Fatima Taj

Hi, I’m Fatima 👋 — a Senior Software Engineer (backend) at Yelp, international tech speaker, and hands-on mentor with a passion for helping others succeed in today’s brutal tech market. I’ve been on both sides of the interview table — as a candidate navigating the highly competitive 2025 job market, and as an interviewer helping others land offers. Along the way, I’ve mentored hundreds of engineers on everything from cracking technical interviews and negotiating offers, to building confidence in public speaking and overcoming imposter syndrome. My approach is simple: personalized, practical, and human. A bit about me: I earned my Bachelor’s in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and a Master’s in Data Science from HEC Montréal. I’ve worked across trading, semiconductors, and tech — starting at DRW before joining Yelp in 2021. As a speaker, I’ve delivered 100+ talks at hackathons, conferences, and keynotes across North America and Europe (NDC Copenhagen, SCALE, Women of Silicon Roundabout, Tapia, Agile, cdCon+GitOpsCon, and more). My sessions are known for being real, interactive, and packed with hands-on strategies that attendees can apply immediately. Why work with me? Because I believe knowledge should never be gatekept. Whether you’re preparing for a high-stakes technical interview, navigating career progression, or learning to find your voice on stage, I’ll meet you where you are and help you build the confidence, skills, and strategy to stand out.