About

Self-taught frontend developer passionate about turning ideas into clean, user-friendly web experiences.

Hey, I'm Marianna — friends call me Maz. I'm a self-taught frontend developer based in Switzerland, continuously learning through practice, hands-on projects, and community challenges that help me grow.

Marianna

15+ years curious

From hospitality to code, still fueled by curiosity.

Based in

Switzerland

Blending years of people-centered work with a passion for the web.

Current focus

React & TanStack

Deepening React skills and learning modern frontend tools for data-driven apps.

Latest milestone

Skyscanner · Forage

Built a React date picker using Skyscanner’s Backpack library.

The journey so far

Every chapter adds a tool to my kit - how to organize, listen, adapt, and now, how to build. I’ve learned that growth often begins when curiosity meets persistence.

ctrl.z.my.life_

My path into tech hasn’t been a straight one — it’s been shaped by curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong desire to keep learning. The constant thread through all my professional experiences has been the drive to grow and adapt.

Before discovering code, I studied Hospitality & Tourism and worked in diverse settings — from hotels and restaurants to administrative roles across different industries. Over the years, I’ve seen how patience, empathy, and small details can completely change how people experience something — a lesson that now guides how I think about building for the web.

Each step, even the detours, has taught me that growth doesn’t always happen in a straight line — sometimes it’s the quiet shifts, the small learnings, that prepare you for the next big step.

from.curiosity_to_code_

I first became curious about web development more than fifteen years ago while experimenting with WordPress, building small freelance websites for local clients - including a hotel-restaurant and a few small businesses. I loved seeing ideas come to life online, but I often reached the limits of what I could customize without understanding the code behind it.

In 2021, I decided to go deeper and began learning through freeCodeCamp, where I earned my Responsive Web Design certification. That experience reignited my passion for creating and sparked a desire to understand how the web works from front to back.

In 2024, I joined herHack, the largest female-led hackathon in Switzerland, where our team proudly won 2nd place. Working under pressure reminded me how creativity and collaboration can bring bold ideas to life.

The following year, I completed Harvard’s CS50: Computer Science for Web Programming, a professional certification that challenged me to build full-stack projects and connect the dots between logic, design, and user experience.

Each of these experiences has shaped not only my technical foundation but also the way I approach learning - with persistence, curiosity, and a genuine excitement for building.

debugging.with.grace_or.not_

Debugging and I have a complicated relationship. There were times when the console screamed at me, and one missing semicolon nearly broke my spirit - but never my curiosity.

Every bug has felt like an invitation to dig deeper and understand a little more. Frustrating? Absolutely. But walking away was never an option - there’s always that moment when the problem finally clicks, and it’s worth every bit of the struggle.

growth.purpose_

For me, coding isn’t just a skill - it’s a way of thinking and expressing ideas with structure and care.

Each project I take on is a chance to improve my process, keep learning, and grow through real challenges and collaboration.

Details that matter

My background in people-focused work taught me that small choices - tone, timing, layout - can completely change how something feels to others.

Curiosity-led problem solving

From freeCodeCamp to CS50W, I like to understand the “why” behind things so I can build with clarity and purpose.

Collective momentum, Hackathon

Team projects and hackathons remind me how much creativity grows when people build together - it’s motivating and pushes me to learn faster.

Certifications & Highlights

The moments, courses, and collaborations that keep widening my perspective and remind me to stay a learner first.

Harvard University (HarvardX)2025

CS50: Computer Science for Web Programming

Built full-stack projects and connected design thinking with backend logic through hands-on coursework.

Skyscanner x Forage2025

Front-End Software Engineering Job Simulation

Built and tested a Backpack React date picker while working through real-world product briefs.

Bern, Switzerland2024

herHack 2024 · 2nd place

Developed a sustainable tech concept for SBB with a diverse all-women team - collaboration, creativity, and impact in action.

AQIU Integrity Unit2024 — present

Aquatics Integrity Unit WordPress Refresh

10% mandate to re-structure content and modernise UX for aquaticsintegrity.com.

Microsoft2022

Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Expert

Advanced Excel certification that sharpened my analytical thinking and pattern-spotting.

freeCodeCamp2021

Responsive Web Design Certification

Where the self-taught journey officially started and layouts became my sandbox.

herHack gallery

herHack 2024 photo 1
herHack 2024 photo 2
herHack 2024 photo 3

Open to frontend opportunities

I’m ready to bring my curiosity, persistence, and love for clean, thoughtful interfaces to a frontend developer role. If you think we’d be a good match, let’s talk.

Say hello