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Our involvement with Django Girls reflects our company-wide dedication to bridging the gender gap in the tech sector. At sennder we echo the core mission of Django Girls by championing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Together we strive to create a tech landscape that is accessible and welcoming for everyone.
During the event, our colleagues - Feza Roheel, Lucie Tomišková, Michela Dai Zovi, and Álvaro Mouriño - from our engineering team didn’t just organise and coach; they also shared invaluable insights, highlighting where diversity of thought, skills, and backgrounds fuel innovation and inspire a culture of growth and inclusivity.
Can you share your initial impressions of the Django Girls event? What motivated you to get involved in this initiative?
Feza: Django Girls Berlin is a recurring workshop that happens every year since 2015. This workshop is attended by a diverse group of women with different skill sets and backgrounds. I read about Django Girls before but had not yet attended it in person. I was unsure if I qualified for a coaching position so I did not apply. However, I was encouraged by Mic to sign up. I ended up participating and it was an amazing experience. I met many curious and inspirational girls on 7th October 2023. I also really enjoyed teaching and sharing my learnings with my team members. The hands-on coding exercises that we did within the workshop enabled participants to have the right tools and mindset to start coding and pursue a career in technology. Not only did we get to code but also help build up each others’ confidence, network and share our learnings.
— Feza Roheel, Software Engineer“I ended up participating and it was an amazing experience. I met many curious and inspirational girls on 7th October 2023. I also really enjoyed teaching and sharing my learnings with my team members.”What advice would you offer women looking to break into or advance in the tech industry, and how does sennder facilitate their journey?
Lucie: I would advise not to be scared to just start. Django Girls and other organisations are actually a great start to get into the world of tech. It can get overwhelming at the beginning, but you can start with a small project and slowly build up your tech stack.
sennder provides several options on how to constantly develop and polish your tech skills. One of those options is a learning budget that could be used for example for attending a tech conference or buying a course on Udemy. Furthermore, engineering managers at sennder proactively help you to build your development plan, so you make sure that you are constantly extending and improving your skills. There is also the possibility of mentorship within sennder, provided by one of your senior colleagues. I also had my mentor for learning FE, since I was a BE engineer only. Nowadays I’m a full-stack engineer thanks to the opportunity that sennder offered.
- — Lucie Tomišková, Software Engineer“Engineering managers at sennder proactively help you to build your development plan, so you make sure that you are constantly extending and improving your skills.”
How does the Django Girls event align with sennder’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Mic: In order to fill tech positions with qualified women, we need to increase the hiring pool by encouraging women to see if tech work might be something they enjoy, and equipping them with the skills they need in order to succeed. Many women have spent their entire lives subconsciously ingesting stereotypes of what a software developer is, and that stereotype probably doesn’t resemble them. To compensate for this, we need to work a little harder to show people–and not only cisgendered women but also everyone across the wide gender spectrum– that tech is for them, as well. That’s where an initiative like Django Girls comes in.
- — Michela Dai Zovi, Software Engineer“We need to work a little harder to show people–and not only cisgendered women but also everyone across the wide gender spectrum– that tech is for them, as well. That’s where an initiative like Django Girls comes in.”
Can you recall a memorable moment from the event that left a lasting impact on you or the attendees?
Alvaro: I coached in a Django Girls event for the first time back in 2017 and I’ve been wanting to take part in it again ever since. I’m really happy I finally had the opportunity. You meet all kinds of people, with very diverse backgrounds, and all very motivated to learn.
It’s a very rewarding experience to see people achieve something by the end of the day that they thought was almost rocket science only a few hours before. Or when they manage to add that one more extra feature that it’s not in the tutorial. It’s extremely gratifying for them and for us coaches as well.
Helping others feel that sense of accomplishment, when they feel the joy of programming, takes me back to the days when I was just learning. Back then I couldn’t even dream of having a public website, while nowadays there are tons of free services in which you can deploy your code in seconds, with very little (if any) prior knowledge required. It’s fascinating.
None of it would have been possible, of course, without the flawless execution of the organization, which did a great job making it happen.
— Álvaro Mouriño, Sr. Software Engineer“It’s a very rewarding experience to see people achieve something by the end of the day that they thought was almost rocket science only a few hours before.”As we reflect upon the impacts of the Django Girls event, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Feza, Lucie, Mic, and Álvaro for their significant contributions. Their involvement not only enriched the event but also epitomizes the spirit of collaboration and unity that is foundational to advancing a tech landscape where diversity and inclusivity are celebrated.
About Django Girls
Django Girls is a non-profit organization that has been inspiring women to join the world of tech since 2014. Volunteers run free, one-day workshops for beginners, introducing women to the fascinating world of programming and technology. An average of 30-60 women attend each event and are guided through the creation of their first web applications using Python and Django.This global community has grown significantly, with 2,372 passionate volunteers organizing 1,075 events in 581 cities across 108 countries. An astounding 23,397 amazing women have attended these workshops, making a remarkable impact on the world of tech. Django Girls is all about empowerment, community, and breaking down barriers in the tech field – a true vehicle of inspiration!
Are you considering a career in the tech field? Are you interested in joining a worldwide, enjoyable, and diverse team? Do you want to work for an organization that will invest in your learning and development? Take a look at our available job opportunities
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