Let's imagine for a moment a car passing by on the street. Most people would identify the model, color, maybe even the year. But when Tamara Fischer sees a car, she sees far beyond that. She sees the future.
"I don't understand cars," Tamara laughs, "if you ask me what car I have, I'll say a white auto." But don't let this modesty fool you - Tamara understands something much more important - the code that powers the cars of the future.
For five years now, Tamara has been working as a software architect at General Motors, but her story begins long before that. In 1986, when most people still thought computers were science fiction, Tamara was already writing code. Since then, she has only worked for four companies - a testament to the loyalty and dedication that characterize her.
"For me, a car is not just a means of transportation," she explains with a smile, "it's a living room on wheels." Tamara sees the enormous potential of software in the automotive world - entertainment systems, safety features, and even communication between vehicles.
But Tamara's life is much more than code. She's a mother of four and grandmother to five, an avid book lover (except for romance - "Yuck!"), and an enthusiastic reader. It's no coincidence that the first question we asked her was about which book she recommends, and the answer: "Grokking Functional Programming". In her opinion, it's an excellent book that serves as an entry point to the field. Then we challenged her and asked about 3 books she would take to a deserted island, and she replied, "To a deserted island, you take a survival book to help you survive, a cookbook to help you cook, and another book on how to build sand castles so you won't get bored."
In addition to all this, she also loves animals of all kinds, and even raised birds and a rescued porcupine at home, but her favorite animal is undoubtedly the giraffe because it's elegant, strong, and not a pushover. Tamara's optimism is contagious. "I'm positive to the point of vomiting," she declares with a smile. "Making the world a better place, one day at a time" is her motto, and she lives it every day.
At General Motors, Tamara found a second home. Beyond writing code, she's also part of our ambassador community, where she learns from others and shares her rich knowledge.
And if by chance you're looking at Tamara and saying, "Wow, she looks like Mayim Bialik from The Big Bang Theory," then know that it's not just a coincidence, there's a family connection. In any case, there's only one Tamara, and she's ours 😊
Tamara Fischer is more than just a software engineer. She believes in actions, not words, and she's living proof that you can combine a successful career with a rich family life, and that with a lot of optimism and determination, you can change the world - or at least the world of automobiles - for the better!
