From Chemistry Graduate to Hackathon Winner
My name is Mary-Jane Adebayo, and I am a beneficiary of the Women Techsters Fellowship. I hail from Ondo state, Nigeria, but I grew up in Northern Nigeria, Kano, to be precise. I schooled in Jigawa, where I studied Polymer Chemistry at Jigawa State Polytechnic. I started my tech journey in November 2021 with the Women Techsters Fellowship under the Product Management learning track.
I initially wanted to go for Software Development because I have a brother who is a Software Developer. I was fascinated by his work. He was the one who introduced me to Tech and eventually sent me the link to apply for the Women Techsters Fellowship.
I researched about the Women Techsters and watched a lot of success stories of past beneficiaries, and I saw women like me excelling. I saw the video of a lady who switched from Chemistry to Cybersecurity, which inspired me so much. I also saw the Women Techsters Fellowship class of 2022 graduation ceremony and was motivated for the next batch.
By the next batch, I applied, and thankfully, I got in under the product management learning track. Immediately after the Fellowship, I got an internship with a Software company named Credevnet Technology. Now that I am speaking of it, it sounds like a piece of cake, but it is more challenging than it sounds. I wanted to give up many times, but I kept drawing strength from the success stories of other Women Techsters beneficiaries I had read about. It was a four-month internship, and I was retained as a Product Manager afterward.
In addition to this, I received so much support from the Women Techsters Community. One time, I ran out of data, and someone in my learning track study group called to check up on me and sent me about 10 gigabytes of data, which I used to prepare for my capstone project presentation.
Working with a team on various projects during my Fellowship experience helped me communicate better and master how to work with others. During our last project, my team had an issue that required practical solutions, and the knowledge gained from the soft skills training helped me handle the case well. This also prepared me for the realities of the workplace.
So far, at work, my experience has been excellent. I was meeting new people and learning so much. I remember from the internship phase that I had to work with superiors for a while, which was challenging. Still, the communication skills I acquired during the Women Techsters training gave me an advantage.
My skills, both technical and soft skills, were solidified in the Fellowship. There are many things I come across in real life that I was taught during my Fellowship. What is even more daunting is the fact that even after the Fellowship, I can also go back to the Women Techsters Community to ask for support or career advice. I am so thankful for the community.
Another win I have recorded since the Women Techsters Fellowship is winning a hackathon with my group. This Hackathon was my first one, and I did not think I would win. I found it on a Tech Community from Instagram and mustered the courage to apply.
At the Hackathon, we were given two days to come up with a solution, and in that little time, I met with my team and motivated them to explore our strengths and develop a plan. We started to work on a dashboard for a website to push our limit, so when we eventually got a theme to work with, it was easy for us.
Winning a hackathon after Women Techsters Fellowship validated my acquired skills and opened doors to new career prospects and financial opportunities, contributing positively to my overall economic well-being.
Also, I and other beneficiaries were given access to a free mentorship program post-Fellowship. This and the support from the Women Techsters Community have enhanced my technical capabilities and equipped me to navigate the tech industry with confidence, directly contributing to my economic growth and financial independence.
Participating in the Women Techsters Fellowship program has significantly impacted my economic situation and financial independence. The program equipped me with valuable skills, expanded my professional network, and provided opportunities for personal growth, and for that, I am grateful.
