We sat down with Srija Mukherjee, Software Engineer at Bella, to learn about her career story and how she landed her first start-up gig!
What has your career and university journey been like so far?
Srija: I chose to pursue software engineering after high school because I was passionate about technology and its potential to make a meaningful impact in people’s lives across industries. I saw it as a field offering endless opportunities to challenge myself and grow, thanks to its ever-evolving nature. Initially, I wasn’t 100% certain if it was the right path for me—especially since I didn’t have much exposure to programming while growing up. However, over time, I built confidence and discovered my love for the field.
At university (UNSW), I got involved in student societies like the Computer Science and Engineering Society (CSESoc) and Women in Technology (WIT). Through these roles, I met and worked with incredible peers, collaborated with industry sponsors to host career skill-building events, and grew passionate about sharing my love of tech and empowering others. I also volunteered to tutor with Girls Programming Network (GPN), which runs workshops to expose young girls and gender minorities to Python programming.
My first job in tech was at NAB, where I interned as a Software Engineer. It taught me key skills such as how to navigate massive codebases and meet expectations in big workplace and it was really exciting to apply what I had learned at uni. After NAB, I took a break to focus on my studies and I worked as an Academic Tutor for a front-end development course at UNSW - a course I really enjoyed as a student and was keen to help others develop their interest and skills in the subject by sharing my knowledge.
Later on in my degree, I wanted to challenge myself by exploring the start-up space. I applied for a role as a Full Stack App Developer at Bella through Hatch. Over the past few months, I have grown both personally and professionally, built meaningful features I am proud of and worked alongside some highly motivated and awesome people.
What does Bella do and what attracted you to the role?
Srija:Bella makes it easy to find and book salons by connecting customers with trusted beauty providers recommended by friends, while helping salons boost visibility and reach more clients. This mission resonated with me, as I’d struggled personally with finding new places I could trust for something like a haircut. Beyond the mission, I connected with the founders Kyana and Elysée during the interviews. They were incredibly inspiring, understanding of my learning journey and open to figuring things out together, which I saw very positively and appreciated.
What does your day-to-day look like at Bella?
Srija: As a Full Stack App Developer at Bella, my work was centred around breaking down larger features into smaller tasks, planning their technical design and then implementing them.
A lot of time as a Software Engineer goes into planning and researching approaches before actual coding. Implementing is often the easier part, especially now with AI tools to assist. My days usually involved working on tasks, thoroughly planning (which sometimes took more than a day), and asking the right questions before implementing solutions. At the end of the day, it was time to reflect on my wins and improvements and share progress updates with the team.
What was unexpected about working in a start-up?
Srija: The amount of independence I got was unexpected but empowering. I had a lot of ownership over the tasks and features I worked on, though I always had people to reach out to if I had questions. I think this level of trust and responsibility isn’t as common in bigger companies.
How did you balance work, studies and life while working at Bella?
Srija: The team at Bella were very understanding of my boundaries. There were days when I worked longer hours because I was motivated to finish something, and other days when I prioritised my academic or personal commitments. Having the flexibility to manage my time and still deliver on commitments was key.
Did you feel imposter syndrome when entering the start-up space?
Srija: Definitely. I was building the app MVP almost from scratch, which was daunting because I’d only worked on smaller projects. It was scary to think about building something for real-world use, but I learned to trust myself, do thorough research, and reach out to subject-matter experts for guidance. Over time, recalling what I had already achieved, knowing I was supported and valued and focusing on the next few steps helped me push through.
What changed for you to feel ready to work at a start-up?
Srija: I honestly felt a bit bored just studying at university and wanted to step outside my comfort zone to try something different. I had always admired the start-up space for its fast-paced, innovative environment and the opportunity to make a tangible impact from the start. It felt like the right time to give it a shot since I didn’t have too many responsibilities yet. Programs like Startmate’s Student Fellowship and seeing friends thrive in the space also encouraged me to take that leap.
How did you prepare for the interview process at Bella?
Srija: Hatch’s process is very unique because it encourages you to showcase your passions and personality rather than just your achievements. I approached the process calmly and authentically. I wanted to demonstrate what I could bring to the role without putting too much pressure on myself.
How did your non-professional experiences contribute to your career?
Srija: Student societies were one of the most important parts of my university experience. I held roles like Sponsorship Director and Careers Director, where I collaborated with industry sponsors to host events that helped students build both soft and technical skills. It was fulfilling to empower others and share my passion for tech. These experiences also helped me develop key skills like communication, negotiation, and organisation.
What has been one of the biggest challenges in your career, and how did you overcome it?
Srija: Balancing my time between different commitments and interests has always been a challenge, and I’m still working on it. I love being involved in many things, but it can get overwhelming. To manage it, I rely heavily on tools like Google Calendar for color-coded scheduling and to-do lists to plan my day. I’ve also gotten better at understanding my limits and feeling more comfortable with saying no but there is a lot to improve on.
Do you have any advice for young people entering the tech industry?
Srija: Be proactive and seek out opportunities to explore your interests and different areas in tech. Don’t worry about knowing exactly where you want to go because early in your career is the perfect time to experiment. Build small projects to develop skills, don’t hesitate to reach out to people you admire for coffee chats, and attend networking events. Get involved in university societies if you can—they’re an excellent way to learn, grow, and build valuable connections. As per my favourite quote: Be humble, be teachable and always keep learning. Most importantly, don’t think any opportunity is beyond you. You define your own limits, and you can achieve anything if you believe in yourself.
Learn more about life at Bella
Keen to learn more about how Bella is shaking up the beauty industry and explore current opportunities, check them out on Hatch 🐣
