From software engineering to robotics, Dan Nicholson (Dan Makes Things) has built a career fueled by curiosity and community. In this chat, Dan share insights on mentorship, AI’s future, and the power of open-source collaboration—plus a key lesson on checking wire polarity!

Can you share a bit about your background?

I am a software engineer based in the North East of England, in my free time I like to make things with electronics and 3d printing.

Did you come up through a “traditional” techie route or has your career taken twists and turns along the way?

I am a professional software engineer, but not in real-time systems, so I have learned a lot of what I needed to for my robotics hobby through things like YouTube or open source software.

Reflecting on your career, is there a specific moment that stands out as pivotal or defining?

Seeing something I have made inspire others and directly having an impact on their career path has been very gratifying.

What piece of advice would you give your younger self as you embarked on your professional journey?

Work on things that interest you, don’t chase a higher salary, choose an exciting specialism.

Looking ahead, what’s your big prediction for the tech landscape in 2025?

AI will impact everything, for better or worse. Beyond that we are already seeing technology improving quickly and becoming more accessible to makers. I love being able to build things that, only a few years earlier, seemed impossible because of a new module or a faster SBC.

Considering your involvement in Silicon Brighton and community-building, what does the concept of ‘community’ mean to you personally? How important is it in the tech industry?

Extremely. Everything I have built has been standing on the shoulders of giants. Without the software and tech community I would never have managed to get as far as I have. It is excellent to see the collaboration in the community and I hope it continues to a greater degree in future.

How do you balance staying updated with the latest industry trends while ensuring continuous personal and professional growth? Any specific resources or practices you find particularly valuable?

I am constantly learning, whether that’s with online courses on sites such as Udemy or being inspired by others on YouTube. Even with that focus I still find out about things from others that I missed because there is so much change and at such a rapid pace.
I’m very fortunate that my career path is adjacent to my hobby, so I can get benefit in both from anything I learn.

As someone who has contributed significantly to the community, how do you see mentorship playing a role in the development of the next generation of tech professionals?

Mentoring is an extremely rewarding experience for both parties, and I think one of the things stopping people from becoming mentors is that they feel they don’t have enough experience or knowledge, but everyone’s experience is different and that sharing of knowledge and perspectives is all that is needed. It’s also a two-way street, and gives both the mentor and mentee growth opportunities that will help shape their careers.

Anything else you would like to promote to our community?

If you’re interested in learning more about the work I do in the open source community, take a look at MakerForge.tech and follow the project on YouTube, Instagram or the Discord community!

Is there any additional wisdom, experience, or anecdotes you’d like to share with our audience?

Don’t be afraid of reaching out for help, you don’t need to know everything.
Check the polarity before you connect those wires!