The TechStylers July meetup started with Foyin introducing the group, and reminding us all of it’s purpose to help support each other and particularly new women entering tech.
The first speaker was Nlia Amara who began her journey into tech as a graduate intern in SharePoint and Power Apps. Amara quickly learned how to build her first approval app, taking an iterative approach to refining and improving it as further requirements were identified and inspired by her success, went on to build a flow that sends birthday greetings to colleagues within her company. Amara’s advice to other new entrants to tech was to be open to learning, to share that learning and never be afraid to ask for help.
Following Amara was Malin Martnes, a Microsoft MVP from the Lofoten Islands in Norway, who told the group about her love of computing. This stayed with Malin through a variety of very different jobs, until she was approached to become a consultant. Malins very inspiring message to all aspiring women is ‘trust in yourself, and seek out your opportunities’ no matter what life sends your way.
Up next was Geetha Sivasailam another Business Applications MVP who gave a great intro to Power Automate and showed how it could be used to select a winner for her TechStylers lucky draw. Geetha was followed by former MVP Manuela Pichler who now works for Microsoft. Manuela shared some of the many valuable lessons she has learned during her career to date, culminating with ‘do it with heart’.
The final speaker of the evening, Confidence Staveley has recently been a Top 50 Women in CyberSecurity Africa 2020 Finalist. Confidence spoke with real energy and passion, about how finding out what makes you excited and becoming an expert in it can expedite growth, and advised surrounding yourself with people who encourage you to grow. I loved what Confidence had to say about having ‘the heart to serve’ to make helping others part of who you are, but also being your own biggest cheerleader, as this will ultimately inspire others.
The recording of the full session can be found here