Women in Tech: Advice on How to Career Change
We invited four trailblazing women in tech to share their inspirational stories, and explain exactly how they found their dream career: Brandi Richardson, Software Engineer at Microsoft; Dalia El-Shimy, Head of UX Research at Miro; Kylie Weber, Product Designer at Syndic4you, and Jessie Auguste, Software Engineer at CybSafe.
In this CareerFoundry live panel: Women in Tech: Advice on How to Career Change you’ll learn exactly how to accomplish your career goals and successfully make the transition into the tech industry.
You’ll discover how Kylie went from working in hospitality to becoming a UI designer (by taking the CareerFoundry UI Design Program!), how Dalia went from working in academia to becoming the Head of UX Research at Miro, how Brandi went from working at Delta Airlines to working as a Software Engineer at Microsoft, and how Jessie transitioned from studying psychology to becoming a Software Engineer (and co-host of the Glowing in Tech podcast powered by Coding Black Females!).
We’ll address questions such as: Where do I start? What strengths do I bring to the industry as a career changer? How do I tackle impostor syndrome? What challenges might I encounter, and what superpowers will I bring as a woman in tech?
If you’d like to learn more about becoming a UX designer, a UI designer, a web developer, a data analyst, or a digital marketer, check out the following articles and guides:
Further reading for UX:
- What salary will I earn as a UX designer?
- How to become a UX designer (Guaranteed!)
- A guide to the best UX design bootcamps and how to choose one
- Maureen’s story: How I Became A UX Designer And Got My First Job With No Industry Experience
- The ultimate UX reading list
- What to look for in a UX design certification
Further reading for UI:
- Are UI designers in demand? Here’s the current industry outlook
- How to get started in UI design (A 5-step guide)
- What qualifications do you need to become a UI designer?
Further reading for web development:
- What is a typical day in the life of a web developer?
- How much will I earn as a web developer?
- What qualifications do you need to become a web developer?
Further reading for data analytics:
- How much will I earn as a data analyst?
- What is a typical day in the life of a data analyst?
- The top 5 skills that every data analyst needs to master
Further reading for digital marketing:
Featured presenters
Brandi Richardson
Software Engineer II at Microsoft
Brandi currently works as a Software Engineer II at Microsoft. She is passionate about human-centered design and engineering. She has a desire to work at an intersection of tech, design, product, and people. She is also passionate about diversifying tech and making it a more inclusive environment. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, trying new brunch spots in Atlanta (where she lives), visiting wineries, doing yoga and reading fiction.
Dalia El-Shimy
Head of UX Research at Miro
Dalia El-Shimy is an engineer-turned-academic-turned-user-researcher, currently leading UX Research at Miro. Before joining Miro, she worked at Shopify and had completed a PhD in human-computer interaction. She spends pretty much all her spare time trying to adapt North American baking recipes to German ingredients.
Jessie Auguste
Software Engineer at CybSafe
Jessie comes from a psychology background, and is now a Software Engineer at cyber security startup, CybSafe. She is the co-host of the podcast, Glowing in Tech, a show which interviews black women in technical roles and hopes to demystify the industry. In her free time she loves reading and learning new languages.
Kylie Weber
Product Designer at Professional Creations
Kylie Weber is a passionate UI Designer with a background in Hospitality and Tourism. She believes that design needs to be empathic and impactful in a way that leaves users feeling ' I can't live without this product'.
MK Kirigin
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Officer at CareerFoundry
MK Kirigin is the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Officer at CareerFoundry. A proud Latina from Bolivia who studied education policy at Harvard, she’s been dedicated to DEI in education for over 8 years, as a university admission officer, public school teacher, and curriculum designer. MK is passionate about democratizing knowledge, creating inclusive communities, and making tech careers accessible to all.
Related on-demand events
From Ballet to UX Design: The Art of Transition
Watch this recording of a LIVE interview with CareerFoundry alumni Rina Takikawa and gain valuable insight for your career change into this rewarding and exciting field. This event is ideal if you’re considering a career in UX design!
Design & Dev Collaboration for Beginners
Check out this recording of a LIVE event with Kylie Weber, a Product Designer, and Noella Mwanzia, a Software Engineer, to discover how to elevate the creative process through effective collaboration between designers and developers.
My Journey From Beginner to Data Professional
Are you thinking about becoming a data analyst? Check out this recording of a new inspiring LIVE interview with Julian Were, a CareerFoundry Data Analytics graduate who found his passion in this thriving and rewarding field.
Building a Stand-Out Design Portfolio: A Beginner's Guide
Ready to unlock the secrets to building a stand-out design portfolio? Gayla Thompson, a seasoned expert in UX design, is here to guide you through the process of crafting a portfolio that will set you apart from the rest.
An Introduction to UX Research
Check out this recording of a LIVE event featuring Gayla Thompson, a UX researcher at Nestlé Purina. In this session, you’ll learn what UX research is, why it’s vital in the design process, and see some examples of user testing.
My Journey From Marketing to UX Design
Check out this recording of a LIVE interview with CareerFoundry UX design graduate Morgan Brennan and discover how she transformed her career. If you’re considering a career in UX design this is the event for you!
How to Start Your Dream Career in Tech in 7 Steps (with Susan Clark)
On Tuesday, July 25th we were joined by one of CareerFoundry’s Senior Career Specialists, Susan Clark. Susan walked us through 7 important steps to kickstart your journey in the tech industry!
What is Product Design?
Check out this recording where Florian shared his extraordinary career change journey, revealing how he transitioned from studying literature and working in publishing and software to landing a rewarding job as a Product Designer within months of completing CareerFoundry’s UI Design Program.
How to Write Inclusive Copy
Unleash your creativity with Emerson Schroeter, Senior UX Writer at HelloFresh, in an exclusive online event where you’ll discover the art of inclusive copywriting.