Gayle Laakmann McDowell

Gayle Laakmann McDowell is a software engineer, author, and founder of CareerCup, specializing in tech industry hiring practices. She is best known for her "Cracking the Interview & Career" series, including the bestselling "Cracking the Coding Interview," "Cracking the PM Interview," and "Cracking the Tech Career." Her works provide guidance for candidates navigating technical interviews and career advancement in the technology sector.

With a background as an engineer at Google, Microsoft, and Apple, McDowell brings firsthand expertise to her writing. While serving on Google's hiring committee, she identified gaps between candidates' skills and interview performance, which inspired her to improve tech hiring processes. She holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania, along with an MBA from the Wharton School.

McDowell continues to consult with top tech companies through CareerCup, helping refine their hiring practices and interviewer training programs. Based in Palo Alto, California, she remains active in writing, coding, and advocating for more effective technical recruitment strategies.