During this year's Philly Tech Week, several Hopeworks alumna were present and sat as panelists for Technical.ly’s “Introduced” event. “Entering the Tech Field: Diversity in the Workplace After the First Year” was the session former Hopeworks intern, Calou Lowe, and former trainee, Naomi Maldonado, discussed their experiences as they entered their current jobs.
Caloua who is now a digital marketing specialist at SEER Interactive talked about feeling like a an “imposter”. She felt like she wasn't good enough to hold her position and at first doubted her abilities and skills. Naomi, a business analyst at Comcast also talked about being in the tech industry as a woman of color and how her experiences has shaped her to become stronger and more resilient.
The panel also consisted of Caloua’s and Naomi’s managers at SEER and Comcast. Emily Meekins, a Sr People Operations Manager at SEER, and Preston Beckley, a Sales Operations Manager at Comcast. The pair also weighed in on what things employers and human resource managers can do to create workplaces that are more diverse and inclusive. One thing that Emily and Preston both agreed on was being honest and transparent with job seekers about the company's intentions of becoming more open to diversity.
Technical.ly Introduced was a day long event and featured a various sessions on topics like retaining talent, mental health, content marketing best practices as well as “demo” sessions in which new technology was introduced to the public and along with massages, calligraphy favors and many other exciting things.
Several years ago, I was searching for restaurant jobs online with no clear direction, when a friend recommended Hopeworks. This nonprofit social enterprise is dedicated to training young adults in the technology fields that will propel them into living-wage careers. Before learning more about the Hopeworks program, I was skeptical that I would achieve success. […]
Bree can take time to celebrate now, but her journey to success wasn’t always smooth sailing. Despite a long history of healthcare experience, job opportunities dried up, leaving her feeling lost. But Bree was determined to chart a new course, and refused to let setbacks define her. With unwavering dedication and a willingness to ask […]
The work that we do here is centered around elevating the professional and personal lives of our young professionals, breaking the cycle of poverty, and placing amazing young adults in living wage permanent jobs! In the midst of doing that work, we are often recognized by publications, media, and other organizations. We truly appreciate any […]
