Martina Vollmer’s Post

TRANSITIONING INTO TECH AND BECOMING A WOMEN TECHSTERS FELLOW 💜🎉 How inspiring were the words of Lillian Barnard, the President of Microsoft Africa, when she spoke on resilience on our physical orientation day. In her words, we encourage and inspire others the most not when we attain the mountain top we seek but when we are at our lowest pit in the valley. I did a thing this year, when I was in a certain kind of valley, and that was breaking into the world of tech. I have always been a tech enthusiast, though nothing beyond visual/graphics design and no-code website (blogs) design until this year. It wasn’t particularly preplanned but because my title for this chapter of my life is “Transitioning”, I was open to it. I instinctively had the foresight since my birthday in December 2022 that I would be be pivoting into new realms this year, I just didn’t get a complete hang of it. My transition into tech is one of desire, met with curiosity, exploration, preparedness, and challenging the status quo. Desire because I have been carrying this intrigue for this world of tech since 2020 but through my then narrow lens, I thought it was largely for those in STEM and I doubted if I could really thrive at it. Curiosity because if I desire something deep in my heart, I start to passionately ask questions. My excitement turned into exploration, because I love to do something new and like I always ask myself when I’m faced with new choices, “because why not?” Preparedness by becoming future proof because “tech is not just a buzzword, it is the future” (Wakilat 2023😁). So I’m doing this to place myself strategically at the cutting edge in my career trajectory. Also, challenging the status quo because we are still far away from attaining digital divide and drawing motivation from the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, I took it upon myself to be one of the women who champion digital equity in the tech ecosystem and also use the avenue to empower others, especially young women and make impact via it. Today, I have begun my Fellowship as a Frontend Software Developer at Nigerian Women Techsters. Thank you once again Tech4Dev for this exciting opportunity. Just like Lola Aworanti-Ekugo puts it that day, your next move is your most important move. This is my own next and I am quite thrilled for the adventure that awaits! Are you into tech? What’s your specialization? Feel free to drop in the comments, would really love to connect.🤗 #iamawomanintech #womenintech #womanintech #WTFC24 #WomenTechstersFellowship #WomenTechsters #AfricanWomanintechnology #WTFC240rientation #WTFC24PhysicalOrientation #Tech4Dev

🚀 The Rapid Growth of the Tech Industry: Identifying Gaps and Providing Solutions 🚀 The tech industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, with new innovations and opportunities emerging at an astonishing pace. However, with this rapid expansion comes a pressing need to fill crucial gaps in the market. 🔍 Identifying Gaps: Have you ever noticed the abundance of opportunities waiting to be seized in the tech industry? From the growing demand for qualified tech talents to the increasing number of individuals eager to venture into tech but lacking guidance, the gaps are evident. 💡 Providing Solutions: Here are a few solutions I'm passionate about: 🌠Community-Based Platforms: Creating communities tailored to specific tech fields can bridge the gap between talent and opportunities. These platforms offer networking opportunities, growth resources, and mentorship programs, empowering individuals to thrive in their chosen tech careers. 🌠Tech Education Initiatives: Developing accessible and comprehensive tech education initiatives. By offering online courses, workshops, and mentorship programs, we can empower more people to pursue rewarding careers in tech. 🌠Dedicated Communities for Women: Establishing dedicated communities for women in specific tech fields provides a supportive environment where they can network, learn, and find mentorship opportunities. With this, we can ensure that women have equal opportunities to excel in the tech industry. 🌟 Examples of Impactful Initiatives: Product Tent: Product Tent is a dynamic social enterprise and community with a core mission of fostering the growth and development of products and product people. With a vision to train 5000 tech talents over the next 5 years, Product Tent is making a significant impact on the tech landscape. InnoXTra: Innoxtra is a tech-focused community platform dedicated to bridging the gap between education and employment in the tech industry. It provides a collaborative space for individuals aspiring to pursue careers in various tech fields. The Tech Tribe Charitable Foundation (Formally The UX Boss): The Tech Tribe is a vibrant community for tech enthusiasts and UX professionals dedicated to nurturing talent, sharing knowledge, and fostering excellence in all aspects of User Experience within the broader tech landscape. Let's work together to identify and address these gaps in the tech industry, creating a more inclusive and vibrant ecosystem for all! #TechIndustry #Innovation #CommunityBuilding #DiversityInTech

For the past 9 days, I and other thousands of Women Techsters Fellows have been opportuned to learn amazing life stories, hacks, motivations, dos and donts from distinguished young African women in tech. It's a rare opportunity to have contacts with these successful women. Tech4Dev , you are too much, "your face show, your shoe shine"😜, having been able to gather these talents for our sake (WT Fellows), God bless you! I must confess, WTF is a well thought out Program, first, it prepares the fellows, mentally, emotionally and psychologically, via the orientation ahead of the training proper, secondly, it arms them with the relevant tech skills to launch or grow their careers or create tech solutions as entrepreneurs.Wow, alot has gone into the planning, keep it flying high! Indeed, Tech4dev understands the inherent challenges in this tech journey and quickly made provisions to cushion the effects, thank you once more. Within this period, I have learnt to believe in myself, not to self-disqualify myself and never to be intimidated by challenges, as they are all part of life's journey. It's important to note that there's no career without a barrier and there's no barrier that cannot be surmounted. In addition, the urge and temptation to quit will always come flashing in your face, but refer back to the reasons you started in the first place. Further, in this tech journey, I've been made to understand the importance of mentorship. A mentor will help you avoid certain mistakes based on his or her personal experiences. Your soft skills help you to monetize your tech skills, so regularly engage in soft skills training. Interestingly, soft skills training is part and parcel of this fellowship program. Do not forget the place of passion in every of your life's endeavour. Revenue shouldn't be placed at the forefront, it shouldn't be the reason you are taking up that career or business venture. Your passion should earn you revenue and not your revenue to earn you passion. I'm using this opportunity to appreciate all the speakers and facilitators who have dished out values to me and other WT Fellows, may God bless you all. Olatomiwa Williams, Microsoft Country Manager, Nigeria and Ghana, you are a Gem. I will never self-disqualify myself. You made me realize that the world is waiting for my impact and I will give it the best shot. @Yemisi Arowosafe, Omonike Arokoyo arokoyo, Joke Akintara, Elizabeth Talatu Williams , Moses Joel , Oluwaferanmi Owolabi, VP Purple Academy, Joy Kathure , @Kelly Shannon, Lucy Chioma Aniagolu, Ireayomide O, Dorothy (Dory) NJEMANZE , Esther A. , Lisa Daniel-Obi , Esther Emoekpere and many others, you are the greatest of all times (GOAT) #WTFC24 #WomenTechstersFellowship #WomenTechsters #AfricanWomanInTechnology #WTFC24orientation #Tech4dev

In a bid to revitalize and strengthen the Palestinian tech industry, Canadians for Tech in Palestine, an initititive by The Canadian Palestinian Professional Foundation (CPPF) and Technopark, have launched the groundbreaking program "Tech Circles." This pioneering initiative aims to connect Palestinian technology professionals with mentors from Canada, offering personalized guidance and exposure to real-world expertise. Through one-on-one relationships and skill development resources, the program seeks to foster resilience, unlock potential, and pave the way for long-term success in Palestine's innovation sector. The objectives of the Tech Circles program are multifaceted. Firstly, it aims to support the continued learning and skill development of Palestinian tech professionals through peer mentorship and career guidance. Additionally, the program seeks to facilitate remote internship opportunities for students, providing hands-on experience and enhancing employability. Lastly, by empowering tech professionals at all career stages with mentoring relationships and skills resources, Tech Circles aims to strengthen human capital and drive the innovation necessary to support Palestine's digital transformation. Tech Circles operates on the principles of connection, collaboration, and continuous learning. By bringing together Palestinian tech professionals from diverse geographical locations, the program encourages knowledge sharing, and skills development. Each circle within the program features social connection, industry insights, and expert guidance, with mentors offering expertise, resources, and opportunities to support mentees' career goals and growth. The program is open to individuals at all career stages, including recent graduates, professionals, and students from the West Bank and Gaza, specializing in tech fields such as software, data, cybersecurity, UI/UX, or project management. Strong communication skills, motivation, commitment, and clear goals are prerequisites for participation. Through Tech Circles, participants have the opportunity to accelerate their tech careers, regardless of their circumstances. By opening channels of cooperation and exchanging insights, mentees can strengthen their career prospects, especially those impacted by conflict and lack of opportunity. Moreover, the social support community provided by the program helps mentees in difficult circumstances feel less isolated, working towards recovery, resilience, and achieving their full potential in the industry. Tech Circles invites both mentors looking to share their experience and mentees seeking career guidance to join the mission of rebuilding, connecting, and innovating in Palestine's tech industry. Through global collaboration, Tech Circles aims to ignite growth and drive positive change in the Palestinian tech ecosystem. Tech Circles operates based on principles of neutrality, independence, transparency, and impartiality

Happy Friday! What an intense week full of events. I went to an amazing event at the Google's office. They paired us with a mentor to help improve our skills. In my case, we worked on a React project and improved some features that I was stuck on. I felt quite nervous before the event, due to a sense of imposter syndrome, but it has been a wonderful experience. 👩💻 Another great event was the hackathon organised by SheCanCode. The main theme was helping returners and career switchers breaking into tech. This is our team's idea, which we called TechLatte: - TechLatte is a project focused on helping two specific categories of people: career switchers and returners looking to break into the tech industry. The main issues these individuals face are a lack of confidence in their skills, uncertainty about how to begin, and a limited understanding of available roles within the tech sector. - The aim of TechLatte is helping them with community discussion, career guidance, tech roles and routes, job posting and networking. - TechLatte will have a diverse set of users, including career switchers, returners, companies and experts. - The user journey on TechLatte involves signing up to the website, taking a skills quiz, which then guides users toward suitable career paths and tech roles, and finally, it leads them to the community section for networking and further support. A big thank you to all mentors, SheCanCode and my team! #shecancode #diversityandinclusion #womenintech #womeninstem #womeninengineering #softwareengineers #softwaredevelopers #techladies #codinggirls #womenwhocode #girlswhocode #coderslife #techladies #techwomen #diversityintech #girlscancode #stemwomen #stemgirls #diversityinstem #engineer #programmer #developer #techevents #womenintechevents #hackathon #powerhack #femalecoders #mentoringwomen

Hackathons have emerged as vibrant arenas for innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving. These events, traditionally dominated by men, are seeing a growing participation of women, marking a significant step toward gender diversity in tech. Tenity is no different here, they love to get more women on board. So here some key points how hackatons are good for you ladies: Personal Growth: Building Confidence and Skills 1. Developing Technical and Soft Skills:Hackathons provide a platform to learn and hone various skills. You do not just engage in coding, project management, and critical thinking, the tema also needs all your emotional intelligence skills. so this is your turn to merge emotional intelligence with new coding and project management knowledge. you can grow from what you re into what you want to become. . Your soft skills like teamwork, communication, and time managemen are much appreciated and essential for any professional setting. 2. Boosting Confidence:Working on real-world problems and presenting solutions to peers and judges can significantly boost confidence. Women in hackathons often find that their ideas are just as viable and innovative as anyone else’s, fostering a sense of empowerment. 3. Encouraging Continuous Learning:The fast-paced nature of hackathons requires participants to learn and adapt quickly, normally a female strength. This continuous learning environment helps in staying updated with the latest technologies and trends, which is crucial in the ever-evolving tech landscape. I hope you all agree. so please just answer with I am in together with our e-mail and I will inscribe you at Tenity. Want to learn more? So please go to https://buff.ly/454QTUV and find the flyer here: https://buff.ly/3X1t2U9 Save your spot by writing to me I am in together with our Emil address.

#AfroTech 2023 Recap, we witnessed the power of connection, education, and opportunity in the dynamic sphere of tech. It was more than just an event; it was the commencement of future careers, ambitions, and transformative projects. Here were some my highlights: 🔥 The #TechEquityCollective Luminaires' Social was nothing short of inspirational. Seeing the next wave of tech innovators, some of our Black Genius Academy learners, diving into the deep end of the tech pool, was the embodiment of progress and potential. They didn't just attend; they immersed themselves in the culture of innovation, learning from seasoned Googlers about navigating their burgeoning careers in tech. 🎤 Afrotech showed us that it wasn't about waiting for an opportunity to knock; it was about creating the door and ensuring it stays open for others to follow. The engagement, the music, the stories - all blended to fuel a movement where dreaming is just the beginning. The Black Genius Academy is a result of dream's in action. Since #BlackGeniusAcademy launched only a few months ago we have had thousands of users signup, helps hundreds subsidized their tech education training and authentically build their roadmaps into a career in tech. 🌟 Meeting some of our BGA learners in person may have been my favorite highlight! Learners' experiences navigating the conference were as varied as they were enlightening. From initial handshake nerves to confident on-site interviews, they showed us that readiness meets opportunity right where you are, and seizing the moment can lead to immediate action and long-term success. 💼 We delved into themes highlighting the urgency of now - the need to dream with intention, build with courage, and move with conviction to execute plans for the future. This is the crux of creating a legacy in tech - it’s about making waves that carry forward. 🚪 Putting a doorstop in the revolving door of tech means we're not just passing through; we're making sure it remains open for a diverse, innovative generation to come. To empower our teams with not just roles but superpowers to advance in their companies, careers and the tech community at large. As AfroTech 2023 wraps up, let's carry this energy forward. A huge shoutout to all, #BlackGeniusAcademy, #TechEquityCollective, Googlers, and all the amazing connections I was able to make highlighting the unstoppable force of talent present. Cc: Career Karma Ruben Harris Timur Meyster Artur Meyster

Hackathons have emerged as vibrant arenas for innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving. These events, traditionally dominated by men, are seeing a growing participation of women, marking a significant step toward gender diversity in tech. Tenity is no different here, they love to get more women on board. So here some key points how hackatons are good for you ladies: Personal Growth: Building Confidence and Skills 1. Developing Technical and Soft Skills:Hackathons provide a platform to learn and hone various skills. You do not just engage in coding, project management, and critical thinking, the tema also needs all your emotional intelligence skills. so this is your turn to merge emotional intelligence with new coding and project management knowledge. you can grow from what you re into what you want to become. . Your soft skills like teamwork, communication, and time managemen are much appreciated and essential for any professional setting. 2. Boosting Confidence:Working on real-world problems and presenting solutions to peers and judges can significantly boost confidence. Women in hackathons often find that their ideas are just as viable and innovative as anyone else’s, fostering a sense of empowerment. 3. Encouraging Continuous Learning:The fast-paced nature of hackathons requires participants to learn and adapt quickly, normally a female strength. This continuous learning environment helps in staying updated with the latest technologies and trends, which is crucial in the ever-evolving tech landscape. I hope you all agree. so please just answer with I am in together with our e-mail and I will inscribe you at Tenity. Want to learn more? So please go to https://buff.ly/454QTUV and find the flyer here: https://buff.ly/3X1t2U9 Save your spot by writing to me I am in together with our Emil address.

I'll be hosting another Tech Talent Trailblazer forum on 31st October, 11am-12pm. This time with a focus on Diversity in Tech, and what we can do differently to build a diverse talent pipeline for the future. Last nights Silicon Brighton event looking at "Tech for Good" (another fantastic event from this most brilliant of networks 🙌 🙌 ) , highlighted again the shocking disparity in where VC funding goes when looked at on the basis of founder gender and how much harder female tech teams need to work to get in the room. Only 1% of VC funding goes to all female founder teams, in the wider workforce in the UK, only 19% of the tech workforce is female and 8% from an ethnic diversity. The are barriers faced by those from different socio-economic backgrounds or on the basis of age or neurodiversity. . Only 10% of all digital apprentices are female. The stats go on..... So what can we do to change this? To bring more girls into tech at a young age, remove perceived barriers to entering a tech career, to help businesses attract more diverse groups, to help make the sector more inclusive and to support future professionals and entrepreneurs who don't look and sound like the majority of funders financing business growth? Join us for an hour online, to have your say on this and support TechNative in our mission to close the tech skills gap and build new ways of engaging and developing tech talent. Check out the link below to sign up: https://lnkd.in/eANUrefT #diversity #tech #bethechange #womenintech #techskills

Unlocking Your Tech Potential 🚀 In a world where the tech industry sometimes seems like a locked gate, let's remember this: "Susan Wojcicki didn't need a science or technology degree to excel in the tech industry, and neither do you. Your potential in tech is limitless." 💡 Why Should You Read This? 🌟 **Diversity Drives Innovation**: Embracing diverse backgrounds and skills sparks creativity and innovation in tech. Susan Wojcicki's journey at Google is a testament to this. She brought a fresh perspective to the table, propelling Google's growth. 🌟 **Skills Over Degrees**: In the tech realm, what truly matters are your skills and problem-solving abilities. You don't necessarily need a formal education; online courses, coding bootcamps, and self-learning are powerful avenues to success. 🌟 **Limitless Opportunities**: The tech industry is an expansive universe, ever-evolving. From software development to data analysis, cybersecurity to artificial intelligence, countless paths await. Your passion can guide your way. 🌟 **Inspiration from Susan Wojcicki**: Susan's journey, transitioning from literature to tech leadership, underscores that determination and adaptability are your greatest assets. Her story proves that regardless of your educational background, thriving in tech is possible. 🌟 **Connect with a Diverse Community**: The tech community isn't exclusive to degree holders. Engage with tech meetups, forums, and online groups to connect with like-minded individuals who share your enthusiasm. Networking can open doors to exciting opportunities. 🌟 **Stay Curious**: In tech, curiosity is your superpower. Keep exploring, learning, and adapting to stay ahead. The ability to learn on the job is highly valued in tech. 🌟 **Your Unique Value**: Your background, experiences, and perspective are unique assets. They can bring fresh solutions and insights to tech challenges that others might overlook. 🌟 **Seek Mentorship**: Don't hesitate to seek mentorship from industry experts. Many successful tech professionals are eager to help newcomers navigate this dynamic field. 🌟 **Join the Tech Revolution**: The world is becoming increasingly tech-driven. By embracing tech, you become part of a global revolution shaping our future. Your Journey Starts Here 🌐 Now that you understand a tech degree isn't the sole path to success, seize the boundless opportunities in the tech world. Whether you aspire to be a developer, data expert, or tech visionary, remember that tech thrives on diversity, skills, and innovation. Join us on this exciting journey. Embrace your potential, connect with the tech community, and never stop learning. The tech revolution awaits with open arms! 🙌 #TechOpportunity #Innovation #Diversity #SkillsOverDegrees #LimitlessPotential #TechOpportunity #Empowerment #Diversity #Innovation #Limitless #Motivation #Management #Inspiration