Margret Steele has a few things she’d like to clear about about the world of finance—it’s not boring and you don’t have to be a fat cat in a New York high rise to get into the fast-paced field!

Margret is a Software Engineer working on real-time, latency-focused C++ development at BATS Global Markets here in Kansas City. Her work involves routing orders between the various exchanges run by BATS and the rest of the Wall Street exchanges.

She came into the job with computer science skills after earning an associates degree from Northwest Missouri State University and the Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing and her bachelor’s of computer science from Missouri Science and Technology. But she knew next to nothing about stock exchanges.

“I learned everything I needed to know on the job. I think anyone with a passion for complex problems could find really interesting work in finance.”

Margret’s interest in solving complex problems spills into her passion for volunteering—especially when it comes to introducing others to technology.

“I try to take what might seem like a complex problem and simplify it so students feel more comfortable tackling it,” she said. “I like to help people learn that working with or on computers isn’t something that should be intimidating.”

Margret volunteers for Girls Who Code, teaching a wonderful set of girls at a local high school. She also participates in outreach activities for her company, hosting career fair days for high school and college students.

In her free time, Margret likes to make things—sketching, painting, cross-stitching, wood-burning—as well as studying history and going to museums. Margret is one of our #GirlsinTechKC and you can be, too!