TABLE OF CONTENT LET’S GET STARTED What is an Empathy map? Who uses an Empathy map Why use an Empathy map? What is inside the Empathy map template? Why use the Empathy map template? GETTING IT DONE How to craft survey questions for the map? How to get the template? How to duplicate the template? How to add an image to the empathy map on Miro board? How to edit images for the empathy map? How to add survey answers to the templates? How to save the template? CONCLUSION LET’S GET STARTED! Grab your pen and a note. (a) What is an Empathy map? 🗺️ As a newbie in product management, hearing the word empathy map can sound so new and strange. Well it was for me 😅, so let me explain in simple terms. An empathy map is a powerful tool used to gain a deeper understanding of a specific target audience or individual. The map allows for a comprehensive exploration of the users’ thoughts, feelings, needs, and behaviors, which in turn aids in creating more meaningful and relevant products, services, or experiences. It typically involves four sections; See: focuses on the user’s external environment, including what they see in their surroundings. Say & Do: focuses the user’s actions, behaviors and communication. Think & Feel: explores the user’s thoughts, emotions and beliefs. Hear: captures the user’s source of information, including what they hear from others, media etc. (b) Who uses an Empathy map? 🤔 Empathy maps are used by various professionals and teams across different industries to gain a deeper understanding of their target audience or users. Here are some of the key groups that commonly use empathy maps: Product managers Product designers and UX designers Marketers Customer service teams Sales team Business strategists and many more! (c) Why use an Empathy map? 🤷 Using an empathy map offers several valuable benefits for individuals or teams working in various fields. Here are some key reasons why empathy mapping is commonly employed: Better understanding of users and customers Identification of pain points and opportunities User-centric product and service design Tailored marketing and messaging Enhanced empathy and perspective-taking. (d) What is inside the Empathy map template? 👓 The empathy map template consists of six segments; Think and Feel, See, Hear, Say and Do, Gains and Pains in which answers gotten from surveys are placed in, according to the segment they belong. 1.5 Why use the Empathy map template?🙋 The template provides a structured framework with different segments, making it easier to organize and analyze information about the individual or target audience. It ensures that you cover various aspects of their experience systematically. An empathy map is usually presented as a visual diagram, which makes it easier to grasp and communicate insights. It enables teams to have a shared understanding and align their perspectives. It is beginner- friendly and easy to use. GETTING IT DONE! (a) How to craft survey questions for the map? 📝 Crafting empathy map survey questions requires a delicate balance of curiosity and sensitivity. Here are some tips (pay attention to the highlighted sentences) 🧐; To create questions that truly resonate with the participants, start by immersing yourself in their world. Walk in their shoes, embrace their joys and struggles, and let their experiences guide you. Seek to understand their innermost thoughts and feelings, uncovering the nuances that make them unique. Delve into their daily routines, social interactions, and the sights and sounds that surround them. Embrace the power of open-ended inquiries, inviting them to share their stories freely. Empathy map survey questions should be a heartfelt invitation for participants to open up, allowing their authentic voices to shape a canvas of understanding. So, let empathy be your compass, and through carefully crafted questions, weave a tapestry of insights that inspire meaningful and human-centered solutions. Still having troubles understanding how to craft questions? 😅 I got you! The link below by yours truly, is a list compiled of some examples of questions that can be used for Empathy map survey! Interested? click here (N/B: can be edited based on purpose of usage). (b) How to get the template? 😵 Now let’s get into the business of creating an easy empathy map! Interested in getting the template? click here and sign in or up into the Miro board using your google email address. (c) How to duplicate the template?📚 Once you have signed in and the board opens, select “Empathy map template” as shown in the image below. Once selected, a pop up screen will appear. Select “duplicate” as shown: Enter the desired name for your board and click “copy” Boom! You have a duplicate of the template. If you are a newbie on the Miro board, you might have to close the ad shown below to be able to view your full board. Once that is done, you have the duplicate of the template! 🥳 (d) How to add an image to the empathy map on the Miro board?📌 Now we have the template, let’s get started! Select the highlighted symbol. Once that is done, select “upload” from the list of options as shown below. Select the desired option on how you want to upload the image. Majority of my images are saved in “my device” so I clicked on that. Select the desired image from your device and click “open” (e) How to edit images for the empathy map? 🖼️ Normally, images for an empathy map are oval in shape and inserted at the middle of the template. So to edit the image, click on the image and select the highlighted symbol which is the “mask and crop” option. Select option “circle” as shown below. This will make the outline of the image to be a circle. Once selected, the image gets an oval outline as shown below. Image can be resized and be placed at the middle of the template by dragging it, as shown below. (f) How […]
Category Archives: Women in Tech
Sep
Hey Super Designer! Let’s talk about case studies, the gateway to landing those dreamy interview slots! Think of a case study as your virtual portfolio spokesperson, speaking on your behalf with pizzazz! So, you have to make it convincing. Although crafting captivating case studies may seem like a very big deal, but fret not I got you. Here is a link to something specially designed for you Case study template Now that you have seen that I really got you, here’s a step by step guide below on how to use the case study template. Step 1: Open the link above, Click on the project name to copy or duplicate file to your own figma board Step 2: Edit the title section to your project name. Step 3: To add the image of your design, double click on the phone frame, click on fill, then change fill to image. Step 4: Click “Choose image” to add your image. Step 5: Ensure to edit all text layer to suit your content. Step 6 Remember to always double click to edit text. Step 7 To add your images to the phone frame, double click on the frame to see fill, then click on add images. Step 8 After editing all frames with your contents, arrange each frame vertically. Step 9 Highlight all, then press on Shift A or right click to add auto layout, change vertical gap to 0. Step 10 Now you are done, click on export. Your case study is ready to be uploaded on Behance. However, if you haven’t got an idea of what a case study really entails, you won’t get the best out of the editable template to produce a captivating case study that lands you that dream gig you’ve always wanted no matter how hard you try. Let’s run through what a case study is and what is required What exactly is a case study? A case study is a comprehensive review of a project or product that helps people to comprehend the ideas, concepts, and efforts that went into making the product by thoroughly outlining the design journey. It displays not just the outcome but also the reasoning behind each design choice, the difficulties encountered, and the solutions found to resolve them. Think of it as the producer, crew and cast doing a recount of the making of a great and interesting movie, the audience only sees the end product but never the efforts put into making it so taking then through the journey of the movie helps them better understand the idea and efforts put into making such exquisite work. Tips to writing a compelling Case Study The main parts of a well-structured case study include: Title of the Case Study Introduction/Overview UX Design Process User Research Define the Problem Ideation Steps to come up with a solution Test Solution and Iteration Next Steps and Learning Give your project a title Upon opening any case study, the title, serves as a moment of decision on whether to proceed with reading the UX case study or not. A good title for a UX case study should be clear, concise, and descriptive, giving the reader a glimpse of what to expect from the case study content. It should be attractive, engaging and encourage the reader to delve deeper into the study to learn more about the UX challenges and solutions presented. Introduction/Overview The overview section of a UI/UX case study provides a concise yet informative summary of the entire project. It gives readers a quick understanding of what the case study is about and what they can expect to find in the following sections. Keep the overview section concise, ideally fitting within one to two paragraphs. Here’s what the overview should entail: Project Description: Begin by introducing the project or product that you worked on. Mention the name of the client or company, the type of product or service involved, and the context of the UI/UX redesign or creation. Objectives and Goals: Clearly state the primary objectives and goals of the UI/UX design project. What were the specific problems or challenges you aimed to address? What did you hope to achieve through the redesign or creation of the user interface and user experience? Key Deliverables: Mention the key outcomes or deliverables of the project. For example, was it a redesign of an existing app, the creation of a new website, or an improvement of certain features? Target Audience: Briefly describe the target audience or user base for the project. This may include demographics, user behaviors, or specific user needs that were considered during the design process. Duration: Mention the overall timeline or duration of the project, including any major milestones or phases. Role and Team: If you are part of a design team, mention your role or the roles of other team members involved in the project. This could include UI/UX designers, researchers, developers, project managers, etc. Explain your Design Process Here is where you can really put your UX skills to the test. Describe the UX Design Process you used for the readers. In other words, describe the various project actions you took and explain why you chose to take them. You can also include a timeline for the project. User Research Good user research leads to a good user experience as it aids in identifying user behaviors, wants, and motivations. Successful UX research actually eliminates assumptions and guesswork. Simply put, effective user experience research is profitable. The major objective of this section is to define Who your users are? What do they really need? What is their real problem? What is your observation? This is where you include your research questions, insights from the research, and your competitive analysis. Define the exact problem When your research is over, you will have a wealth of insights, both quantitative and qualitative. The information acquired must be analyzed and connections made around it in the following stage in order to yield some findings. The only way to […]
Product management, Soft Skills, Tech Education, Women in Tech
Soft Skills: The Secret Ingredients to Product Management Success.
Jun
INTRODUCTION While technical knowledge and industry expertise are vital, let us reveal the secret sauce that separates great product managers—soft skills! You read that correctly. Let’s look at how soft skills can help you advance in your job as a product manager and achieve success. “Must Haves” Soft Skills of a Product Manager 1. Empathy As a product manager, you must use empathy to comprehend your users’ wants and pain points. Create products that resonate with the wishes and desires of your users by developing deep listening skills and putting yourself in their shoes; this will make you stand out as an intelligent and customer-focused product manager. 2. Communication You must communicate in clear terms if you want to succeed as a product manager. Your words should be able to unite everyone, whether communicating with stakeholders or giving team members precise instructions. Remember that the secret is to be both a compelling speaker and an attentive listener. Embrace the power of body language, have honest and open interactions, and master concise messaging. 3. Collaboration Product managers serve as a link between diverse teams, bringing them together to create something beautiful. Bring your team’s talents and viewpoints together to produce something genuinely unique. 4. Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking Daily, product managers deal with a wide range of complicated challenges. You can face these difficulties head-on by developing excellent problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities. To find creative answers, hone your analytical skills, adopt a data-driven strategy, and think proactively. With this ability, you can solve even the most complex problems and turn them into chances for innovation as a product manager. 5. Adaptability Adapting to evolving circumstances, market trends, and consumer wants is a constant in the dynamic world of product management. It’s essential to have the capacity to adapt rapidly, embrace change, and be adaptable. Develop adaptability by keeping up with market trends, asking for input and refining your ideas, and being receptive to fresh ideas and approaches. Conclusion Technical proficiency may open doors, but the mastery of soft skills catapults product managers to success. By developing your soft skills, you’ll be able to handle challenges with finesse, forge solid connections, and produce top-notch products. If you decide to invest in your professional development, you’ll be able to lead your team, promote innovation, provide exceptional goods, and go above and beyond. Bonus Tip Soft skills take time to develop. Continuously Look for possibilities for professional and career improvement, go to industry gatherings, participate in workshops, and interact with communities of product managers to benefit from their experiences. Adopt a growth mentality, be inquisitive, and commit to lifelong learning. Ann Ezeogu Product Management Community Lead
Jun
HerTechStory highlights inspiring tales of women in tech. For today, we will be having Ayomide Adekoya. A graduate of Public Administration who bagged 2 roles in less than 1 year after beginning her design journey. Let’s dive in… Tell us about yourself. Ayomide: My name is Ayomide Adekoya Elizabeth. A graduate of Public Administration from Kwara State University. I am currently a product designer at Orchestra and Design Community Lead at HerTechTrail. Public Administration? That’s wow. How did your design journey start? What was the motivation? Ayomide: It started last year while serving. I was reading up the statistics of unemployed youth in Nigeria after my youth service and decide to give myself an edge by learning a tech skill to improve my chances of getting a job. You made a smart decision. Why design, though? Ayomide: I wanted a no code skill and design was what suited me, but the problem now was where to learn design itself. My younger sister sent me the link to register for one of the design tracks in HerTechTrail Academy. I did not take it seriously at first because I thought it was scam. My mindset had a 360 shift after seeing alumni testimonials, and attending the onboarding. That was how I began by design journey by joining Cohort 4 in July 2022. Your sister is so sweet. I hope you’ve bought her shawarma since then. It’s almost a year since you started, how would you say your journey has been? Ayomide: She is a total baby girl and hates shawarma. I would say my design journey was easy with HerTechTrail in it. Learning with HerTechTrail was the best decision I made starting out because it made navigating through research easy based on the roadmap, classes, reviews on my assignments and capstone project. All these things prepared me for where I work. It didn’t make me seem like a newbie and no one at my work place believes I am not up to a year in the design space. I complete my tasks when due and have a good time working with teams. Who hates shawarma? By the way, your design journey is incredible. You’re now a Design Community Lead with HerTechTrail. How’s that going? Ayomide: The only thing that comes to my mind is interesting. I get to work alongside beautiful minds and also communicate with designers like myself. I can only say it’s helping me communicate better because I have always loved keeping to myself and speaking less but now I have to speak to people and show the right emotions to energize the community. I’m so proud of how far you’ve come, Ayomide. What advice do you have for someone starting out their design journey? Ayomide: I would say consistency is important as well as building true friendships. These two helped my design journey real big. Idongesit Akpan Community Manager, HerTechTrail
Content challenge, Embrace Equity, Gender Inclusion, HerTechTrail Academy, Tech Education, Web development, Women in Tech
Empowering Women to Conquer the Digital Frontier: Unleashing My Web Development Journey with HerTechTrail Academy
Jun
Embarking on a web development journey as a woman in the tech industry can be both thrilling and challenging. However, my experience took a transformative turn when I discovered HerTechTrail Academy—an empowering platform dedicated to equipping women with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the digital landscape. In this blog post, I want to share my personal odyssey with HerTechTrail Academy and shed light on the vast opportunities available in the dynamic and ever-evolving tech industry. “Cracking the Code: How HerTechTrail Academy Opened the Doors to Tech Wizardry” 1. Breaking Gender Barriers in Tech: HerTechTrail Academy recognizes and actively addresses the gender disparity in the tech industry. With a mission to empower women in technology, the academy creates a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages aspiring female developers to chase their dreams fearlessly. By joining this academy, I found a community of like-minded women who shared similar goals and aspirations, fostering an empowering atmosphere for learning and growth. 2. A Comprehensive Curriculum Tailored for Success: HerTechTrail Academy thrives on a comprehensive curriculum tailored to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving tech industry. From foundational concepts like HTML and CSS to advanced frameworks like JavaScript and React, the academy left no stone unturned. Their structured learning path ensures a progressive and systematic approach to learning web development, enabling me to gain proficiency in both front-end and a little bit of back-end technologies. 3. Mentoring by Tech Industry Professionals: One of the standout features of HerTechTrail Academy is the access to experienced coaches who guide us students every step of the way. These industry professionals bring real-world expertise and insights to the virtual classroom, providing invaluable guidance and support. Through personalized feedback, one-on-one sessions, and mentor-led projects, I received the necessary guidance to refine my skills and enhance my understanding of the tech industry. I must say, their industry expertise and passion for teaching fueled my enthusiasm. 4. Hands-on Projects and Real-world Applications: HerTechTrail Academy emphasizes practical application to reinforce theoretical knowledge. The academy’s project-based approach empowers me to work on real-world scenarios, developing websites and web applications from scratch. The task based hands-on projects not only boosts my technical skills but also builds my confidence to take on complex coding challenges. The academy fosters a supportive environment where I could experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them. Additionally, the academy encourages collaboration and teamwork, fostering a culture of learning from and supporting fellow students. 5. Industry-Relevant Tools and Technologies: Web development is a constantly evolving field, and staying up-to-date with the latest tools and technologies is crucial. The academy recognizes this and is ensuring that I have access to cutting-edge resources. From code editors and version control systems to frameworks and libraries, the academy provides hands-on training in using industry-relevant tools. This exposure enhances my adaptability and has equipped me to tackle real-world development challenges. 6. Career Support and Networking Opportunities: The academy’s commitment to my success extends beyond the classroom. They offer valuable career support services, including but not limited to job placement for the best graduated TechTrailer (as we are often addressed). Enrolling in the web development track in HerTechTrail Academy has been a game-changer in my web development journey, empowering me to challenge gender stereotypes and excel in the tech industry. With a comprehensive curriculum, mentorship from industry professionals, hands-on projects, and networking opportunities, HerTechTrail Academy is equipping me with the skills and confidence to embark on a successful career in web development. The academy’s impact on my journey cannot be overstated, and I am immensely grateful for the transformative experience that has shaped my future. Joining this empowering community has unlocked countless doors to tech wizardry, and I am excited to embark on this transformative journey alongside fellow women in tech. In a world where women are underrepresented in the tech industry, HerTechTrail Academy stands as a beacon of empowerment, providing a nurturing and supportive environment where women can thrive. Through their dedication to breaking gender barriers, comprehensive curriculum, mentorship, practical projects, and industry-relevant training, HerTechTrail Academy is revolutionizing the way women enter and succeed in the digital frontier. So, whether you’re just starting your journey in web development or looking to level up your skills, I encourage you to explore the opportunities that HerTechTrail Academy offers. Together, let’s conquer the digital frontier and reshape the tech industry for the better. If you’re ready to take the leap and join a community of aspiring female Icons, visit HerTechTrail Academy’s website today to learn more about the programs and how you can become a part of this empowering movement. Break free from limitations, unleash your potential, and embark on a transformative journey with HerTechTrail Academy. The future of tech awaits you! Remember, the digital frontier needs more trailblazers like you. Embrace the power of technology, stand tall as a woman in the tech industry, and let HerTechTrail Academy be your guiding light on this exciting path. Together, we can pave the way for a more inclusive and diverse tech landscape. Mildred Erubore Web Development student (Cohort 6) HerTechTrail Academy
Content challenge, HerTechTrail Academy, Women in Tech
Sell those shots : A guide to personal branding
Jun
What is Personal Branding? To begin with, what comes to mind when you think of brands or branding? Is it the influencers you see online, or the products and services you purchase? Recently, I had a conversation with my roommate about her view when it comes to branding, and that’s when I realized that some people have no idea about branding. Are you also clueless about branding? No worries, here’s what you need to know: One thing you need to be aware of is the fact that you are a brand and the impression you leave in the minds of people is branding. You purchase products and patronize brands for a reason, right? Building credibility and trust takes time, and that’s why you don’t just show up in the faces of people and expect patronage from them overnight. Ideally, it requires consistency, authenticity and emotional connections. Those brands and businesses (Apple, Nike, Coca-Cola) that we patronize already have an impression on us, and we trust their ability to deliver. Even when you have nothing to sell to the people you engage with online, building an online presence matters a lot in this age and time. You’ll never know when it’ll come in handy in order for you to sell those shots. Here are few key steps that’ll help you build and nurture your personal brand: 1. Define your personal brand. Firstly, live out who you are and what you stand for as well as your unique value proposition (what sets you apart from others). If you’re not certain, reflect on your strength, goals, passion and skills. 2. Choose social media platforms suitable for you. You don’t need to be obviously everywhere when building a personal brand. For this purpose, search to know the social media platform(s) that best resonates with you. If you’re more of a professional person, you could consider LinkedIn and if you love to write as well as share your opinions, you could consider Twitter or Facebook. At the end, it all narrows down to what you enjoy doing. 3. Optimize your profiles Ensure any information about you is up to date. Be sure to fill in your necessary details that consist of who you are, what you do and who you’re targeting. 4. Be consistent and authentic. Show up as you are and be consistent. Don’t pretend to be who you’re not. Show up as your authentic self. You don’t want to have different clashing personality types. 5. Collaborate and network. Connect with like minded individuals, participate actively in relevant community events and collaboration to build your personal brand. If you’re looking for the right community to join as a black woman in tech, you’re welcome to join us here. Everyone has a story; how you choose to tell yours matters. Start your story today! Bathsheba Zakariah Digital Marketing student (Cohort 6) HerTechTrail Academy
Gender Inclusion, Women in Tech
HerTechHeroes: Changing the lives of women in tech, one donation at a time
May
You know about HerTechTrail’s community and her academy, but do you know about her heroes? “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” – Helen Keller HerTechHeroes was created as an opportunity for people who are passionate about what we do at HerTechTrail and want to contribute directly to the growth and success of black women in tech globally without having to do the work directly. The programme is entirely remote, and membership is unlimited by age, gender, social class, or location. In 2022, HerTechHeroes contributed to our achievements: financial support to train 2000+ black women in our tuition-free cohort learning programmes supported 12 women with laptops provided network data to 300 women to aid learning. One of the laptop beneficiaries of the 3rd quarter in 2022, a TechTrailer named Ruth David, shared that she was excited to be selected for the laptop support as she usually worked with her office’s laptop, which restricted her from reaching certain levels in her UI/UX learning. HerTechTrail presents a new laptop to Ruth David A mother of one and design enthusiast, Nkechi Azunna, shared with us how being a laptop beneficiary of the Q4 2022 laptop support programme turned out to be one of her biggest highlights of the year. “Hertechtrail turned my wish into reality. Like I said, I always wanted to be in tech, but I didn’t have any idea how to start. Hertechtrail made it easy for me to start. I can’t remember being chosen for a gift before, and one that I really needed at that time, so it was quite remarkable for me.” Tech Mom, Nkechi Azunna Our community manager, Idongesit Akpan, shared this with us: “Before becoming the community manager of HerTechTrail in June, I was a trainee in the digital marketing track of Cohort 3. During my training, I was given data support various times for emerging the student of the week from my track. It gave me encouragement and strength to finish the three months. I also got a laptop from the Q2 2022 laptop support programme. My journey as a digital marketer has been made easier since then.” Idongesit Akpan, Community Manager at HerTechTrail The story of Claire Igwe (our current Academy Director) is an amazing one. Having graduated from the academy in the very first cohort and now being a part of HerTechHeroes- contributing to the lives of other black women, she still amazes everyone that comes across her story. Imagine if she didn’t get trained. Just imagine. She went from being a total newbie to working remotely from Nigeria. The stories above are just a small fraction of the momentum and impact being created by the programme. The lives of black women in tech are improving daily, and we’re glad for the current HerTechHeroes who are making this happen. Currently, we have over 10 heroes in the programme, and it is open to willing members so we can all work together to achieve more. This year, we intend to achieve a lot more than we did in 2022 and touch as many lives as possible in and out of Africa. Would you love to join hands with us as we solve the problem of global inclusion in tech? Check out the programme for full details (registration, activation and rewards). WE CAN’T WAIT TO HAVE YOU JOIN HerTechHeroes!
Apr
Women are being awesome friends to each other in the most amazing ways that are great for progressing their careers. This series will bring you sweet, and encouraging stories of female friendships among techies every month. Be sure to come back for more! This month, I got talking to a TechTrailer- she currently works as a product designer and volunteers to coach UI/UX design with a non-profit organisation. She shares with us how amazing her female friends have been to her in ways that are great both for her and her career. Hi Sis, what do you think about the term ‘women supporting women’ and how female friendships can help a tech sis make significant progress in her tech career? First, let me say one thing: I wish we didn’t have to live in a world where there was that demarcation. I wish we lived in a world where we don’t need to have discussions about equal rights, like that kind of world where it’s not even a thought, like, why do I have to have that conversation where everybody is equal normally? I know the feeling, yeah. I wish we lived in that kind of world, but I know the kind of world we live in. One thing is that I’m a very introverted person, but the friendships I’ve had in my life that have added things to me, to be very honest, are with women. That’s why I don’t like it when people bash female friendships by saying things like, “Women will do you this or that.” People will do you shege! That’s the truth! It’s not about women; it’s about people. A person who is bad is bad, regardless of whether they’re a woman or a guy. A person will show you shege if they’re bad. Source: Pexels Let me say that I’m biased toward women. If I see an opportunity, and I know a lot of people like that, the first person I’ll think about is a female friend. Let me put it this way: Recently, a friend called me up, and in most cases, I’ve not spoken to this person in a really long while; they just call me, say there’s an opportunity, and ask if I’m interested. Most of the lasting friendships where I might not even speak to them for a while yet, but when we meet up or talk on the phone, we still have a lot to talk about, are female friendships. I know that some people might have a different experience, but for me, that’s the experience I have. It doesn’t mean that I don’t have male friends, but they’re very few, like very few, and it’s easy for the relationship to die down, unlike my female friendships. There are people I went to school with, and I graduated from OAU (Obafemi Awolowo University) in 2018, and that’s been many years. We might not speak for a long while, but when we do, there’s still that rapport and that friendship. there’s no thought or fear of them thinking badly of me or anything like that. I know they have my best interests in mind. That’s how I feel about female friendships. Awesome! I can relate to having great female friends because that’s my current reality. I feel bad when people bash female friendships too and I realise it stems from the experiences they have had. I’m hoping many more women come to experience the comfort and support of female friends who truly have their backs. Do you want to try guessing the identity of this TechTrailer? Go right ahead! Did you enjoy reading this? It might be your story next. If you’d love to be featured, reach out to @Wonu.Wealth in the general community on Slack. If you’re not there yet, you are welcome to join us.
Apr
If you’re interested in how a woman can go from being a total newbie in the very first cohort of the HerTechTrail Academy to being a tech sis who now earns in hard currency—the USD type specifically—you want to read this conversation to the last sentence. Source: Zikoko Memes Disclaimer: She did not take part in a get-rich-quick scheme, she put in hard work smartly! Big Woman! Let’s jump right in. You were in cohort 3, right? Hahaha! Cohort One. ARE YOU SERIOUS?! Yeah, I’m serious. You’re the proper definition of “day one”! In fact, before Cohort 1, before HerTechTrail had Cohort 1 proper, we had this very short boot camp. It lasted 2 weeks or so, during which Alex taught UI design. That was my first introduction to product design. In fact, before I saw that ad, because it was on Twitter I saw it- “Come and learn product design for free.” Before I saw that ad, I honestly didn’t know the meaning of product design. I decided to give it a try because I was already learning HTML and CSS, and with how it was presented, I felt like it was related, so I decided to give it a try. I went for the boot camp. It was pretty interesting; it was my first introduction to anything related to product building and design, so to speak. I decided I was going to move forward with it, but the cohort hadn’t started properly, so I had to find other ways to learn. After the two-week boot camp, there were about 3 or 4 people who finished and were serious about it. We were still having meetings with Alex; he was giving us small projects and all of that. I wanted to learn more, so I started attending other boot camps. When I saw that HerTechTrail was going to do a proper cohort kind of boot camp, I decided to jump in, and we were very few during that cohort; a lot of people didn’t take it seriously, to be honest, and it wasn’t as organised as it is now. At the time, only Alex and one other person taught, and we only had a product design track; we didn’t have a UI/UX track. I was in another boot camp then, but I still wanted to do this one. I followed through. Source: Pexels One thing about me is that when I’m doing something, I actually take it seriously, no matter what it is. Once I put my mind to it, I take it seriously and will see it to the end; unless there’s something big or serious enough to cut short my progress, that’s the only way I’d stop it. They gave us a project—you know, the capstone project. The way we did it then was that we had an idea, and different groups would do it. We were only three then, and one person said her laptop was faulty, the other person wasn’t even around, so I ended up being the only one doing the whole thing, and afterwards, I graduated as the best student overall. Source: Pexels AHAHN from cohort one? First ever! Hahaha! From there, Gloria asked if I could help with the designs—the day-to-day designs and all that. I said I could do it. I’d already done a few projects on Fiverr, so I was a bit more confident in myself. I started doing that, and from there she said, “You’re going to be coaching next,” and in my mind I’m thinking, “Eh! I’m going to be doing what?” I love it! Ei God! I was so scared. Like, my first class, eh? Omo! It was scary, but at this point, I’m so glad that she put me in that position where I had to start teaching people because you never know how much you know until you start trying to tell people about it. You begin to think, “Oh! So I know all this stuff? You become more confident in your skills and in speaking to people. Do you get it? Yeahhh You become more confident in speaking to people, and that helped me a lot. Then I started coaching, and the next cohort will be my third bootcamp with HerTechTrail as a coach. Wow! That’s profound. I didn’t know you were with HerTechTrail even before cohort 1. Yes, lol. Me and HerTechTrail have been together for a long time. How far back was this? How long ago was it when you started with HerTechTrail? The first short bootcamp I told you about was in November 2020, which I remember vividly. The first proper bootcamp was, I think, around April 2021. Okay! So you’ve had this very interesting journey with HerTechTrail so far, and one of the strong points for us is that we’re helping women build not just tech careers but proper, sustainable tech careers. Yeah… I know your story is very sweet in this aspect because you’ve had freelance experience. You’ve left Naira for people who have Naira and are now earning in dollars, in hard currency. Please give us that part of the gist. Source: Zikoko Memes Okay. As I said, my first ever paid job was in December 2021, and it was a job I did on Fiverr. You know freelance jobs can be tricky; they don’t come all the time. I was looking for something more stable. HerTechTrail referred me to a company looking for a product designer, and I was going to be their first and only product designer. Omo! It was scary because, in my mind, I still felt like I was a learner. How could I be their first and only product designer? I had the interview, and it went well. To be honest, with UI/UX my first salary was less than #150k. It was a remote role, and that’s what made it better for me because, you see, waking up every morning to an office, omo! I don’t think I can do that in […]
Break the glass ceiling, Embrace Equity, Women in Tech
Breaking the Glass Ceiling As A Woman In Tech
Mar
Hey Tech Sis! It’s Women’s History Month, and I’m sure you must have heard stories about amazing women in various spheres who are said to ‘Break the Glass Ceiling’ Do you ever wonder what the phrase means? When I first heard it, I imagined that one day I’m attending a tech conference hosted in a beautiful hall with a glass ceiling and then I see a popular tech sis who suddenly throws stones at the ceiling… Lmao! That isn’t what we mean. The “glass ceiling” refers to the unnoticeable but widespread barriers that keep women from rising to the top leadership positions. It is something that has existed for a long time, with historical examples dating back to the early 1900s. Despite recent improvements, the glass ceiling still affects many workplaces today, and women are still underrepresented in positions of leadership. Picture Source: iStock The impact of the “glass ceiling” on women is undeniable. They have fewer opportunities for professional advancement and lower earning potential, thus maintaining gender inequity. Organisations also suffer from the effects of the glass ceiling, as they miss out on the diverse perspectives and skills that women can bring to leadership positions. Despite the obstacles women face in shattering the glass ceiling, numerous African women have had amazing success in a variety of fields. For example, working to bridge the gender gap in tech, we have Gloria Ojukwu, a technical data-driven product strategist, project manager, UX researcher, writer, and engineer who loves to solve problems with technology. She has experience with efficient program management, and she currently serves as the co-organizer and program assistant for the Google Cloud Community (from Google). She is also the founder of HerTechTrail, a non-profit organisation that provides education and support to African women through the HerTechTrail Academy and a strong community of 12,000 vibrant African women looking to build sustainable tech careers. By awarding scholarships that allow African women tuition-free access to top education in a wide range of tech skills, HerTechTrail Academy works to significantly lower the barriers to entry into the field of technology. In addition to the over 8,000 learning scholarships granted and the over 300 data support awardees, HerTechTrail has a laptop support program where she provides laptops to her community members quarterly. Gloria Ojukwu Ifedayo Durosinmi-Etti is the founder and CEO of Herconomy, a female-focused fintech startup committed to developing financial resources for women. Herconomy is the first digital platform in Nigeria for female business owners and professionals. It aims to empower women and connect them to resources like grants, fellowships, scholarships, jobs, and other opportunities. By participating in the Africa Startup Initiative (ASIP) Accelerator Programme and becoming Amazon’s first recruitment partner in Nigeria, Durosinmi-Etti recently broke several glass ceilings. Ifedayo Durosinmi-Etti Nigeria’s foremost transportation-driven transportation startup, Shuttlers, was co-founded by Damilola Olokesusi, who also serves as CEO. In the congested cities of Lagos and Abuja, Shuttlers is revolutionising how business people and organisations commute. Damilola is a “Forbes 30 Under 30 (2019) Recipient for Technology” and has been selected by the UK government for a technology exchange in 2020. She has received recognition, including the Digital & Tech Award at the Women in Africa Contest in Morocco in 2017 and the Award for the Best Idea at the Aso Villa Demo Day. Under her direction, Shuttlers successfully raised $1.6 million in seed money and announced plans to expand into additional African metropolises. Shemoves Shuttles, an initiative she started in 2020, is an all-female shuttle service (sponsored by Ford Motor Company) that has impacted over 600 female professionals by transforming their commute time into learning time. Damilola is well-positioned to keep driving innovation in the technology, transportation, and other industries in Nigeria and around the world. Damilola Olokesusi We hope that the success stories of these African women leaders demonstrate to you that breaking through glass ceilings is possible with hard work, consistency, and determination. If you’ve been on the lookout for a strong community of African women building sustainable tech careers, HerTechTrail is just for you. Join us! TechTrailers, the ceilings are ours for the breaking; let’s shatter them all!
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