This is a post in our Your Django Story series where we highlight awesome ladies who work with Django. Read more about it here.

Leah Culver is a iOS and Python developer. In 2007 she co-founded Pownce, a social networking and micro-blogging website, which was acquired by Six Apart in November 2008. She has co-authored both the OAuth and OEmbed open API specifications. Leah promotes open source, APIs, and the Django web framework on her blog at leahculver.com.

How did your story with code start?

I started making webpages when I was fifteen years old. My parents had a computer and modem for us kids to use, supposedly for school work, and I loved playing around on the internet. I’ve always loved the internet.

What did you do before becoming a programmer?

I started studying art in college. I remember wanting to be a web designer. I switched my major to computer science after taking one class in JavaScript. It thought it was really interesting and wished I had been exposed to more computer programming at a younger age.

What do you love the most about coding?

I love the moment when the solution becomes obvious, the “ah-ha” moment.

Why Django?

Great documentation. Seriously. Django’s docs have always been very easy to read and easy to get started building a website right away.

What cool projects are you working on at the moment/planning on working on in the near future?

I’d like to make an app for the Apple Watch. I’ve been playing around with the new Swift programming language and I’m just waiting for Apple to release the WatchKit framework… hurry up Apple!

What are you the most proud of?

I’m really glad I’ve released some of my code as open source. It’s nice to feel like I’m giving back, even if it’s just a little bit. I also am proud of contributing to other people’s open source projects and helping out when I can with open source projects.

What are you curious about?

I’m always curious about new apps. I try out everything and am often a beta tester for friends’ apps.

What do you like doing in your free time? What’s your hobby?

I like running in my free time. I run a few days a week and it’s such a nice change from sitting at a desk.

Do you have any advice/tips for programming beginners

You are just as smart as everyone else. Programming is tricky but you’ll learn and get better. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and don’t give up.

Thanks Leah! :)