It’s been said that an education is an investment. That certainly holds true for Tatyana Gray, a BYU computer science alumna who has seen her programming skills pay significant dividends.
Gray originally wanted to study humanities, but she soon discovered a love for computer science.
“I got a part-time job at the data center at BYU, and that gave me the idea to try computer science as a major,” Gray said. “I really loved it. Programming . . . came naturally to me.”
Gray worked as a programming intern for Novell during her undergraduate years, and she was hired full-time after she graduated in 2002. However, the “dot com crisis” of that time put several online companies out of business due to overinflated stock prices. During the crisis, Gray reevaluated her decision to make a career in computers.
Gray decided to attend BYU Law School, where she graduated magna cum laude in 2006. After graduating, Gray considered how she could put both her experience in computer science and her law degree to work.
“I got offers from the top [law] firms in the country,” Gray said. “Initially I was thinking about Silicon Valley. I spent an entire summer with a firm there. I thought that my computer science experience . . . would help if I was a lawyer for tech startups.”
But when she had considered the cost of living in California, Gray decided to return to Utah and practice law. She worked as a business lawyer and even opened her own law practice during what she calls an “entrepreneurial streak.”
After getting married, Gray put her career on hold to move to Idaho and be a mom. Once Gray’s family routine allowed her to re-enter the work force, she began to look for another way to use both her computer science and law skills.
“At that point, my husband and I really liked to watch Shark Tank, so I just got curious about what people in Shark Tank did,” Gray said. “Basically, they’re called angel investors, so I started learning about angel investing. It was the perfect fit.”
Gray joined an angel investing group in Boise, Idaho, and she is still a member today. The group meets once each month to hear pitches from small business owners who are seeking investors that will help their companies grow. Gray describes these monthly meetings as much less theatrical versions of Shark Tank. The pitches are similar, but there is no drama or pressure to make on-the-spot deals.
Gray said she is glad that she has found a profession where she can use all the skills she learned at BYU.
“I feel like I’m using both of my degrees as an angel investor,” Gray said. “When I talk to tech startup founders and I tell them that I studied computer science, I think there is immediate mutual respect, and it definitely helps me to understand the business better.”
Gray has also recently put her computer skills to work by creating AngelInvestingPodcast.com, a weekly radio show where she offers advice for current and prospective angel investors.
Gray hopes that her podcast will inspire more people to get involved in startups.
“In America there are over nine million people who have enough wealth to invest in startups, but less than three percent are doing it,” Gray said. “It’s so important for the next generation.”
Although Gray’s career path has not been typical of computer science graduates, pursuing her interests at BYU has paid off. She is a proponent of studying what you enjoy.
“My advice would be to pursue what you like, because you never know when you can use it,” Gray said. “If you have a natural talent or you like the sciences, I don’t think you can go wrong with a science degree.”