From Participants to Panelists: YWCA Tech Connect Alumni Share Their Journeys
When Nana and Samira attended a recent YWCA Tech Connect graduation, they weren't just there to celebrate the newest cohort of graduates. They were there as examples of what can happen when women have the tools, support and community they need to pursue careers in tech.
YWCA Tech Connect is a free 16-week program that supports newcomer women with a background in IT to secure rewarding careers in the tech industry.
As employed alumni of the program, both women shared their journeys with graduates through a panel Q&A. While their paths to employment were shaped by different experiences, their stories highlighted a common theme: success in tech requires more than technical skills.
For Nana, the journey began after returning to Canada from the United Kingdom, where she had completed a master's degree in public policy. Originally from Ghana, she moved to Canada in 2015 to attend UBC and built a career in education before deciding to further her studies abroad.
When she returned to Canada, she found herself searching for her next opportunity and looking for ways to combine her passion for education with her interest in technology.
"I wasn't sure exactly how to position myself," Nana explains. "I had experience in education, student affairs and tech-related projects, but I wasn't sure how to communicate that to employers."
Through YWCA Tech Connect, she received support with her resume, LinkedIn profile and job applications while learning how to showcase her experience to employers.
"The program helped me become more confident in talking about my experiences," she said. "It helped me identify my transferable skills."
Today, Nana works at UBC as a Student Development and Leadership Coordinator. Although her current role is focused on student engagement, she continues to explore her long-term interest in using technology and artificial intelligence to improve education, particularly in marginalized communities around the world.
For Samira, a software engineer originally from Iran, finding a way to continue her career in Canada came with both personal and professional challenges.
After immigrating to Canada, she first worked in a role outside her field while getting settled. Family circumstances brought her back to Iran and after eight months, she returned to Canada facing grief, depression and uncertainty about her future. She knew she wanted to get back to her profession, so she began exploring her options. That’s when she found YWCA Tech Connect.
"Having a program like Tech Connect was like hearing every day, 'You are strong. You are not alone. We are here to support you,'" she said.
While many people think employment programs focus only on technical training, Samira said some of the most valuable lessons she learned were about communication, networking and relationship building.
"I learned from Tech Connect that the most important thing is building real relationships," she said. "They didn't just teach me how to find a job. They taught me how to network and how to connect with people."
Within a year of completing the program, Samira secured a role as an IT Specialist with a medical clinic, where she now supports healthcare professionals across British Columbia. She says the communication and relationship-building skills she developed through the program help her every day in the workplace.
"It's not just about finding the job," she told graduates. "After landing the job, we need to keep the job. We need to interact with people."
Learning is a lifelong process
Although they have different backgrounds, both women spoke about the importance of adaptability and lifelong learning in the fast-changing technology sector.
Nana encouraged graduates to stay open to new opportunities and continuously develop their skills.
"The world is changing and you should be open to reinventing yourself and continuously improving yourself," she said.
Samira offered similar advice, encouraging women interested in tech to start learning, even if they don't know exactly where their career will lead.
"Start learning something," she said. "Learning never stops in tech."
Beyond career advice, both alumni highlighted something that can be just as important during a job search: community.
For Nana, one of YWCA Tech Connect's greatest strengths was connecting participants with others having similar experiences.
"You join the program and realize there are people who feel the same way you do and are going through the same process," she said. "The program doesn't just help you find a job. It gives you community while you're looking for one."
That sense of belonging was also felt by Samira, especially during one of the most difficult times of her life.
Looking out at the graduating cohort, both women encouraged participants to take advantage of the relationships they build through the program and to view every opportunity as a chance to learn and grow.
As former participants who were once in their shoes, Nana and Samira offered the graduates more than just advice. Their stories show what is possible when determination is met with the right support.
For the newest graduates of YWCA Tech Connect, their message was clear: success is not only about developing technical expertise. It is also about building confidence, making connections and believing that you deserve to be here.
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