich tapestry of cultures that shape our world. 

Is there anything you would do differently if you could repeat your time at Kent?

I would join more clubs and societies. Due to courseworks and exams, I spent very little time exploring new activities and getting involved in sports. I'd definitely want to attend various activities and expand my network even more if I could go back to university.

Are you still in touch with other Kent alumni or academics?

Yes, we're still good friends and I'm still in touch with a few academics.

What are your future ambitions?

I'm really passionate about innovation and aspire to develop software that'd create opportunities for growth and impact. I'd love to progress into a lead mobile engineer role where I can take on more responsibilities on design, development and implementation of mobile applications. I'd also like to be able to provide technical leadership and mentorship to budding developers in the future.