Talk with a Ronin: A Conversation with Elise Franchi

At Ronin Consulting, we believe that a great workplace is built on great people. Our team is made up of individuals who bring their unique backgrounds, experiences, and skills to the table. In Talk with a Rōnin, we highlight the people behind the work: what brought them here, what keeps them engaged, and what makes Rōnin different.

I sat down with Elise Franchi, a software engineer who has been with Ronin for over two years—her longest tech job in recent years. She shares her journey from zookeeper to software developer, how she found her way to Rōnin, and what it’s like being one of the only female developers on the team.

Meet Elise Franchi

Julie: What’s your name, your position, and how long have you been at Rōnin?
Elise: My name is Elise Franchi, and I’ve been a software engineer at Rōnin for over two years now. That might not seem like a long time, but for me, it’s the longest I’ve stayed at a tech job in a while.

A Unique Career Path

Julie: What were you doing before joining Rōnin?
Elise: Before this, I was a Salesforce development manager for an investment firm. My team was responsible for reviewing and optimizing the Salesforce systems across several different companies, determining how they could work better or whether they needed to be merged with other instances. It was a mix of implementation and development, and I really enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of it.

Before that, though? I was a zookeeper—first at Brookfield Zoo in Illinois and then at the Nashville Zoo. I worked with birds, which was amazing, but eventually, I realized I needed to think more about my future and financial stability. Passion jobs are incredible, but they don’t always come with a salary that allows for long-term planning. So, I made the tough decision to transition back into tech, and looking back, I know it was the right move.

Finding Rōnin

Julie: How did you first hear about Rōnin, and what made you want to join?
Elise: I first met the Rōnin team back in 2018 when I was working at one of our client companies. At the time, the Rōnin consultants were Byron, Ryan, Chuck, Derek, and Sean, all packed into a little side office. They were doing cool work, and I found myself drawn to the way they operated.

I had this giant Magic: The Gathering card displayed at my desk because I wanted to find “my people.” One day, Derek Adams walked by and was like, “Is that a giant Magic card?” and from that moment on, I knew I had found my crowd. We started talking more, I got to see the kind of work they were doing, and I was immediately interested in joining Rōnin someday.

Of course, I couldn’t just jump straight from a client role to working at Rōnin, so I focused on building my skills and growing my experience. I kept it in the back of my mind as my dream company, hoping that when the time was right, it would come full circle. And in 2022, it did.

The Work at Rōnin

Julie: Since joining, how has your role evolved?
Elise: I came in knowing that I was going to be pushed outside my comfort zone, and I was okay with that. Being self-taught means I’m always learning, and I knew that working at Rōnin would challenge me in the best way possible.

I started out working in Infor development, which was new to me. But even though I wasn’t familiar with the technology, I knew I had experience with integrations and how different systems talk to each other. So, I leaned on that knowledge, relied on my team, and learned as I went.

Now, my work has expanded across multiple systems, and I’ve had the chance to learn and implement Apache Airflow for one of my recent projects. That was a big learning moment but also a team effort. That’s one of the best things about Rōnin: you’re never just figuring things out on your own. There’s always support.

Being a Woman in Tech

Julie: As the only female developer on the team, what has your experience been like at Rōnin?
Elise: Tech is still a very male-dominated industry, and I’ve had experiences at previous jobs where I felt dismissed, overlooked, or not taken seriously. There were moments where I was the only woman in a room, and I felt othered—like I had to prove myself more than my male counterparts.

But at Rōnin? I’ve never once felt that way. I’ve been the only woman at game nights, D&D sessions, and work meetings, and I’ve never felt like I didn’t belong. From day one, I was treated as an equal, a team member, and a valued developer. That’s not something I can say about every company I’ve worked for.

The team here respects my ideas, listens when I speak, and never makes me feel like an outsider. That’s rare, and it’s one of the biggest reasons I wanted to be here.

Game Nights & Culture

Julie: Rōnin is a remote company, but you’re local to the office. How do you feel about the company culture?
Elise: I love getting the chance to go into the office and see everyone in person when I can. The people at Rōnin are some of the best I’ve ever worked with, and I genuinely enjoy spending time with them—whether it’s working on a project or just hanging out.

One of my favorite things is game night. It’s not some forced team-building activity. It’s just a bunch of people who enjoy games and want to play together. Whether it’s Magic: The Gathering, D&D, or board games, it’s always a great time. It’s just another way that Rōnin feels less like just a place to clock in and out…and more like friends that enjoy each other’s company.

Looking Ahead

Julie: What do you think about Rōnin’s direction, especially with AI and emerging technologies?
Elise: I’m super proud of Rōnin for winning the AI Hackathon two years in a row and embracing the AI change. It’s a huge accomplishment.

Even though I haven’t directly worked on AI projects yet, I trust the leadership completely. The company is always looking ahead, figuring out how to stay ahead while maintaining its current workload and reputation. I have no doubt that whatever’s next will be exciting, and I’m eager to participate.

Want to hear more stories from the Rōnin team? Stay tuned for the next Talk to a Rōnin!