Bold Idea is committed to contributing to a diverse future workforce, including more women in computer science. Bold Idea students learn that computer science can open so many doors for them in their careers and our mentors are an important part of that. Our mentors show students that anyone can be computer scientists and the women of Bold Idea especially show our students that women belong and can succeed in the technology field just as much as men.
In celebration of Women’s History Month - we interviewed a few Bold Idea mentors about their experiences as women in tech. Hear from Abigail, Caroline, and Allison about their career aspirations as young women, how they discovered technology and coding, and what they wish for the young women they mentor today through Bold Idea.
What first got you interested in coding and technology? When did you know this would be your career path?
Abigail: “My life partner got me interested in the tech field. I loved Graphic Design and he suggested I learn Web Design to become more competitive in the job market, he even bought me an online Web Development course to get me started. I don't think I even know this will be my career path now lol. I love design, and I love making websites beautiful but I always love trying new things so who knows how many career paths I'll jump around between.”
Caroline: “When I was in middle school, they offered a class that was an intro to HTML. I got to create all sorts of fun things. By the time I was in the 8th grade, we did science competitions that required us to make websites and fill the webpages with our research. It was a great way to combine my schoolwork with coding.”
Allison: “I first became interested in technology when I took a computer science class in high school. I remember initially being hesitant to sign up for the class because it was unlike anything I had done before, but when I got my first program up and running, the initial worries were replaced by excitement. I knew that this would be my career path when I realized just how ubiquitous technology is in our lives and how it has the power to impact the world. Having the opportunity to work on something that could drastically better people's lives is something that was appealing and knowing that those opportunities were potentially limitless really pushed me to pursue this field.”
Did you have any role models who inspired you to pursue a career in technology - real or fictional? If not, how would a role model or mentor have affected your career path? What do you see as the benefit of mentoring for the girls whom you work with in Bold Idea?
Abigail: “I suppose my life partner inspired me to pursue this career. I have a few mentors at my current job and they have been invaluable to my career. They've helped me settle in when I was new and nervous, they've helped me to figure out a trajectory for my career to ensure I'm happy with the work I'm doing, and they've helped me to feel more confident as a woman in a male-dominated field. I really hope to help the girls in Bold Idea feel more confident working in this field, and feel like they belong here just as much as the boys.”
Caroline: “I came from an engineering town, so technology as a career always seemed possible. I guess it took others believing in me and pushing me to try new things that made me pursue this career. I think if I had believed in myself and my intelligence sooner I could have done a lot more. I truly saw it as a plausible career in graduate school when I took an actual coding class. I think if we showed girls how their schoolwork and technology play off each other, they would see more career possibilities. It's important to believe in yourself and have those around you push you to be your best.”
Allison: “In college, I had a female professor for one of my hardest classes. I was struggling on an assignment, so I went to her office hours to ask some questions, and we eventually began talking about the course as a whole. I mentioned that I found the material to be really challenging and I worried that I wasn't understanding everything. She asked me to show me the notes I took in class and looked back at some assignments I had submitted earlier, and when she asked why I thought I was struggling, I mentioned that it seemed like everyone else "got it" more than I did. She responded that my notes were organized, my assignments clearly had a lot of thought and effort go into them, and she didn't seem to think that I was struggling with the material, but with confidence. I remember her saying that just because the person next to you raises their hand for every question or finishes a task faster, doesn't mean they understand it better than I do. This conversation gave me the push I needed to recognize my own abilities, and I am incredibly grateful for her encouragement and support.
I think a benefit of mentoring the girls I work with at Bold Idea is showing them that it is possible to be a woman in technology. I see a lot of myself in them, being nervous and excited about tackling challenging material. I hope that by seeing me, someone who is establishing a career in STEM, they see that a tricky bug or a confusing issue is something they can overcome.”
What is your hope for the next generation of young female technologists, especially the girls you mentor in Bold Idea?
Abigail: “I hope to see the next generation of women in tech push the field to be more inclusive, accessible, and understanding. Right now this field can really push employees past breaking points, and we burn out quickly (regardless of how much craft beer and table tennis we're given access to). I hope that more women in the field can put a stop to that and ensure employees are treated like people. Tech also has a lot of issues with making sure products work for women, people of color, and people with disabilities since they're much less represented in the field. If we get more women, POC, and people with disabilities in tech, it will make tech more accessible to all.”
Caroline: “I wish for the girls in the next generation to be better than me. I want them to be brave enough to try and humble enough to ask for help. I want them to use their creativity to solve problems. The only way we can see more women in technology is to support them and be a guide. I want the next generation to get better jobs than me, have more opportunities than me, and feel less like that have to be perfect to worthy of a seat at the table. The only way to do this is for us to be advocates and mentors to girls as they grow.”
Allison: “I hope that the next generation of young female technologists has a community and a support system full of empowered, strong, and smart women around them. Female friends I made while studying computer science in college, female managers at work, and colleagues who understand the unique perspectives that women have are so incredibly important and enable everyone -- not just women -- to solve complicated problems.“
Caroline is a Consultant at Microsoft and has been a Bold Idea mentor since 2018
Abigail is a Software Developer at TEKsystems and has been a Bold Idea mentor since 2020
Allison is a Software Consultant at Pariveda and has been a Bold Idea mentor since 2020
Want to help us give the next generation of women in tech the skills they need to succeed? Sign up to be a mentor with us!