May 10, 2024
Empowering Women in Tech: A Personal Journey with Tech-Moms
Today on the GFiber Blog we’re featuring a guest post from Tech-Moms, one of our incredible Utah partner nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping women transition into tech and achieve long-term success in their careers through training and counseling. As a past cohort graduate, Katie Swenson, the organization’s Social Media Marketing Manager, reflects on her journey to Tech-Moms and why the recent partnership with GFiber is a game-changer.
My journey into the tech world wasn’t typical. I didn’t major in computer science or dream of coding as a child. Instead, I took what some might call the “traditional” route in life. After graduating with a B.S. in Human Nutrition from Southern Utah University in 2011, I got married, and embarked on a career in sales for a large food distributor. For seven years, I honed my skills in empathy, accountability, customer service, and negotiation, all while raising three young children with my husband.
In 2020 the pandemic hit, and the restaurant industry, my primary clientele, suffered overnight. I found myself scrambling to help these businesses stay afloat while still juggling the demands of motherhood. The constant blur of balancing work and home life was taking its toll, and I knew I needed a change.
In June 2020, I made the decision to leave my corporate job and become a stay-at-home mom. It was a leap of faith, knowing it would mean a significant pay cut for my family. Unfortunately, just two months later, I lost my mother to Mesothelioma after a 6 year battle. Amidst grief and uncertainty, I stumbled upon an article about Tech-Moms.
Tech-Moms? Learning to code? It sounded intimidating at first, but something inside me urged me to sign up for their spring 2021 cohort. And it turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. Over the course of nine Saturday classes, I learned to design a website from scratch and found a supportive community of women that I never knew existed.
This experience ignited a passion within me. I just knew I wanted to be a part of Tech-Moms in any way I could. When a part-time position for their social media marketing manager opened up, I jumped at the opportunity, despite not having much experience in the field and being pregnant with my fourth child. Two years later, I’m still learning and growing every day, surrounded by an incredible team while witnessing lives being transformed within this community, just like mine was. Being present with my children has been an immense blessing. There is no shortage of memories being made.
With GFiber’s support, we are reaching even more women and able to provide them with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed in tech. Collectively, we’re breaking down barriers and empowering women to pursue their dreams, regardless of their background or previous experience.
At Tech-Moms, our mission is simple yet profound: to empower women to thrive in the tech industry. Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom looking to reenter the workforce, or a seasoned professional seeking a change, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Learn more about Tech-Moms at tech-moms.org
Posted by Katie Swenson, Social Media Marketing Manager
Tech-Moms is always accepting applications on our website. We run cohorts each fall and winter: September through November and January through March. There are two options for our core training program: in person each Saturday for 9 weeks (Utah only), and a virtual course taught in 2 sessions per week (generally one weeknight and Saturday morning for 9 weeks). Course tuition is $400 (financial assistance is available). Our students learn basic front-end web development, including HTML, CSS, and Javascript, and build their own simple website as a final project. We also have extensive career exploration opportunities during the course. Upon completion, each student will receive additional support in choosing their next steps, including additional training and education, job search assistance, or both. Our graduates are moving confidently into tech roles across all industries, all with the long term support of our Tech-Moms community. We truly live by our motto: Once a Tech-Mom, Always a Tech-Mom.