Flatiron School teamed up with the National Center For Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) to help change the face of technology through scholarships. Here are the scholarship recipients and their stories.
Melody
Before the scholarship, my career had flatlined. I had taken a long career break to raise my children, during which my technology skills had become outdated and obsolete. After my divorce, I knew that in order to reenter the workforce I would need to update my technical skills, but I was hesitant about the financial commitment needed to go back to school.
The scholarship and the network of people through NCWIT provided me with the confidence to put myself back into the workforce and be proud of my accomplishments. Flatiron School was exactly what I needed to update my skills. The curriculum was rigorous and the classroom non-judgmental.
I have set an example for my children about hard work and resilience, and shown them that it is okay to accept help when you need it.
Queen Tesa
I was working as a Technology Specialist in the library at my local university, had been teaching beginner’s 3D modeling classes, and was also enrolled part-time in the Computer Science program. I wanted to eventually develop applications and was slightly dissatisfied with the work I was doing. I just didn’t know how to take the next step. The degree program I was in was moving very slowly and I didn’t get the support I needed to gain the deeper understanding I wanted.
NCWIT gave me the opportunity to get the training I needed to enter the tech industry. Without the scholarship, I would not have been able to attend Flatiron School, already having over $50k in student loans.
Flatiron School was what I needed to give me the confidence to pursue a career in programming. With the foundational learning provided through the curriculum and the support from my teacher, I was able to wrap my head around coding.
Leta
I had a successful career in hospitality as a chef and restaurant manager but my work-life balance was nonexistent, and I always felt underpaid and overworked. I was trying to transition into a more traditional, weekday hours type of role, but I wasn’t sure what to do and how to get the skills I needed. Being awarded the scholarship cleared the last hurdle: affording the re-skilling I needed to secure the type of job I wanted.
I am currently working in an engineering position, making almost double my last position. I work remotely, which is a dream come true, and I have the time to spend with my family and friends instead of always having to work. Thanks to NCWIT, I’m not drowning in loan debt and I’ve made connections with strong women in technology that will stay with me for the rest of my career.
As the world of work changes, women’s opportunities and challenges are also changing. When women can leverage equal opportunities to thrive, they can make substantial contributions to societies and economies. For example, if the pace of women’s digital fluency is doubled, we could reach gender equality in the workplace much faster than the current prediction.
By celebrating female tech leaders, it will hopefully encourage more girls to pursue their interests and careers in tech, thus increasing the hiring pool diversity.
“Outstanding women can function as inspirational examples of success, illustrating the kinds of achievements that are possible for women around them. They demonstrate that it is possible to overcome traditional gender barriers, indicating to other women that high levels of success are indeed attainable.”
-Penelope Lockwood, Psychologist
