I put some Q & A here to help my visitors better understand me 😉.

What is Cathiness?

🌿 CATHINESS (The work philosophy of Cathy Fu)

1️⃣ Core Drive:

To learn freely, connect ideas deeply, and create thoughtfully—then share those connections with others.

Never satisfied by simply knowing how—I need to understand why.

Draw inspiration across disciplines, blending algorithms, psychology, and literature into new perspectives.

2️⃣ Ideal Collaboration Environment:

Working with intelligent, kind, and driven people, united by a shared sense of purpose and warmth.

Visionary, charismatic leadership.
Humble, curious teammates.
Well-designed systems that align everyone’s strengths.

3️⃣ Core Values:

Kindness · Playfulness · Ambition · Creativity · Gentleness

Kindness: Respecting users and colleagues, always approaching others with empathy.
Playfulness: Leaving room for humor and discovery in the work.
Ambition: A genuine hunger for growth and mastery.
Creativity: Refusing to settle for repetition—seeking originality in everything.
Gentleness: Thoughtful consideration of people’s experiences, both in process and in outcome.

4️⃣ The Legacy I Want My Work to Carry:

Soft in spirit, rigorous in logic, with a sense of quiet compassion woven throughout.

Small hidden touches to delight those who look closely.
A clear sense that someone cared when this was built.

🌿 Brief Definition:

✨ Cathiness = Learning with freedom, creating with tenderness, connecting with depth, and always leaving room to grow.

What is your motivation becoming a software engineer? What have you done?

My reason for choosing to study computer science after a few years of work experience is that I want to create software and products that help people. This was the introduction I gave in my first university class.

During school, I built several interesting projects focused on helping people. For example, I created a Python-based web page that renders nutrition facts to users when they select items they plan to eat. This project earned full marks in my first intensive programming course.

The project also contains an algorithm that utilizes linear programming to calculate the minimum cost of meals that satisfy specific people's daily nutritional needs. The paper report for this project received full marks in my algorithm class.

In my final semester, I worked in a team of 5 on a full-stack project called 'Fundraisers' Companion' designed to help fundraisers at the BC Cancer Foundation. I worked on the front-end and designed the interface. Although I had nearly no experience in art/design, my teammates were impressed by my creativity. We aced the class and presented our work to the officers at the BC Cancer Foundation.

Additionally, I developed a mobile app to help people track job applications and stay motivated. It started as a class project, which I built from scratch. I completed all the paper prototype designs and market research, then coded it with my partner through three iterations. After the class ended, I continued working on it during school breaks. My Mobile Development professor liked it so much that she recommended it to the director of career services at our university. I am still improving it and plan to launch it on the App Store in the near future.

I am driven by a meaningful mission. With that mindset, I can learn anything needed to succeed. My 4.0 GPA from Northeastern University demonstrates my solid foundation in computer science. Additionally, I am strong in self-learning, having earned a full-stack development certificate before pursuing my computer science degree.

Tell us about an engineering project or body of work that you are proud of which involved immense complexity. A project where you had many challenges to overcome. Tell us how you overcame those challenges.

Situation:
During my internship at a startup called GreenNudge, I was tasked with building the backend infrastructure for a sustainability-focused platform serving small to medium-sized enterprises in the textile industry. The goal was to help these businesses collaborate on reducing carbon emissions through optimized supply chain partnerships.

Task:
I was responsible for designing and implementing the backend system and database schema, and deploying the full project to AWS. In addition to the technical work, I needed to ensure the solution was cost-effective and aligned with both the business goals and the needs of the end users — many of whom had limited digital resources or experience.

Action:
To build a system that truly met user needs, I went beyond the code: I read academic papers on supply chain management in the textile industry to better understand how these SMEs operate. With that insight, I repurposed a pet-matching algorithm I’d previously built, adapting it to match businesses based on emissions reduction potential and partnership compatibility.

On the infrastructure side, I encountered a situation where the non-technical founder strongly preferred AWS Lambda due to a friend’s recommendation. After analyzing our use case and projected costs, I prepared a clear technical document comparing Lambda and EC2, demonstrating that EC2 was more sustainable and scalable for our workload. My approach helped earn trust and successfully influenced the infrastructure decision.

Throughout the project, I worked closely with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, wrote internal documentation, and adapted my communication style to ensure alignment. I also applied solid computer science fundamentals to keep the system efficient and maintainable, especially under resource constraints.

Result:
We launched the platform on AWS using the revised infrastructure, and the matching system successfully paired pilot businesses with relevant partners. The project received positive feedback from both users and the internal team, and my technical decisions reduced projected infrastructure costs significantly. It was a deeply rewarding experience that combined backend engineering, user empathy, and strategic thinking — all under the challenge of ambiguity and startup constraints.

What's the toughest challenge you've ever overcome in your life? How did you overcome it?

One of the toughest challenges I've overcome was making a complete career transition to pursue a truly meaningful occupation. Despite having a background in business administration and finance, and working successfully as an accountant and teacher, I found myself craving more challenging tasks and opportunities for personal growth.

After careful planning and consideration, I made the bold decision to return to school and pursue a tech career in North America. This transition required not only academic preparation but also significant personal sacrifice and support. I actively sought guidance from my family, friends, and professional network, remaining resourceful and persistent in pursuing this dream.

Looking back, I'm proud of how I've navigated this challenging transition. My academic success and growing technical skills confirm that I made the right choice, and I'm confident this path will lead to the meaningful and challenging career I've been seeking.

What are the core values you believe in? Give an example?

I strongly relate to these core values: caring for people and nature, determination to do what's right, and commitment to excellence and teamwork. I demonstrated these values during my recent internship, which was also a research capstone course at my university.

Working with three teammates for a startup company, we focused on helping small to medium-sized textile companies build strategic partnerships and sustainable production practices. Our solution was to develop a sustainable web platform that connected these companies while adhering to green computing principles. This approach addressed both environmental and economic challenges while maintaining high standards for code efficiency and reliability.

Our team worked tirelessly and maintained a strong relationship with our professor and business partner. When we encountered conflicts of interest - such as when our partner prioritized performance and cost-saving over environmental impact considerations - we initiated open conversations and found ways to balance these competing needs. To meet our business partner's requirements, we independently studied new tech stacks, successfully implemented them, and deployed the final product to the cloud.

Additionally, we co-authored a research paper and presented it to a large audience at our school's showcase event. Through this experience, I learned valuable lessons about customer-centered approaches, maintaining high product standards, and being a supportive and enthusiastic teammate. I am committed to continuing my growth and making meaningful contributions to my future team.

Provide examples of how you demonstrate "Community" in your current work?

Community is central to my work as a software engineer. My projects consistently focus on serving real people with tangible needs. For example, my Husky Interview Prep platform was developed specifically to help fellow students in my university community prepare for job interviews, addressing a challenge we collectively faced.

Participating in hackathons like CyberSci and YVR Smart Airport has deepened my connection to the tech community, where collaborative problem-solving creates solutions greater than what any individual could achieve alone. These experiences consistently inspire my work and thinking.

I firmly believe that software engineers have a responsibility to assist those without technical expertise. Technology should be accessible and beneficial to all community members, not just those who can build it. This mindset drives my approach to development—creating intuitive interfaces and practical applications that serve genuine human needs.

What does having a commitment to EDI mean to you?

A commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion means creating environments where everyone can fully contribute and thrive, regardless of background or identity. To me, EDI isn't simply about meeting quotas—it's about fostering spaces where diverse perspectives are actively valued and where barriers to participation are identified and removed.

In my experience, the most innovative solutions emerge when teams include varied viewpoints and lived experiences. During my time participating in hackathons and collaborative projects, I've witnessed how diversity of thought leads to more creative problem-solving and comprehensive products that better serve all users.

As a naturally empathetic person, I strive to listen attentively and ensure all voices are heard. I believe technology should be accessible and beneficial to everyone, which requires diverse teams building it.

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