The Ironhack Blog

This article was submitted by our friends at Dialpad . If you’re interested in contributing to the Ironhack blog, please contact [email protected] . The Impact of Covid-19 The working world has changed a lot over the past few years. The pandemic has seen an acceleration in the trend towards working at home. A survey by Owl Labs found that, after Covid-19, 80% of people expect to work from home for the majority of the week. Although we appear to be reaching the tail-end of the virus, it seems that working from home is one trend that is here to stay. For many, the transition to remote work started with setting up a dedicated workspace, learning new virtual collaboration tools , and adapting to new ways of interacting with colleagues and clients virtually. The workspace moving into people’s homes has presented an interesting challenge for managers, who now can’t use their physical presence to motivate and to delegate, but instead need to make that presence felt in online spaces, and ensure open communication and collaboration over potentially boundless distances. Managing a Remote Workforce Managing remote teams in 2022 hinges on one overarching principle: communication. You need to establish a communication method for your team that works for them, and a method that is beneficial to you as the leader. If you are not creative, a management strategy can turn out to be extremely tedious when handled entirely online. Being a great team leader is no easy thing, but there are certain tenets that you should always keep in mind. The key elements are: Building a team that can effectively work together. Being an effective motivator. Ensuring good interpersonal relationships. The management process always begins in the hiring process. A team of developers will typically have learned their skills in an online environment, and therefore are used to handling information remotely. However, it’s important to hire people who are self-organized and dedicated enough to be suitable for a remote job. In interviews, ensure that any potential members of the remote team possess strong levels of self-motivation and are proven to be reliable when left to their own devices on their own time. Source: Workable The Importance and Limitations of Standard Email Once you have assembled a team you are confident in, it is time to put some real thinking and creativity into developing an effective team communication method. This is an area that can be defined in many ways, but the key factor is setting up an environment that encourages team members to communicate regularly and effectively. Whilst setting up a company email is imperative for making official communications look professional and establishing a recognisable company brand - you can see how to make a custom email domain here - remote teams shouldn’t rely on just email. Sending different emails between you and your teammates is inefficient and time consuming, and you should instead set up a team resource platform that you and all of your team can access. This should include time management tools, monitoring capabilities, and shared cloud storage. You may want to set up a system where each employee is assigned a task or is given a list of tasks from which they choose, as well as a sharing platform where they can upload finished work. These would eliminate the need for recurring work like sending an email or calling every time a task is either delegated or completed. There are many platforms out there that have this capability, and the exact one you use is a matter of personal preference, but it’s important that it is fast and scalable . The motivating aspect and capabilities of using a shared storage system can’t be understated, either. Employees will be able to see each other’s performance, as they will all be connected to the same system. They will naturally compete to be the best team member that they can, and this process will lift up the entire team’s performance. Similarly, the shared system means you can easily track everyone’s performance, and collectively receive their feedback and quickly give feedback of your own. Some cloud storage options. Source The Importance of Communication Once you have chosen the digital infrastructure of your projects, you should think about how to optimize communications within your team . As mentioned above, you and your team will be able to see each other’s progress as they complete tasks, but it is also important that you understand how to measure their performance in more sophisticated ways. Identify some KPIs (key performance indicators) that can help give you a clear idea of your goals, which can be easily shared and understood by your team, or discussed with any external clients . Despite not being in the same place, the entire team should be heading in the same direction. Video conferencing and live streaming as a technology has been available for many years now, but it has really come to the forefront of the business world throughout the pandemic. Having reliable software to speak with your employees, the closest approximation to an in-person conversation possible, is incredibly important when managing a remote development team. It can be hard to get personal with your team, but it really is the best way to motivate your employees. Communicating regularly and actively with your employees will build a strong relationship that will ensure accountability and morale throughout the team. Working as a Team It’s also important to have group calls where every team member is on the same call, enabling faster feedback loops and stronger bonds within the team. You should ensure that whatever video conferencing software you use has screen sharing tools . The ability to see each other’s screen and get a detailed look at how and what everyone is working on, allows for instant and effective collaboration. It is an incredibly efficient way of training up new employees and it is immensely useful in troubleshooting technical problems. For example, let’s say someone was having an issue with the cloud storage system: instead of trying to explain the problem, they can now show it to the IT department, or whoever else might have the best idea of how to fix it. Source Furthermore, screen sharing is a helpful development tool, because it allows developers to see how their content would be displayed on screens of different resolutions and sizes, even in different languages. Developers and writers using unicode and zawgyi unicode need to ensure that their content translates properly and that digital content can be properly presented across phones, laptops, tablets, etc. Despite all of the amazing communication tools available to us today, running a remote team comes with issues that need real thinking and strategy to overcome. For instance, the team could be spread across multiple time zones, which requires work and tasks to be automatically and independently distributed, or at least delegated ahead of time. With so much independence, team members can interpret tasks in wildly different ways. To avoid this, clear and easily accessible work procedures should be established. There should be project guidelines, style guides, and a collective vision and goal shared across every single worker. Communications should be democratized and accessible. Any changes to the overarching ideas behind your work that have been discussed between you and your team should be transparent and all-inclusive. No worker should be left behind. These are things that could be taken for granted when everyone is in the same space, but in the online world, extra care must be taken. Trust and Engagement Finally, one of the most important things about managing a remote development team is building up trust and engagement. One of the key benefits for a remote worker is the level of independence, where they are left to get on with their tasks and work towards their goals within a designated time frame. There is relatively little oversight as compared to most in-person working environments. The difficulty with this, in addition to the ones outlined above, is that it can lead to workers feeling unengaged, or as if they are not part of a team. The digital communication tools used to manage a remote team need not only be for explicit business communications. They can be useful to maintain healthy and friendly relations between everyone working within a business. Whilst a lot of team building activities are not possible remotely, you can still hold icebreakers, meet and greets, have people break off in pairs to get to know one another. These spaces can also be used to give praise and appreciation to your workers, to remind them they are a valued part of the team. Source Remote working isn’t going away, and while it presents challenges, the benefits of being able to build and grow a team without being bound by geographical locations cannot be understated. About The Author Jenna Bunnell - Senior Manager, Content Marketing, Dialpad Jenna Bunnell is the Senior Manager for Content Marketing at Dialpad, an AI-incorporated cloud-hosted unified communications system and call recording software that provides valuable call details for business owners and sales representatives. She is driven and passionate about communicating a brand’s design sensibility and visualizing how content can be presented in creative and comprehensive ways. She has written for sites such as MacSecurity and Lucky Orange . Check out her LinkedIn profile.

In the tech industry, the only constant is change. Which is totally exciting! It means you are in charge of your tech career destiny, and you can use your previous experience either in school or in other industries to contribute to the innovation that is inherent in tech jobs. Let’s take a look at how you can weigh the pros of turning to a career in tech, and the practical steps to take to set your tech career on fire 🔥 (in the best sense)! Why make the leap to tech? The technology industry is vast and exciting meaning there is a place for anyone who wants to join the party. Whether you are interested in design, coding, artificial intelligence, marketing, sales, or anything in between, you can be sure there is a role that you will be the perfect fit for. Let’s look at a few aspects of a career in tech that make it such an appealing move to make as you plan your professional trajectory… Fulfilling A career in tech will be tremendously fulfilling. Think about your daily life and how much technology plays a role in pretty much everything you do. By focusing on a career in tech, you will be able to make a meaningful difference in the daily life of millions of people who depend on modern technology. It may seem like a big responsibility, but think about the enormity of the change you could influence. After all, as Winston Churchill and Spiderman made clear, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Your contribution to the technology sector will give you great personal satisfaction and provide you with a sense of pride. Challenging Nobody wants a boring job. When you decide to join the technology industry, you will never be bored. A big part of working in tech is constantly training and upskilling to keep up to date with the latest trends, softwares, codes, and more. Plus you’ll need to be able to maintain communication with your colleagues either remote or in person while making the time to devote to invest in your continued improvement. The challenge is definitely worth it! You’ll always be stimulated and learning, which means you will always be growing. Impactful We’ve already mentioned, but a career in tech is going to be incredibly impactful. The world is changing faster every day. Look at the billionaires racing to get to space while at the same time we’re dealing with the effects of climate change and worldwide pandemics. Technology is driving the solutions to today’s problems, and your contribution is needed! Your ideas and experience will be the force that allows the tech sector to combat the challenges facing the world today. The industry is spread across the globe, and allows for the voices of millions to be heard and contribute to solving problems creatively. In-demand Your tech skills are in high demand. Did you know that the pandemic has forced businesses to drastically rethink how they work? In most cases, this has triggered digital transformation initiatives. In fact, even as the pandemic eases up a bit (fingers crossed), businesses are continuing with the implementation of these plans. A report from Gartner shows that 58% of IT leaders reported either an increase or a plan to increase emerging technology investments in 2021, compared with 29% in 2020. The market needs tech workers now more than ever, so it’s a great time to invest in your tech skills. Benefits of a Tech Bootcamp So now you're convinced that you want to start your tech career adventure (or maybe you were already set on it), and now you're wondering how a tech bootcamp can help you get there... Constant learning Working in the technology industry, no matter what path you take, means you will be constantly learning. The nature of the industry is innovative, so staying ahead of industry trends is critical to your professional development. Learning new coding languages or UX best practices will help you stay relevant, and at the same time, you’ll be strengthening your analytical skills and your memory. Life long learning is the key to personal fulfillment and satisfaction, and a career in tech will certainly contribute. And the best part is, you don’t have to go back to school to do it. Forget going back to school It’s expensive. It’s time consuming. And it’s definitely not necessary. Four-year traditional universities are losing their credibility, and their necessity. Vocational training is far more lucrative now, and it’s obvious in the post-COVID world that there is not the same need there was before for massive campuses, dorms, and huge expenses that are passed on to students. While we know that in-person learning is super important, we believe it can be done on a much leaner scale. Plus, it doesn’t have to take so long! There are so many ways you can learn within the tech industry without shelling out thousands of dollars and wasting four years of your life to get a traditional degree. The tech industry is great because titles don’t necessarily matter. What is important is that you have the skills to do the work, and you have a strong network to help you connect with the right people. Learning is accessible digitally A lot of the learning you’ll be doing in tech is, of course, online. Going to in-person events will be what helps you build and expand your personal network, but the work itself will be mostly digital. That frees you up time and location-wise. You can be a digital nomad while you continue to improve your skills in whatever tech field you decide to pursue. Digital learning is great because you really can upskill from anywhere in the world. Remote tech bootcamps offer the same high quality education, community atmosphere, and end-to-end career support that campus bootcamps do. Choose your own adventure When you’re on the verge of beginning a career in tech, there are a lot of things to think about! The first being, what kind of tech do you want to get into? Web Development, UX/UI Design, Data Analytics, and Cybersecurity are all exciting paths you can choose to go down. Immersive web development would entail building game-changing apps with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React (and maybe even inventing your own programming language!). You’ll be on the cutting edge of the next must-have applications that make our interconnected lives easier. User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design will have you learning how to make the apps that programmers build practically usable for the end-user. When you are trained in user experience, research, Figma, design thinking, and user interface you’ll be an integral part of any company's workforce. Then there’s data analytics ! Becoming an expert in data will make you an invaluable part of any team. The ability to capture data is a small part of the puzzle. Once you have all this data, what do you do with it? How will you use it, and for what purpose? Learn Python, SQL, Tableau, and statistics to become a Data Analyst and ultimately the superhero of the analytics team. Making sense of all that data is critical for any company’s bottom line. Finally, cybersecurity is a very important career path you may choose to take. White hat hackers are so important for major corporations and governments alike. As a cybersecurity tech worker, you’ll need to act like a virtual ninja, constantly staying steps ahead of cybercriminals that want to infiltrate networks and steal data. Join an exciting and engaging network of peers Of course, when you get into the tech sector, you’re joining a lot of other really smart, cool people. People who are interested in continuous improvement, and changing the world for the better. You’re going to get to work with some incredibly bright minds, and have fun while you do it! Remember, these are the people who introduced ping-pong in the office and casual every day. You’ll be joining a very chill cohort. Get lasting support as you grow in your career When you join a tech bootcamp and take the leap to invest in your career, you also get access to Ironhack’s career services . The program is a standalone course in the student portal, combined with individual support from our coaches. It is divided into three different stages to be completed in different moments: Before, during, and after the course. Behind our success is a strong network of hiring partners, a dedicated outcomes team, and a deep knowledge of the tech job market and how to navigate it. Take advantage of the network effect The network effect says that the more people work together towards a common goal, the more its value grows. That is why the more events you participate in and people you connect with, the higher your value, and the stronger your career development. When you make the decision to invest in your tech education, you’re also affecting your career success exponentially. The more people you have in your network, and the more connections you make, you’ll see that you’ll be getting top level work that you determine on your terms, no matter which career path you decide to take. The internet is a perfect example of the network effect! When there were just a few users, it had little value. Now we need it for nearly everything! When you invest in your tech career, you’re building the internet, and sharing it with others. Gain access to elite industry career experts Part of getting your foot in the door is not necessarily what you know, but who you know. When you join an Ironhack Bootcamp, you’re going to get to know some of the biggest names in technology startups and developments. Think Accenture, Google, Visa and even Twitter. You’ll be rubbing elbows with top talent who want to mentor and train the next generation of technology leaders. A recommendation on LinkedIn from a tech insider can be a great boost as you engage in your career development. Connect with your local tech industry leaders When you join a bootcamp, you’ll also get the chance to connect with local technology industry leaders. While so many tech jobs are online and remote, that isn’t always the case, especially depending on the industry you are in. If you’re interested in working for financial institutions or governments, getting familiar with the local crowd will be imperative for security reasons. Also, it’s just more fun to meet up in person every once in awhile! Tech bootcamps: risk vs. reward We know investing in your career by joining a bootcamp is super important to you. We also know it can be a little intimidating. How much should you spend? And will you really get a job? Investing in a bootcamp is just that – an investment. You’re making a commitment to yourself to embark on a career journey that will be engaging and rewarding, throughout your whole life! Let’s do a little math… The yearly salary of a data scientist can be as high as $150,000, making it the highest paying job role of 2022. And you can do it remotely! With the help of our c areer services , you’ll have paid back your bootcamp in no time, and be well on your way to saving the world through technology. We know it may be a tough choice, but we also know that YOU know the right decision. Develop your tech skills by joining a Tech Bootcamp today!

Always wanted to become a Web Developer, Data Analist, UI/UX Designer or Cybersecurity specialist? Then this is your chance! The STAP Budget is meant for all employees and job seekers who want to improve their chances on the labor market. You can apply for the STAP budget from 1 July 2022, 10:00 hours (in Dutch).  To get the discount, you should apply before your bootcamp begins. If your STAP application is approved, you’ll get €1000 off the final price of your training! You can apply for a STAP budget once a year, and a new application round opens every 2 months. STAP Budget Eligibility You are eligible for this budget if: You can demonstrate ties with the Dutch labor market You are not currently receiving other types of education funding, such as student finance You can apply if: You have not applied for the STAP Budget in the current calendar year You are over 18 years of age You are not receiving your pension (AOW) You or your partner have the Dutch nationality, or the nationality of another EU country You are covered by social security How does it work? Pre-register your application with Ironhack by filling out this form. You will receive an email with an ‘aanmeldbewijs’ You can start applying for STAP on July 1st, 2022 at 10:00 hours at https://www.stapuwv.nl/p/voorportaal with your DigiD. Keep in mind that you will need to give the ‘aanmeldbewijs’ during your application at the UWV portal. UWV will inform you if you received the STAP budget within a few days after your application at the UWV portal. Pre-register now! Application periods A new STAP budget application period starts every 2 months. If you’ve missed out this time, then try again in the next application period. July 1, 2022 to August 31, 2022 September 1, 2022 to October 31, 2022 November 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 Are you ready to reskill? This is your chance. Questions about STAP? Not to worry. We’ll be hosting multiple events and webinars where we will discuss the subsidy and answer all your questions. Make sure you follow Ironhack Amsterdam on the following channels: 📱 Follow us on Instagram @IronhackAMS 💼 Follow us on LinkedIn 👋 Hang out with us on Facebook

This article was originally published in Startup Valley . Ironhack is a marketplace for emerging technology talent Please introduce yourself and your startup Ironhack to our readers! Ironhack is a marketplace for emerging technology talent. We have a direct to consumer, B2C strategy in the form of our Web Development, UX/UI Design, Data Analytics and Cybersecurity bootcamps. And we also work with companies of all sizes to find the best possible technology talent to fit into their future hiring plans. How did you get the idea for Ironhack? We arrived at a time when there was a clear tech skills gap. On the one hand, you had record youth unemployment in Southern Europe, and on the other hand you had thousands of companies looking for tech talent that was impossible to find. Our idea was to take all these young people that were unemployed or underemployed that had tremendous potential, and give them the necessary skills to bridge that gap. To do this we wanted to work closely with employers of different sizes and help them identify the tech talent of the future. What we do best is providing transformational learning experiences for people who are tremendously committed to their career journeys. Why did you decide to start Ironhack? When we started Ironhack, the skills gap in Spain was the eye opening market reality. There was a 57% youth unemployment rate in Spain, but there were 750,000 jobs in IT-related areas and tech-related areas that were unfilled. Both me and Gonzalo were familiar with business and markets, and for those two numbers to coexist, it made no sense to us. What is the vision behind Ironhack? Ironhack was created to be the marketplace that connects supply and demand for that emerging talent. A big part of what we’re trying to do here is solve a massive structural problem that has both economic and social implications. We’re looking forward to 2030, and it’s estimated that we’re going to see a deficit of skilled workers of $85 million, which represents a global GDP loss of $8.5 trillion. We’re going to see 100 million people impacted or displaced due to the impacts of automation and newer technologies. On the flip side, there’s all these opportunities in technology and related fields that need solutions. We’re working towards becoming the largest and most dynamic marketplace for emerging tech talent, that connects emerging tech talent with the best companies who are looking for them. To that end we are fast becoming the most outcomes-focused institution in the world, helping people lead more fulfilling lives, make more money, and generally be happier through their employment opportunities. The next step is to do that at scale, and achieve our goal of impacting over a million people through our work. How difficult was the start and which challenges did you have to overcome? When we started in Europe in 2013, we were effectively first to market. This was a totally new model that had just started two years prior in San Francisco. But as we know, San Francisco and Europe are very different environments, and very different tech ecosystems. We had pretty much everything stacked against us. We started the company at a time when Spain and the rest of Southern Europe were dealing with a really bad economic crisis. Most people were actually fleeing the country, looking for job security. We were starting a non-traditional educational business in a country that didn’t have as strong a tradition of private education as exists in the US. There was an emerging, but certainly not mature, technology ecosystem that made it complicated for consumers to see a path to employment or to success. Most of the young people in the market did not see development, tech, entrepreneurship, product design as a viable pathway. They were still thinking about the jobs of the present or even the past as a pathway. And then the last thing was that many learners have been reinforced throughout their career that they have to pursue a profession in their field of study. So, if they went to University for something, they had a very linear career pathway. Which in our view couldn’t be further away from the truth. So, for us it was really challenging to mitigate all those objections with no capital. There was no capital available to us and we wanted to build an educational brand that people trusted with little to no resources. And how did we overcome it? I think for us it was due to ruthless obsession with outcomes and with over-delivering on the expectations of the consumer. What we saw in the first cohort, the first 13 students that did Ironhack, there’s plenty of stories. I think we overcame this through a lot of focus. Solving a problem of consumers, and solving a problem of our corporate partners. Hard work and focus on long-term value creation. Those are some of the key ingredients of our success many years later. Rewinding to the start of the pandemic, we’ve seen tremendous evolution in acceleration of many trends that were already in place. The first is that we were “forced” to take our model online through our remote offering. The results of that transformation have been remarkable. We’ve proven to ourselves that we can actually deliver an excellent online educational experience that is community-based, as well as the experience that we’re still delivering in our physical campuses. For us, a key pillar of our growth strategy going forward is how we reach consumers in cities and towns and in countries where there isn’t a great in-person offering. Secondly, how do we reach consumers that for a number of reasons, prefer to learn remotely, prefer to learn online, and otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to reach them? In that category, we’ve seen awesome examples of parents that can’t leave their home because they have to be close to their children, people who have disabilities, people who have very long commutes and otherwise wouldn’t be able to enroll in the course. That’s a big part of the transformation of the past couple of years. Who is your target audience? Our audience normally consists of people who are looking to change careers, whether it is because they are not fulfilled with what they are doing, or just because they want to progress in their careers. They tend to be those who are curious and want to progress fast and launch their careers in tech, rather than spending years in traditional education not building any hands-on experience. We’re looking for committed learners, which means someone who is all in. They’re willing to put in the hard work, regardless of their background, which is a beautiful thing about what we do. Under that umbrella, it’s also for those starting out with zero experience but want to fast-track their education and get a headstart in tech. Their traits and profiles are varied according to the bootcamp they’re going for, but our catalog is welcome to all. It includes people in other career tracks like lawyers or ex-bankers, but it’s also open and available for people who didn’t go to university and are stuck in their life. People who have tremendous potential and work ethic, but just need the support of a partner to get them to the next stage. We’re a partner, an ally, a champion. We’re not just teaching a coding language, we’re with them from beginning to end. Not just to teach the hard skills, but also to help them develop their soft skills and to offer interview support and career coaching. What is the USP of your startup? There are a few things that make us really unique. First is this intense focus on a committed consumer and on employment outcomes. We have many other actors in the market that offer upskilling or more light-touch educational experiences for people that are generally curious. We’re singularly focused on committed learners that are looking for 180 degree transformations in most cases. We built our organization around facilitating that transformation with a very tangible outcome at the end. For us it’s more about things like: how do we select the right learners for programs? How do we deliver a best in-class learning experience? How do we make sure that we have the most updated curricula in a market that requires constant updating? Or how do we support our students and graduates in the best way possible to get that employment? The second thing that makes us unique is community. I think Ironhack has a community now of 10,000+ alumni, hundreds of employers, and thousands of collaborators across our markets. And it’s really a special community of people who are committed to each other, that share a lot of values and that are incredibly supportive not only of our students on day one getting that first job, but really throughout their whole careers. The third unique aspect of the Ironhack mission is its global footprint, and the global ambitions of everything that we’re building. Many of our competitors are single-market focused, whereas we’re building a community that spans three continents, has dozens of countries represented in more than ten cities. We facilitate global conversations and international understanding, which I think is really powerful for this generation of learners. It’s especially important, on a personal level, to myself and Gonzalo that we have this global value proposition, this global network of partners, and alumni around the world. I have lived in 15 cities in various continents over the past 20 years. Similarly, Gonzalo has lived in six or seven different countries. So we wanted to do something that connected ecosystems across the world and was not only a very local initiative. Can you describe your typical workday? My typical workday starts with founder selfcare. I wake up early and I spend the first hour and a half of the day working out, eating a healthy breakfast, and meditating, keeping as focused and centered as I can when I start my day. I’m leading my team from Miami, and most of the organisation is in Europe. So, by the time that I wake up, there’s already a whole lot of stuff going on. Instead of going just straight into my inbox, the first thing that I do is review my daily dashboards. The key metrics of the business tell me a lot about how I should prioritise my day, and what type of conversations I should be having with our team. I typically have a handful of conversations with different team members, folks that are direct reports. But I also do high level meetings to get a pulse on the greater organisation. And what’s happening across markets and different functional areas. I’ll typically have lunch with either a team member, a partner, or someone from a general tech ecosystem to stay abreast of what’s happening in the market outside our world. I may grab coffee with a student and have a conversation around their experience or their objectives. That’s really important to me. My office is actually right next to a classroom, so it’s something that I never want to lose. I’d say that the afternoons are typically a little bit quieter. It allows me time to do more heads down work, review documents, review presentations. It gives me a chance to communicate with investors and future potential investors. Then in the afternoon, I try to wrap up not too late so I have time to workout, have a nice healthy dinner, and then maybe wrap up a few emails before I go to sleep. Where do you see yourself and your startup Ironhack in five years? We’re also working in new ways with larger corporate partners to become their talent pipeline solution of choice, or be a part of their talent acquisition funnel. We’re working with very big partners to solve their talent acquisition solutions at scale. Additionally, we are excited to enter completely new markets, particularly the UK, which has seen its tech scene grow year after year. How can we play a bigger role in solving that really big challenge? And, how do we include a broader segment of the population that has been excluded from this conversation and is not participating in this market? That very much includes minorities in technology, women, people from disadvantaged backgrounds, people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, and more. If you look at recent studies in the US, the number of female developers is still in the low single digits. There’s a study by StackOverflow, a survey of 30,000 developers, and only 5% of developers are women. To us, that is insane. More than half of the world’s population is basically excluded from one of the most important professions of the future. So a big part of what we’re doing is incorporating these people into the conversation, and figuring out not only how to grow the share of talent, but also diverse talent. What 3 tips would you give to founders? First tip: find the joy in what you do. Entrepreneurship is hard. Building a company is really hard. You have to enjoy every step of the journey in that passion, that joy, the engine that allows you to go through all the challenges that one faces from beginning to end (if there’s ever an end). Secondly, make sure that you always focus on creating value and creating long-term value for all stakeholders. It starts with the consumer, but it’s also your team and other stakeholders in the ecosystem. Many people get carried away with the latest trends and with fundraising. But, if you do the right thing for the consumer and you deliver value, you will be recognised in the marketplace. The third one is, take care of yourself. Invest in yourself: In many ways, the potential and the ceiling of an organization is set by the potential and well-being of its leader. And if you’re not taking good care of yourself, which means good health, physical and mental health, time off, fun times with friends and loved ones, etc., you’re not going to be the best version of a leader that your organisation needs. I’ve made the mistake over the past decade of just working like crazy. That can certainly take a toll on your physical and mental wellbeing, which impacts your ability to lead an organisation effectively.

Digital nomadism and remote working may be trending, but they're not exactly new. Both concepts already existed and were on the rise pre-pandemic. But with the summer of 2022 being pegged as the summer of ' revenge travel ' they might be on your mind. While remote work might not be the right fit for everyone, many discovered a work-life balance and freedom that they never thought possible, and you might be wondering if you can match Digital Nomad life with your dream tech career. The short answer is...yes you can! How has the pandemic changed how the tech industry thinks about work and presenteeism? Before the pandemic, presenteeism was the norm. Most companies wanted employees to work in their office settings, even if they had no in-person meetings and spent the entire day coding. The reason? Most employers were afraid people wouldn’t get the work done if they weren’t there. As governments forced an immediate shift to remote work, companies had no other choice than to make all the possible arrangements to keep the business running remotely. An increase in asynchronous work tools and tactics means that employees are better at working together, even if they're oceans apart. The result? Employees kept getting their work done, but their production levels have also actually increased. Why employees love going remote Saving time and money on the commute, spending more time with the family, taking the dog for a walk between Zoom meetings, working out regularly, getting extra sleep, or being more productive are some of the most claimed benefits by employees. Even though many people had already heard about remote work and digital nomads pre-pandemic, now they had the chance to try it for themselves and see how it worked for them. Despite a lockdown not being the ideal scenario for this, it was enough to give them a taste. But employees aren’t the only ones perceiving the benefits of remote work; there are also many pros for the companies. Why employers value remote workers Besides the productivity increase, companies have been saving a lot of money on electricity, water, or office supplies by having their employees work off-site, not to mention their employees' productivity increases. And there’s more! Many companies started saving a considerable sum on rent by reducing their current office space instead of paying thousands every month for a ghost town. So while you may be seeing some of the larger tech giants calling their employees back to the office, many companies are still enjoying the benefits of a remote-first approach. Is remote work here to stay? Back in 2020, everybody thought remote work was here to stay. In 2021, many companies started calling their employees back to the office, which led to the Great Resignation in the USA. Many employees preferred to resign from their job instead of going back to the office. Why? Going through a global pandemic wasn’t easy peasy, and spending so much time on our own made us think about more profound existential questions and reevaluate what we were doing with our lives. According to a Pew Research Center survey published earlier this year, low pay, the lack of opportunities for advancement, and feeling disrespected at work were the top reasons Americans quit their jobs last year. However, not all companies have jumped into the bandwagon of having their employees back in the office five days a week. How many cool companies are offering fully remote positions? Plenty! Airbnb recently announced that their employees are allowed to live and work from anywhere. Needless to say that over 800,000 people viewed their career page in the following days. Don’t worry if you can’t find the perfect position at Airbnb. Dropbox , Typeform , Lyft , Skillshare , Slack , and Spotify are some of the remote first companies. Why? Companies that decide to transition some jobs from in-person to remote exponentially increase the talent pool size that they can hire from. They are no longer bound by its geographic limits to hire new talent. Where can you find a remote tech job? Now that geographic location is no longer a prerequisite for landing your dream job, you can land a graphic design job in the US while living in Europe or a cheaper location. So, where can you look up remote job offers? It has never been easier to spot a remote position on LinkedIn . Also, job posting sites like Built-In , Otta , or MeetFrank are remote tech jobs oriented. Software Engineer, Web Developer, Web Designer, UX/UI Designer, Graphic Designer, Product Manager, Writer, and Digital Marketer are some of the most common remote tech job positions available. Another option if you want to go fully remote is to go freelance. Check out how Ironhack alumna, Clémence de Robert, launched a fully freelance UX/UI design career . What are the main benefits of being a digital nomad? Say hello to finding a work-life balance, choosing where you want to work from, setting your working hours, selecting the projects you’ll be working on, increasing your income, travelling the world, or accomplishing life goals that have been on your bucket list for a long time. This can be the perfect opportunity to move somewhere new and learn a new skill while working simultaneously. Check out our campus locations and apply for an Ironhack Bootcamp to launch your new digital nomad life. We’ll pair you with local companies hiring tech roles and introduce you to the latest local tech scene. Can you imagine learning about UX/UI Design or Web Development in a vibrant city like Mexico City , São Paulo , or Berlin ? It's a great way to start your digital nomad journey, by becoming part of a community and meeting local companies looking for remote talent just like you. What should you keep in mind if you want to become a digital nomad? Digital nomadism has plenty of benefits, but it’s not all fun and games. Whether you’re travelling and discovering the city of your dreams, you’ll still need to do the work on any day. And there are a few more things to settle before you pack up your backup and go. Before you leave home: First, sort out your remote work option before you leave home. You're good to go if your current company has a ‘work from anywhere’ mindset. If that’s not the case, you’ll need to find a job at a company with such a mindset to secure your clients. Second, check the time zone before booking your trip if your job involves many calls and if the area has reliable Wi-Fi. Get some travel insurance, as well as multiple debit and credit cards. Consider getting a VPN to keep your data private and investing in noise-cancelling headphones to maximise your focus. Keep in mind that some countries are more receptive to digital nomads than others. While most people can get away with casually working while on vacation, you might need a special visa to work from a different country, especially if you’re planning to stay for more than a couple of months. Once you arrive: Commit to mental and physical daily routines as soon as you arrive at your destination. Don’t forget to set clear boundaries for when you work and when you go exploring. Otherwise, these two can collapse. And what’s the point of going somewhere new if all you’re going to do is work? Don’t head to a new city (or country) every other day or week. Consider spending weeks (if not months) in one place. Connect with local digital nomads and ex-pats or join a co-working space. Will you have the same experience being a digital nomad anywhere globally? Well, not exactly. Digital nomads often experience culture shock, even when travelling somewhere similar to their home country. Anything you can do? Lookup for personal experiences shared by other digital nomads online, prepare yourself and avoid comparisons with your home country. Once you get there, embrace the differences and accept the process. Being a digital nomad in Europe vs USA Europe is an excellent destination if you want to work online while travelling. Many European countries offer a ‘digital nomad visa’ or ‘freelancer visa’. As there are some exceptions, gather information before making your travel arrangements. Even though there’s a relatively common ground across European countries, each country has something unique. It’s not as easy to work as a digital nomad in the USA as in Europe, but it’s not impossible. You’ll have to apply in advance for the most suitable visa. Being a digital nomad in LATAM vs Asia LATAM and Asia are the most popular destinations for digital nomadism. For most digital nomads, these destinations offer a life quality that is impossible to achieve in their home country. From cheaper living costs and impressive natural settings to a rich culture and exquisite cuisine, it’s easy to understand why so many digital nomads choose countries like Thailand or Costa Rica to work. While applying for a visa in Southern Asia is more challenging than in LATAM, don’t let this condition your decision just yet. Do a lot of research, apply with plenty of time, and have some plan B (or C) up your sleeve. What comes next? You have all the information you need to plan your next life chapter. So what would happen if you were brave enough to take the leap? But we hear you, there's still a lot of questions left unanswered, and you're probably still a little bit hesitant about starting a brand new adventure. We made our new series Wild Tech: Becoming a Digital Nomad especially to you. Over the rest of the summer we'll be interviewing tech recruiters, remote work coaches, and digital nomads across the tech industry. They'll share their experience, top tips for making it as a digital nomad, and (hopefully!) inspire you to take that leap! Check out Episode 1 and sign up to get future installments!

It's not uncommon for people to discover their love of the tech industry whilst they're in the middle of a completely different career. Pivoting into tech is actually more common than you think. We got to chat with Dominik, a former Customer Success Manager, who studied Web Development with Ironhack Amsterdam and achieved his dream of becoming a Front-End Developer. From Customer Success Manager to Front-End Developer Tell us about your experience at Ironhack It was intense for sure, to the point that I spent several weeks even coding in my dreams! But it was also great: my progress was immediately visible. Day by day, week by week, I was able to create things I wasn’t able to before. I went through the ups and downs of coding, the frustration and successes, together with the people and friends I met there and a tutor we could always rely on. What did you do before doing the bootcamp? I was a Customer/Partner Success Manager before. It’s a job which I mostly spent in meetings, listening to the customers’ needs and challenges and orchestrating our own internal departments to provide a fitting solution. Why did you decide to make a career change? As much as I enjoyed my previous job along with my colleagues and management, ultimately I felt something missing from it. I enjoy creating things, be it drawings, stories, music, or even games; I found that my job didn’t include this aspect. I just mentioned games: at one point I started tinkering with game engines as a hobby, out of curiosity. For that, I needed to learn about coding, and I was immediately hooked. I didn’t want to make games professionally, but I enjoyed the process of programming and the problem solving that comes with it, so much that it became clear to me that this is the track I wanted to steer my career towards. Do you think your experience as a Customer Success Manager has helped you in the world of programming? How? There is this idea that coding is mostly done in solitude, which really isn’t the case. It’s very important to know how to work together as a team and communicate well. These were also some of the focal points in my previous job and it helped me a lot to gain traction as a fresh developer. After graduating, you found a job. What would you highlight from your current company and position? As a developer, you might be more flexible than you realize. I worked on some projects that included tech stacks I had never worked with before, sometimes even picking up a new program language along the way. And that’s the beauty of this profession for me: y ou always, always learn new things . Problems that seem initially insurmountable can be broken down into smaller problems and solved. What advice would you give to those people who want to get started in the tech sector and are afraid of change? My advice is to feel the waters first. Do a basic coding course , see if you enjoy it and write a few pieces of code on your own. If you enjoy doing it and see yourself doing this as a profession, then simply go for it. This is how I did it and I am happy that I followed my gut.

Before 2020, it would have seemed impossible to change the course of your career with nothing but a laptop and some free time. But our student Ioana took the leap with an Ironhack remote Cybersecurity bootcamp and did just that! Let's hear from Ioana on how she made the change to become a Cybersecurity Officer and overcome self-doubt. And, of course, listen to her advice for building a career you love without fear! Hi Ioana! Tell us a bit about you. Hello there! I’m Ioana , currently living in Paris. In my professional life, I work as a Cybersecurity Officer in the Defense industry; in my personal life, I like to travel, paint, play guitar, and regularly learn new things. I used to be a Project Manager in the aerospace industry at the crossroads of IT & Engineering projects. Why were you interested in cybersecurity in the first place? On my last project, I had to (accidentally!) deal with cybersecurity as the project was in a military environment. I had no previous knowledge of cybersecurity and I somehow had to start teaching myself the best I could in order to make the project go smoothly. Why did you decide to make a career change? With plenty of time on my hands due to COVID-19, I was also financially able to invest in a new career; it had already been on my mind for some time. The hardest part was the first step (I mean the decision to dive into a new field); after that, everything kind of started to fall into place gradually and quite effortlessly. Looking back now a year later, I can say beyond the shadow of any doubt that it was one of the best professional decisions I had ever taken. The Ironhack Experience During the bootcamp, I experienced a mix of fulfillment at what I was achieving sprinkled with frustration here and there due to the more technical or complex parts. I would say the most important thing is to never give up, even if it may look hard or even impossible at times. Success is going all the way; effort and resilience always pay back in due time. Ironhack remote It was nice and easy and although it was remote, my colleagues were always eager to help out when someone gave them a shout. We even continued our collaboration after the class, when recommending different positions and/or companies. What did you enjoy the most about the self-learning format of the bootcamp? It was done remotely in the comfort of my home - I tend to learn quicker and work more efficiently when I am in a psychologically safe/home-like environment. I was also able, up to a point, to manage my own learning rhythm and adjust it accordingly, based on my brain-sharp or brain-lazy hours during the day. After Ironhack I actually found several positions and I've already worked for 3 companies since I graduated last year, all of them in cybersecurity. It was hardest in the beginning, due to the obvious lack of cyber work experience. But once I got on the cyber market, it rained with opportunities and I was no longer forced to let other people choose me; I chose the best for myself. A little piece of advice on this one: life is short, so never settle unless you feel appreciated, valued, and fulfilled where you are . And yes, it's possible! How did the bootcamp prepare you for the job market? I honestly don’t think I could have been here without the bootcamp . It definitely provided the necessary tools, knowledge, technology, and self-confidence. Thanks to the bootcamp, I managed to get into the cyber market, make my career change, and ultimately work in an awesome company that I greatly cherish. What advice would you give to those who want to get started in the tech sector and are afraid of change? Whether we like it or not, our entire life means constant change. Look at it this way: yes, it’s scary to make a big change (and fear potential failure), but you know what it’s even scarier? Regretting not taking the chance when you had the time, energy, and money. Be scared if you cannot help it, but do it anyway. Final Thoughts & Advice Whether or not you feel experienced, ready, or skilled enough for a position you’d like to apply for, do it anyway. Take the risk, let a company tell you no (it’s a possibility), but don’t tell yourself no beforehand. Don’t sabotage your own opportunity. Don’t forget to celebrate success, even small successful moments. Remember, YOU are your biggest fan! Be kind to yourself and understand that this is a process, there are stairs to climb one by one, not a one-time target to hit. Fear is an illusion; most of the things we fear do not happen. Train that resilience and mental strength, take risks, and know that failure is a greater teacher than success. It's truly the perfect way to prepare you for better things to come. Now go and be courageous and enjoy every bit of that cyber ride out there!

Why Tech? Why Now? If you’ve been paying attention to LinkedIn and job postings in the last couple of years, you’ve probably noticed that tech jobs are everywhere. It seems like almost every organization, even in the most traditional sectors, is hiring for tech roles. What’s so attractive about technology as a career path? The average salary for tech workers is high compared with other fields, and companies try to lure potential tech employees with additional benefit packages. The growth rates for coding jobs are climbing steadily, projected to reach 20-30% growth by 2030. The tech industry is competitive but it's becoming much more attainable to get your foot in the door thanks to bootcamps and certificate programs. For many jobs, a college degree isn’t required, you only need to demonstrate coding skills. Once you’re in, you can basically design your career path and move between different roles. Read on to find out which are the top in-demand tech jobs of the future! Tech Roles of The Future Software Engineer One of the top jobs with the most opportunities is the role of software engineer. Because nearly every product or service we use is connected to the internet in some way, companies are working hard to stay competitive and innovative in the digital arena. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the demand for software engineers is set to grow 22% this decade. There’s so much demand for web developers and engineers that there isn’t enough talent in the pipeline, and bootcamps like Ironhack have come along to fill the need. Software Engineer Salary Europe: €33,000-€67,000 Latin America : MXN $396,000-MXN$600,000 US : $84,000-$122,000 What does a software engineer do? Far from just writing long lines of code, software engineers and developers collaborate with designers and managers to build products and solve problems. Knowing programming languages is a must, as well as soft skills like communication. We all know Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, but have you heard of female programmer Linda Liukas? Hailing from Finland, Linda authored a book that introduces kids to coding. She also founded Rails Girls, a global movement to teach young women how to code. Aside from coding, Linda now travels the world giving TED talks and keynote speeches. Information Security Analyst As more companies and systems move online, their information becomes vulnerable to cyberattacks. Information security analysts are in high demand to keep data safe from hackers and leaks. Thousands of new jobs in information security are expected to open up in the next decade as digital transformation continues to expand, with employment growth soaring to 31% by 2030. Information Security Analyst Salary Europe : €28,000-€72,000 Latin America : MXN $285,000-MXN$630,000 US : $81,000-$105,000 Information security analysts focus most of their time on designing and implementing security systems, patches, and tests. How can you become an information security analyst? Having a computer science background and experience with penetration testing are the best ways to enter the field. Kevin Mitnick is a well-known security analyst who made himself famous by hacking into the systems of 40 different companies just for fun, landing him on a list of Most Wanted individuals. He’s now a public speaker and the author of several books related to information security. Data Scientist With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), we’re seeing an unprecedented amount of data, creating a treasure trove for many different industries. Companies are asking themselves, “how do we make sense of all this data we collect?” This is where data scientists shine - translating huge amounts of data into digestible, actionable insights. Organizations are scrambling to get data scientists on board, making data scientist one of the tech jobs with the highest demand, ranking third on Glassdoor’s top 50 jobs for 2022. By 2026, the field is expected to grow by 27%. Data Scientist Salary Europe : €35,000-€68,000 Latin America : MXN $378,000-MXN$525,000 US : $81,000-$104,000 ​​On any given day, a data scientist might design a process for modeling data, create algorithms to extract and analyze data or create visualizations to make the data easier to understand. To get a job in data science, you’ll need knowledge of programming languages Python, SAS, R and SQL , as well as solid skills in Excel, Tableau, and PowerBI. Data Science is also one of the more fulfilling career paths to break into, with an average 4/5 job satisfaction score on Glassdoor! One data scientist you should know is Andrew Ng, co-founder of Coursera, where he’s been instrumental in helping make data science accessible to the world. He currently works at Baidu in Deep Learning, Big Data, and AI, and serves as associate professor at Stanford. He founded the Deep Learning Project at Google . Web Designer (UX/UI) As the tech industry becomes increasingly aware of the importance of user-centered design, there’s a growing demand for skilled UX and UI designers. These web designers focus on user research, layouts, mockups and testing websites and apps. As businesses invest more heavily in UX and UI, web design is becoming a profession with more opportunities and plenty of room to grow. In fact, UX is listed as one of LinkedIn’s top 20 skills to learn . The field of web design is expected to grow 21% in the coming years, with thousands of job openings available at any given time. It also has a job satisfaction score of 4.1/5 on Glassdoor. Web Designer Salary Europe : €32,000-€65,000 Latin America : MXN$273,000-MXN$420,000 US : $64,000-$83,000 One of the world’s most famous web designers is Steve Krug. He wrote a best-selling UX book, Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, and a second book, Rocket Surgery Made Easy: The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Finding and Fixing Usability Problems. Steve has been focused on the user experience for over 20 years, working with Apple, Bloomberg, NPR, and many others. Product Manager Tech’s rapid acceleration is completely changing the way we do business, and it’s not enough to hire only developers. Product management is a booming field and product managers are key to keeping up with growing customer demands. According to the Wall Street Journal, 7% of Harvard Business school graduates took jobs in product management, and Airfocus reports that interest in this career has doubled in recent years. What’s more, Product Manager is listed as #10 on LinkedIn’s Top 20 Best Jobs list. Though not at the same pace as other future tech jobs, with a projected growth rate of 5% by 2030, it’s still safe to say that product managers aren’t going away anytime soon. Product Manager Salary Europe : €40,000-€69,000 Latin America : MXN$630,000-MXN$800,000 US : $106,000-$120,000 Product managers are the link between data, business, UX, sales and marketing. Strategic thinking and cross-functional communication are top skills in this visionary career. One of the most exciting things about product management and its rapid rise in popularity is how diverse it is. Being a blend of so many disciplines means that professionals can come from all sorts of backgrounds and launch successful product careers. Take for example Nina Foroutan, currently Director of Product Management at Forbes. Nina started out in journalism as a Desk Editor for Hearst. Being on the news room floor gave her valuable experience which helped her to empathize with her teams when she got to the top at Forbes. Digital Marketer While it’s not usually considered a ‘tech role’ because it doesn’t involve coding, every tech company needs Digital Marketers. Writing code, analyzing data and building products are great, but without digital marketers, how would the world find out about your company? Like other fast-growing tech jobs, digital marketing demand is on the rise, and in particular, the demand for social media marketing skills has jumped over 50% since the beginning of the pandemic. Overall, the field of digital marketing is expected to grow a healthy 10% this decade. Digital Marketer Salary Europe : €38,000-€60,000 Latin America : MXN$273,000-MXN$420,000 US: $55,000-$76,000 Digital marketers need strategic, creative, and analytical skills combined with technical know-how to build brand awareness across digital channels. There’s a diverse range of jobs available in digital marketing, such as content specialist, marketing automation coordinator, social media manager, email marketer, and search engine optimization (SEO) analyst. While Seth Godin may be the most prominent name in marketing, there are a number of up-and-coming digital marketers to follow. Shama Hyder, already included in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, is referred to as the “Zen Master of Marketing” by Entrepreneur Magazine. She’s the CEO and founder of Zen Media as well as an author and keynote speaker. Web3 Developer Web3 is the hottest topic in tech right now and is seeing a huge inflow of investment. What is Web3 and how is it different from the web we all know? Web3, a term coined back in 2014 by Ethereum founder Gavin Wood, is shaking up the current centralized version of the internet (Web2) and essentially transforming it into a decentralized peer-to-peer network that uses tokens and cryptocurrencies. Web3 is built on the blockchain using smart contracts. Forward-thinking companies are already thinking about Web3 and starting to hire developers who have expertise in crypto. As one of the fastest-growing future jobs, developers who know how to work with smart contracts on the blockchain are in extremely high demand as everyone is still getting up to speed with how Web3 works and there’s a major lack of capable engineers. Web3 developers can expect to earn €50,000 to €90,000 per year in Europe and $78,000 to $180,000 in the US. As the job market expands, more salary data will become available. Chris Dixon is a Web3 leader and the founder of investment company a16z Crypto, which invests heavily in Web3 technologies. Chris started out as a software developer in trading before getting into the Web3 investing space. He writes thought pieces such as Why Web3 Matters . How To Get Into Tech Fortunately, it doesn’t take a college degree to jumpstart your coding career! You can learn all the skills you need to become a developer, digital marketer, product manager, or designer with a bootcamp by Ironhack. In a few short months you can be on your way to a new career. Ironhack’s Career Services team is dedicated to landing you the tech job of your dreams. Want to learn more about working in the tech industry? Check out our events ! Choose your bootcamp and kickstart your tech career.

It’s nothing new, Tech lacks women. The numbers speak for themselves: women represent only 16% of Tech employees and 20% of start-up founders worldwide. There’s a pretty clear ​​gender gap across the Tech industry in Spain . According to Opinium, DigitalES & UNESCO, only 30% of ICT jobs in Spain are held by women, and 63% of Spanish women don't think tech jobs are for them. Furthermore, only 35% of women are enrolled in STEM careers , and bringing more women into the tech sector could be worth up to 26 billion euros per year to the EU's GDP as a whole. FemTech Movement, boosted by Ironhack, aims to fight this breach, and so do I. We are convinced that by depriving itself of female talent, the Tech sector is missing out on major technological innovations and we want to do our part. How? We want to make a difference by inspiring more women to join Tech jobs. Principles of The FemTech Movement Manifesto As members of The FemTech Movement, we agreed to uphold our principles and values: Standing for equal opportunities for women of all demographics and backgrounds Inspiring the next generation of female tech talent Supporting women re-entering the workforce or pivoting to a tech career Closing knowledge gaps and lowering barriers to entry in Tech roles Breaking down bias against pregnant women and mothers in the workplace Encouraging learning and development to help women grow into leadership roles Mentoring, career coaching, and resource sharing How to Take Action To get involved in the movement, you have a few options: Sign the manifesto . Use our Media Kit to share your commitment to FemTech with the world, and spread the word about the need for more women in tech! Let’s open those doors. Join our network of mentors. Take part in talks, interviews, roundtables, networking events, or workshops. Promote scholarships in your community. Let the world know about the opportunities that are out there for women wanting to land their first job in Tech, or to take their careers to the next level. Let’s mobilize our strengths for a more inclusive Tech. Join the movement here . #jointhefemtechmovement

So, you want to work in tech, but you've got no experience. Maybe you dream of building your own video game or launching your first app. You see yourself whizzing around Google campus on a scooter, or protecting the next hottest startup from online attack. ...but you've never worked in tech before, and you're not sure how to break in. There are plenty of jobs for new developers with little or no experience. Have you ever heard the phrase, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?” If you're an artist, swapping brush and canvas for Figma is totally achievable, and will help you to begin that UX/UI design career that you've got your heart set on. If Web Development is your dream career of choice, learning a programming language is just like any other language, and much more accessible than you think. Algorithms are constantly changing, which means that even if you are a programmer with no experience, you can still be a super important asset to a tech company, whether it is in cyber-security, programming, or data analysis. If you are willing to constantly learn and improve your skills, then you can definitely get a job in tech without any experience at all. You can get a job in tech even if you’re new to the field The great thing about the technology field is that it’s constantly changing (Elon Musk already changed his mind about Twitter!). As long as you keep up with the latest trends and new demands, you are extremely valuable to any tech company. Being curious and interested in learning are the main aspects that are going to help you succeed in tech. You will need to continuously work on your skills, which in our experience is incredibly rewarding for people who decide to take the leap into the industry. Here we have some practical tips that will help you get ready to join this exciting work environment. Pump up your resume When was the last time you updated your resume? What are the skills that you highlight? To join any industry you should try to showcase transferable traits, like communication or collaboration. Established companies or start-ups are probably going to be looking for ‘jacks of all trades.’ In the tech industry, especially in smaller start-ups, developers may be expected to create content or even engage with clients directly. How are you showing that you are capable of handling whatever they throw at you? Now is the time to review any experience you have in other industries, your education, and even your personal life experience. Think about how your skills, which we know you have, could bring value to a tech company. Think about the language you use on your resume, and adjust it to fit the dream job you are preparing for. You may even want to have a professional check it out and help you from an outside perspective. Resumes are complicated, and even if they may seem old-fashioned, they’re still the most important part of any applications or networking you do. When you join an Ironhack Bootcamp , a world of resources is at your fingertips! Ironhack’s Career Services can help you identify your ideal outcome, and reach it as fast as possible. The program is a standalone course in the student portal, combined with individual support from Ironhack coaches. It’s a great way to get focused. Build your networks You’ve heard the saying, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know, right? Well, this is also true even in the virtual world of tech jobs! While it may seem that networking isn’t so important for online work, nothing is further from the truth. The connections people make online are very real, and Networking offline is also key. While an online contact is totally valuable, the people that you meet during breaks from coding will become your biggest assets and cheerleaders as you grow in your tech career. Join as many events as you can and develop your list of contacts! Imagine traveling to somewhere like Porto, Portugal, which is a major tech startup hub for a training bootcamp. You spend all your time learning new programs, practicing your code, and pretty much glued to the screen. But then, you get a coffee break, or a chance to go for a walk on the beach with some of your colleagues from the tech retreat. You make real connections and real friends. When the bootcamp is over and everyone goes home, your real-life connections will remain your strongest supporters. Check out all of our amazing campus locations across Europe, the US, and LATAM Upskill! Constant improvement is critical when working in tech, and that is a big advantage for you as a newcomer! There are so many opportunities for you to pick a path that you want to pursue, and focus on learning the skills you’ll need to get hired. You can literally cherry-pick from the insane amount of courses available to make your resume perfect. Bootcamps are a great way to hone your skills. This is also a chance for you to learn what you like! Do you want to be a programmer? What do you need to do to become a programmer with no experience? What about cyber-security? What skills are going to put you at the top of the pool for a cybersecurity job with no experience? What about working as a data analyst? Each tech job has its own skillset. As you work on learning the industry and the skills you will need, you can focus on what you need to do for the specific job that you are interested in. If you love math, a data analysis job is probably right up your alley. If you love learning languages, then programming may be more your style. Take the time to enroll in courses and see what you love and what you don’t. Ultimately, you’ll want the tech job that is right for you . Think outside the box As one of the world's biggest sources of innovation, creative thinking is the bread and butter of any tech career. Imagine inventing the next TikTok or… who knows! The sky really is the limit. And don’t get tricked into thinking you’ll be sitting at a computer all day every day. Technology now affects all aspects of our lives, and with the Internet of Things (IoT), you can engineer pretty much anything. Get to know Hackathons Part of thinking outside of the box is joining the tech community. If you want a job in tech with no experience, you need to get familiar with Hackathons . Also known as code fests, hackathons are social coding events that bring computer programmers and other interested people together to improve upon or build a new software program. These are some of the best ways for you to network with like-minded job-seekers, and learn from the best programmers at the same time. There are many types of hackathons, so once you’ve decided what direction you want to take, you can focus your energy and be sure you’re joining the right group of hackers. And don’t be put off by the word hacker! Hackathons usually have positive goals, ranging from a specific cause or purpose to simply connecting local tech communities so they can share knowledge. No matter what you want to do in tech, participating in a local hackathon is a great way to grow your network. If you can’t join in person, the good news is there are plenty of opportunities to get involved online as well. Let your creative juices flow The tech world is NOT boring! It’s dynamic, evolving, and above all it’s a creative space. So even if you are joining the tech world with no experience, you have nothing to worry about as long as you can think creatively. Think of some of the biggest names in tech. Steve Jobs. Whitney Wolfe Herd. Leonardo DaVinci (not normally considered a techie but he foresaw bicycles AND flight!). There are plenty of ways to get started on your own as you start to learn about the tech industry. Create your own blog, join SubStack or Medium to start sharing content as you learn. Creating a following and connecting with other contributors will help you get into the circles that will contribute to your career advancement. By starting your project, you’re giving yourself material for when you go for your interviews. You’ll be able to honestly say that you have limited experience, but you have invested in learning about the industry, and are sharing your knowledge with the community. The experience you gain as an entrepreneur will definitely call attention to the tech startup industry. Get creative and show that you can bring that creativity to the programs or projects that tech companies are working on. LinkedIn is actually cool When was the last time you updated your LinkedIn profile? LinkedIn isn’t the sexiest social platform, but it is essential as you go about your job search. Your LinkedIn presence is critical to how tech companies evaluate you. While your resume is important, LinkedIn is the more accessible extension of your resume, and it gives you an opportunity to show the courses you are taking, your experiences, and most importantly, your interests. Optimize your LinkedIn profile now . Tech employers will probably check out your profile before they even open your resume or job application. Most recruiters Google candidates’ names before moving ahead with anything else. So here you have another opportunity to make sure that you are showing that even if you may not have programming, cyber security, or data analysis experience, you are a candidate who wants to learn . So, what are you waiting for? Sign up for a bootcamp and kickstart your tech career NOW! Nothing is holding you back from becoming the next big deal in web development, data analytics, UX/UI design, or cybersecurity. You got this!

A French and Canadian national, Clémence is an Ironhacker who is passionate about the world of design and the life of a freelancer. After completing the UX/UI design bootcamp, at the Ironhack Barcelona campus in 2020, Clémence began to manage her network of contacts throughout Europe and found a niche within the freelance world. Learn about her story in this interview. Ironhack Barcelona Studying at Ironhack changed my life at every level. I chose Ironhack because it was more advanced and demanding. I was looking for an immersive experience that could level up my designing skills and it exceeded all my expectations. I applied for a scholarship from Canada, chose to study at the Barcelona campus, and fell in love with the city. Now, after a year, I am still here. Before Ironhack I originally studied Systems Engineering. During my first 3 years of work, I became passionate about work methodologies and tried different roles in technology such as Scrum Master and Product Owner and in the end, UX design. I was able to gain design experience through this work and then switched to freelancing. So I was working as a freelance UX designer before the bootcamp ! The bootcamp helped me deepen and solidify my skills. Do you think that having previously worked in other countries has helped you in the world of design? How? Sure! Since I started my career in Canada, I was primarily exposed to the North American culture of working. This means that in the world where I grew up, entrepreneurship and autonomy were highly valued. It was a world where I felt like I had the freedom and support to grow in the direction I wanted. That allowed me to change careers several times and launch myself into freelancing without fear. Also, the fact that I speak 3 languages gives me many job opportunities. For example, I have a project with an American company where I have to do User Research with people in Spain and France! After Ironhack I was already working as a freelancer in Canada before the course started. So when the course ended and all the students were applying for positions here in Spain, I was doing a lot of networking all over Europe to create my network of contacts from scratch. And now I have job opportunities in different cities in Europe and have the privilege of being able to choose my favorite projects. What is your day-to-day like as a freelance UX/UI designer? Being a freelancer allows me to have flexibility in my day-to-day life. I work 3-4 days a week from where I want to and I collaborate with several people in different companies throughout Europe, which allows me to continue growing and learning in a very open context. All graduate students have access to the Ironhack campus to continue working by their side. What do you think of this opportunity? This was one of the reasons why I chose Ironhack! Even though I finished the bootcamp, I go to work from campus almost every day! People even think I work for Ironhack! But also, I love the idea of being able to visit the other campuses because I move around a lot in various cities and that allows me to have access to a workspace and a local community. For example, I went to visit the campus and team in Berlin and that gave me opportunities to do events and collaborate with companies in Germany. Would you recommend Ironhack to friends or family? Of course! I love talking about my Ironhack experience and all the positive things it has brought into my life. I highly recommend the bootcamp for people who want to dedicate themselves to changing careers and who are looking for a very dense and practical type of education. But I also know that it is a big decision, so it is important that each one thinks carefully about the best way and the best time to change careers. Just doing a bootcamp is not enough to become a UX designer, but the course is the beginning of a great adventure 🚀 Can you imagine doing a bootcamp and having the opportunity to work as a freelancer? Don't think twice and apply to our bootcamps !

The word is quickly spreading far and wide about The Metaverse. It’s not just techies that are talking about it. Influencers, fashion brands, eSports champions, rappers, and people doing all sorts of nonsense are flocking to this new version of the internet. There’s a lot going on, but wait...The Metaverse isn’t even finished yet?! Basically it’s one big, weird-but-exciting mess. Today, we’re going to take a look into some of the weirdest things that are happening in The Metaverse…even though it’s only just beginning. What Is the Metaverse? A Universe in a Nutshell It’s pretty difficult to pin down what the metaverse is, since A. it’s a pretty weird thing and B. it’s still evolving and no one really knows exactly where it’s going to go. But in case you’re new here, we’ll attempt to break it down as simply as possible: The Metaverse is the next evolution of the internet . Instead of looking at the internet through a screen, you’ll ‘step inside’ to experience it through VR. The Metaverse aims to blur the boundaries between online and offline experiences , creating a virtual world that we can work, play, and communicate in. While a version of the Metaverse currently exists, there’s a lot of tech that needs to be built (or even dreamed up!) for its final evolution to be possible. The Metaverse and Web3 are often confused with each other. Web3 is the next iteration of the internet, whatever it may look like. The Metaverse is a vision for Web3, spearheaded by Meta. While it’s hitting headlines, and some serious capital is being pumped into it, the concept of the Metaverse is nothing new . (Anyone here ever play Second Life? It’s that.) If you’re super curious about The Metaverse, here’s the full vision as presented by Mark Zuckerberg at 2021’s Connect conference. (Fair warning…it’s a long video! And it’s essentially a sales pitch for Meta so take it with a grain of salt.) Weirdest Things That Are Happening In The Metaverse People are getting married Thanks to the events of 2020 and beyond, virtual parties, gatherings, and life events like graduation are not particularly surprising. At the height of lockdowns, one couple even threw their canceled wedding on Animal Crossing: New Horizons! But one of the more recent Metaverse stories hitting the headlines was that of Dinesh SP and Janaganandhini Ramaswamy, a Tamil Nadu couple who got married and hosted their reception in the Metaverse. Dinesh, an IT professional working on Blockchain technology, had the idea of hosting his wedding reception in the Metaverse after his guestlist had to be capped. The virtual setting allowed friends and family to attend from all over the world. In a normal wedding, guests usually leave with nothing but a hangover the next day. But Dinesh and Janaganandhini’s wedding had specially minted NFTs. People are buying land for...a lot It’s no small wonder that digital worlds come with digital land. These are more than just pixels, but virtual spaces that people can use to work, play, sell NFTs, and whatever else they can imagine. But how much do you think a plot of metaverse land costs? Back in 2017, when Decentraland hosted its first auction, the cheapest parcel of land cost just $20. As of early 2022, those parcels of land are now worth around $15,000. So unless you’ve made some very smart investment choices, you probably won’t be rushing to build your Metamansion any time soon! To date the most expensive property purchased in the Metaverse was sold for a cool $4.3 million by Republic Realm, a group of investors. Snoop Dogg released a music video Snoop Dog has been a long time backer of crypto and the Metaverse. So it’s no surprise that he’s also behind one of the wackiest things to come out of it so far. But it’s also one of the coolest so far. Snoop Dogg investment in his own Metaverse mansion, calling it Snoopverse, which has early-access available for $2,000 . You can see his new digital property in a dedicated music video, House I Built . The video not only shows what can be done in the Metaverse aesthetically, but also highlights the skyrocketing value of ‘land’. Snoop Dogg’s initial investment of $300,000 is now worth 4.8 million! Someone also shelled out almost half a million dollars just to be his virtual neighbour. But wait, there’s more. Snoop Dogg was also revealed to be the man behind Cozomo de’ Medici, an NFT collector with an estimated $17 million in NFTs. People are buying digital designer clothes How much would you pay for a Gucci bag? How much would you pay for a virtual Gucci bag? A recent Gucci-Roblox collaboration led to someone shelling out 350,000 robux (roughly $4,000). While that’s far from the most expensive digital asset ever bought on the Metaverse, it’s still an absurd sum for a handbag you can’t even carry! And that’s just the start of the meta-fashion madness. Influencers and social media content creators have been experimenting with virtual clothes that you can rent to ‘wear’ for your Instagram feed. Virtual fashion is actually pretty accessible, all things considered. You can pay as little as $20USD for outfits that would cost hundreds or even thousands in real life. Using 3D modeling software, you are able to manipulate your new outfit onto a photo or even a video of your body. Maybe this feels absurd now but…if people are buying fast fashion items just to post on Instagram before throwing them away, is the Metaverse version really that different? It could even be argued that it’s better, and more sustainable! People are getting insurance When you buy an Apple product, you’re offered AppleCare to protect your shiny new possession in case anything goes wrong. If what you’ve just bought costs upwards of €1,000, chances are you’re going to take it. You also literally can’t drive without insurance! So naturally, with prices of assets soaring into the thousands and the millions, it makes sense that insurance companies are gearing up to provide cover in the Metaverse . At the moment, it feels a little like getting home insurance for your Minecraft house (though knowing how Minecraft works that’s probably not a terrible idea!) But it makes sense when you think about it. If the Prado and the Louvre have insurance on their art collections, why shouldn’t owners of valuable NFTs collections do the same? Of course, an NFT isn’t going to face the same risks as the Mona Lisa. It’s not going to have paint flung all over it or burn down in a fire. Instead it faces theft or even deletion. Yes, digital artwork can be stolen too! Metaverse insurance is a cheeky addition to this list as it technically hasn’t happened yet. But insurance companies are gearing up for it, and that’s weird enough for us! What’s Next? It’s easy to poke fun at new technology, and the weird ways of using it that people cook up. But any good techie knows that crazy experiments and asking ‘what if’ is an important part of progress. Sure, this new tech is being used for zany and out-of-the-box experiments, or for making obscene amounts of money, but there are also thinking about how Metaverse technology can have real-world impact. Educational institutions are imagining digital classrooms, where students can get up close and personal with virtual 3D models of whatever it is they’re studying, and can run simulations to understand tough concepts. Medical professionals are picturing a world where junior doctors can practice complex surgeries in a digital space, putting no patient at risk while they walk through different scenarios. What we imagine to be possible for this technology today, may not even scratch the surface of what it will be capable of in the future.

Today’s spotlight is on Alvin Sewram. Prior to enrolling in Ironhack, he was a retail store manager with a passion for graphic design, tech, and a hunger for learning new things. After completing Ironhack’s 9 week full-time Web Development Bootcamp at Ironhack Miami , he was able to build a fulfilling career as a Software Engineer. Alvin learned the top frameworks used by development teams, how to code for long periods of time, and became comfortable relying on the Ironhack community for support during challenging times. The knowledge he gained from Ironhack helped Alvin realize what he was able to accomplish in a short amount of time. Check out his story here. Hey Alvin! Tell us about yourself and what life was like before enrolling in Ironhack. Hey everyone! My name is Alvin and I am an Ironhack alum, was an Ironhack Assistant Instructor briefly, and now am officially a full-fledged software engineer - but it was not always this way. In fact, I didn’t even know it was a career path I wanted to pursue just 2 years ago, but I am super grateful for this decision and everything that has come along with it so far. Before this change in my passion, my work life could be divided into two separate parts: sales and art. Let's start with sales: for the majority of my working life, I was a salesperson. In my first sales job, I was employed by a manager that took selling a little too seriously. It was tough, but he drilled some core fundamentals into me that made me attractive to other sales employers. I didn’t consider selling a passion, but my experience did give me some value in being able to sell myself, negotiating, and to be a generally less timid person. I eventually took a position at my company at the time that wasn’t sales related, but dealt with maintenance, operations, and the auditing of district locations. The next aspect of my work life prior to Ironhack revolved around art. This existed ever since I was a child watching anime and cartoons, trying to capture exciting moments on paper. This then naturally grew into a fascination for graphic design, where I was given an abundance of new tools to use to bring my artwork to life. In an attempt to turn this passion into a more lucrative one, I began working as a freelancer. This led me to take part in a lot of projects I was not accustomed to at the time, which included lots of UX/UI design work. At this point, I decided that I wanted to take my art to the next level. I gathered a few friends to assist me in opening my very own clothing brand that would showcase some of my work. The entire process of setting up this company and being able to create something that I could bring to life in the form of a product or shirt was very rewarding to me. I eventually had the opportunity to sell my products at a vendor booth at a convention which was a huge personal milestone. Within a month after the convention, the COVID quarantine began, which gave me some time to reflect on my current path. As I was still feeling the motivational momentum from the event, I wanted to change my main job into something that could accelerate the growth for my company. A friend introduced me to the idea of programming and told me my prior experience with UX/UI design would make me at least somewhat familiar with what I’d be embarking on. So I decided to try my hand at web development . I did not, however, expect to enjoy this path as much as I did. The Ironhack experience After several months of back to back personal projects and online courses, I began getting a feel for the material. However, even if I could manage my way into a completed project, I felt that there were gaps in my overall understanding of what I was doing as a whole. I needed to hone in on my fundamentals and the foundation of my skills before I propelled myself forward. When explaining this to the same friend that encouraged me to start programming in the first place, he told me about Ironhack , a bootcamp that several people he knew went through and heard good things about. To me, this felt like the natural next step I needed to take. I decided to pull the trigger and here we are. Roughly one year of work that transformed me from a retail employee to a software engineer. " I thought when I started my programming journey that I would be in it alone. But having a community that I can lean on for support and advice really does make all the difference." Why did you choose Ironhack over all the other bootcamps? What was your experience like? My overall decision to join this particular bootcamp came from a friend's recommendation. Since I joined with some prior knowledge, a lot of the initial topics felt like a very in depth review and helped me to really understand what I was doing. Also, even when we were going over topics I felt comfortable with, the sheer amount of time of nonstop programming and immersion definitely helped. I feel like one of the very underrated takeaways from this course is how you get accustomed to programming for long periods of time. As for my mindset, after being introduced to new topics during the bootcamp and learning and applying them on the fly, I gained a lot of confidence in what I’m able to accomplish in a short amount of time. What are some of your biggest takeaways from Ironhack Miami’s Web Development bootcamp? My biggest takeaway probably would be the community I am a part of now. I thought when I started my programming journey that I would be in it alone. But having a community that I can lean on for support and advice really does make all the difference. My advice is to not be shy when it comes to connecting to other alumni. Everyone I reached out to was very eager and willing to help a fellow Ironhack alum. You get out of these programs what you put in. If you are in class and are confused about a topic, don't hesitate to ask questions or reach out to the instructor outside of class time. All of the instructors I've met are passionate about helping their students, but they can only do so if they know you need help. Another thing that I felt helped me during my time was to acquire knowledge on the material prior to the bootcamp itself. I’ve seen Ironhack help many people that started with no knowledge in the field, but studying ahead of time definitely makes things more comfortable as the topics get more involved and complex. My last bit of advice when it comes to Ironhack would be DO NOT SLOW DOWN after graduation. Your work doesn’t end until you find a job. After graduating, I was arguably busier than when I was in the program. My days consisted of algorithms in the morning, applying/interviews midday, and personal projects at night. Also, commit every bit of code you do to GitHub. You do not want to lose momentum especially when you’re now starting to speak with individuals in the field and convincing them to give you a shot. Immersing yourself in programming, backed up with helpful staff, a supportive community AND the career services after graduation were all huge catalysts in helping me break into this field. What’s it like working in tech as a software engineer? Where would you like to take your career next? Because I inherently enjoy programming, I really enjoy my role developing sites and mobile applications for my current company. My current position consists of managing multiple project deadlines for clients, assisting other employees, and of course, non-stop on the job learning about new frameworks, languages, and different aspects of the tech sector. I am actually very impressed with myself for being able to keep up with this intensity in spite of the imposter syndrome I felt early on. In a matter of a few months, I can confidently say I am leagues beyond the programmer I was prior to this role and I am grateful for that. If I had to think ahead to my next role, I think it would be exciting to be a part of a company that is developing its own products and/or services, and one with more peers from whom I could learn and gain experience. I personally enjoy being a small fish in a big pond because then it allows me the opportunity to grow as an individual and as a programmer. What do you love the most about working in tech? There are so many perks to being in tech that I never even considered before. The biggest perk for me is the ability to work remotely, which I never realized how big of a benefit it was. I have already taken trips to Orlando, Daytona, and New York and I’m planning a few out of the country this year. I am able to enjoy all of these experiences without missing a beat at work. Why would you recommend Ironhack to others? There are many reasons why I feel Ironhack is a great choice for anyone thinking of becoming a developer. Immersing yourself in programming, backed up with helpful staff, a supportive community AND the career services after graduation were all huge catalysts in helping me break into this field. If you are someone that wants or needs to jump into a career that’s rewarding, in demand, and pays well and you enjoy learning more about the software industry, I believe Ironhack has the right tools that will start you on your journey. --- A big thanks to Alvin for sharing his story and advice. It’s amazing to see how he used his previous experiences, time, and dedication to build his career in tech. We’re so proud of him and wish him the best in everything he does! You can connect with him on Linkedin here to follow his journey. If you’d like to follow a similar path as Alvin and are looking to change careers, we encourage you to check out our Full-Stack Web Development Course in addition to our UI/UX Design and Data Analytics courses. We look forward to seeing you in class!

In honor of Mother's Day Ironhack's VP of People and General Counsel, Karina DuQuesne, tells the story of her inspiring mother and takes us on a journey through her tech career. If you’ve met my mother you know that this tribute does not even begin to explain the impact that she has had on the lives of so many, especially mine. My mother, Iris Diaz de Villegas, is a tech trailblazer. She also happens to be an immigrant, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, boss, mentor, and if there was an award out there for best friend to so many, she would win every time. Like so many women in tech today, I owe everything I am and everything that lies ahead to her – but for the courage of our mothers to take risks, dream bigger, and never give up, we wouldn’t be where we are today. When my mother left Cuba at the age of 13, she had no idea she would never return or that she would never see most of her family ever again. Her story, like that of so many Cuban exiles, has been filled with difficult moments and realities, but also incredible triumphs. She left Cuba for Spain and lived there for three years before making her way to the United States where she became the first person in our family to attend college. She began her studies at Mercy College in New York, but her family ended up moving to Miami in pursuit of better opportunities. Soon after moving to Miami she met my father, got married, and at 26 she was the mother of two children, my brother Alberto, and me! Although by this age she had faced more adversity than many face in a lifetime, she was just getting started. In the mid-1980s the personal computer had made its way into individual homes, and with that the gender gap in tech began to widen – any gains to attract women to the field quickly disappeared. However, my mother did not let the leading narrative of the time stop her from pursuing her dream of obtaining a college degree in computer science and building a career in technology. By my first birthday she was already working as an administrative assistant at Coulter Corporation , a revolutionary company in healthcare with a huge focus on technology. By the time I was five years old she was almost done with her degree from Miami Dade College. One of my earliest memories dates back to the many Saturdays I spent with her at MDC’s campus in Hialeah . I remember coloring and reading quietly in her classroom while she finished her credits. A huge shoutout to her professors and classmates for allowing a working mom to pursue her dreams even if it meant having a five year old interrupt their class. By 1991, my mom was no longer an administrative assistant and had been promoted to computer programmer. For the techies out there, she first started coding C++ . A few years later, I was invited to tour Coulter’s headquarters and spent the day working with my mom as part of their Take Your Daughter to Work Day , a then-new national initiative that sought to inspire young girls to dream bigger by showing them what is possible beyond the stereotypes. She was an early adopter of all technology, including laptops, personal CD players, cell phones, and satellite television.  During this time, the internet was still in its infancy. Access to the world wide web from home was still quite limited . Thanks to my mother though we were surfing the web when most didn’t even know what the internet was all about. For those that can remember this far back, this means that we were early adopters of Prodigy , a pre-web 1.0 of sorts. As a result, my immersion into technology, math and science began as soon as I could use a keyboard. My mother taught me how to play games on her personal computer at home, particularly math games. A decade later, I would become the pro bono Calculus tutor to all my friends while in college. Around 1995, she moved on to a new company, Celebrity Cruises (later acquired by Royal Caribbean), where she would become a Manager in the IT department, overseeing a group of computer programmers. Having a #bossmom as a young girl made me believe I could achieve anything I put my mind to, including becoming a #bossmom myself! When I was a sophomore in high school she secured me an interview at Royal Caribbean for their technology high school internship program offered to children of employees. And just like that, all thanks to my mother, my first job ever was in technology! I spent a summer learning how to build basic web pages and manage large sets of data.  After 9/11, the world of travel froze and my mom found herself out of a job, but despite the setback, she persevered once more and found a job at a healthcare data services company. Eventually, she would make her way back to Royal Caribbean, where she still works today managing a team of technology professionals. And while the narrative around women in tech has not changed as much as we’d hoped in the past three decades ( the women in tech gap is still larger than it was in 1984), I can’t help but feel so proud of her and the generation of women like my mom that made the reality of today possible – this includes a much narrower gender pay gap and materially increased representation in boardrooms .  Without their continued efforts and tenacity, the challenges we face today would be much larger and the opportunities before my generation of women would not exist. Because of her, I grew up to believe my dreams were not just dreams, they were possibilities, and that those possibilities, with hard work, courage and perseverance could become realities. Today, I am proud to be living one of my dreams — to work purposefully in a career that paves the way for more women Karina DuQuesne to build careers in technology. My mother’s successes may seem modest to some, but they have made all the difference in my life. It is oftentimes the quiet yet powerful stories like hers that change narratives and shape the generations to come. I am so very lucky to be my mother’s daughter. Happy Mother’s Day, Mami. My mother with her grandchildren in April 2022 This article was originally published in Refresh Miami

Machine learning (ML) involves writing codes that help computers make decisions based on instructions called algorithms . It’s the wheel behind artificial intelligence (AI) and the use of AI continues to grow fast, creating more opportunities for machine learning programmers. If you’re interested in learning a new programming language, you’ll face your first dilemma quickly: choosing a programming language. For most newbies, this might be challenging. Multiple languages can create machine learning codes. Yet, you can’t learn all of them. Here’s the best part, though: to get your start as a programmer, you only need to study one language. But how do you choose from among many high-level languages? First, you must identify what you want to build. Then select a language that’s easy to learn, flexible, and has extensive libraries. Still unsure? No worries; we’ve selected 2023’s most popular programming languages to help you narrow down your search. Python Over the years, the use of Python has been growing steadily , overtaking popular languages like Java, C, C++, and C#. Currently, Python ranks as the most demanded programming language based on job advertisements in the U.S. and is also GitHub’s preferred programming language. Python uses one of the most natural languages and less complicated syntax and is easy to learn, read, and correct errors with. Best of all, Python is an open-source language, meaning it’s free to access and distribute. As a result, it has versatile libraries. Python’s libraries A library is a collection of modules or codes made to perform specific operations. Some modules can help with the graphical user interface, data analysis, and graphs, among other things. Instead of writing the same code every time you need it, you can import it from the library. This library simplifies the work of a programmer, making accessing information fast and convenient. Considering that Python has one of the largest online support communities, you can access many modules for use in any program you want to write. This language is helpful in the booming industries of data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Due to this application, Python is likely to be in high demand in the future. It’s also popular in web-based applications and can be used to develop mobile and desktop applications. JavaScript The second most preferred language on GitHub, about 95% of all websites use JavaScript , including top companies like Google and Netflix. This text-based language is not open-source, but it’s free to use. It helps create interactive web pages both on the client-side and the server-side. Some of the things you can do with it include creating 2D/3D animated graphics, websites, presentations, web applications, art, games, and so much more. You can also use it to make non-web apps such as mobile and smartwatch applications. JavaScript is highly compatible with many operating systems and browsers and web browsers can interpret JavaScript, meaning there’s no need for a compiler. It comes with many useful functions that you can reuse every time you need them, such as codes for finding the time and date and validating online forms. You can do much more with JavaScript by using its enormous libraries. These libraries contain codes made for specific and often complex operations, simplifying your work and eliminating the need for an in-depth study. R R is an open-source programming language used for statistics and is the best alternative to traditional languages like Stata, SAS, and SPSS. R helps visualize statistical data by use of graphics and is used by large companies such as Google and Facebook. As an open-source software, you can download and use it for free. When it comes to advanced statistics , R is quite ahead of Python. Python is a general-purpose programming language that adopts a general approach to statistics; R is capable of in-depth statistical analysis . However, there’s a catch: R is much harder to learn than Python. Some of the applications of R include data mining, time series analysis, regression analysis, stock-market modeling, risk assessment, and simulation. Also, R is helpful for organizations that need to collect and analyze customers’ data, like healthcare, e-commerce websites, social media, and finance. Java Java is the third most used language on GitHub. This object-oriented programming language is an improvement of C and C++, eliminating the errors that occur in C and C++. It’s also easy to learn, considering it’s a high-level language with simple syntax. Java codes comprise methods and classes. Methods are blocks of codes that execute when called; a collection of methods makes a class. Java’s motto is write once, run anywhere ; this means you can run it on any machine, making it one of the best programming languages. Some of Java’s features include exception handling and garbage collector; its applications include mobile apps, web, games, GUI, and embedded electronics. C++ C++ is a general-purpose, powerful, and widely used programming language. It’s a multi-paradigm programming language , meaning it can use procedural, functional, and object-oriented programming approaches. It’s also a middle-level language, boasting features of both low-level and high-level programming languages. C++ is used to create various applications especially for business uses, such as Microsoft Office. You can also use it to build games, operating systems, and browsers, among many other applications. C++ apps are fast and can run on various platforms like Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. Choosing the Right Machine Learning Language The five languages highlighted above are currently the best options for machine learning, however, it’s easier to focus on one language and become an expert before diving into another. R and JavaScript are specialized languages, perfect for statistics and web development, respectively. Python, C++, and Java are general-purpose programming languages, used to build almost any app. If you want to build your career in any of these machine learning languages, Ironhack is here to help you. Our Web Development Bootcamp offers flexible study modes, including remote, on-campus, full-time, and part-time courses. Come and learn with experts and before you know it, you’ll be building the career you love.

Our students come from all over the world, united in two things. First, their love of tech. Second, their desire to chase the job of their dreams and build a life they love. We got to chat with recent graduate, Amr Hayek , who graduated from Ironhack's UX/UI bootcamp in 2021 and is now a designer at Icon Incar . He talked to us about his experience as an Ironhacker, his love of art and design, and the incredible ways he overcame adversity when he immigrated to Germany from Syria. About Amr Amr Hayek is an artist and a User Interface designer with a lengthy background in graphic design. Studied Visual Communication at the Faculty of Fine Arts in the University of Damascus in 2010, born and raised in Damascus. Syria. As an artist, had his first gallery showing “Surrealism” in 2018 in Berlin, experimenting with both digital art and photography in 7 pieces. Carrying a deep love for psychology and philosophy, he immigrated to Germany 11 years ago due to the ongoing war in Syria. The Journey from Artist to UI Designer with Ironhack Berlin What encouraged you to apply for a UX/UI bootcamp with Ironhack? Having a lengthy background in art and graphic design I wanted to level up by taking the next step and entering the world of tech. I have a big love for psychology and while researching which career path I wanted to take for the coming years, I found out that UX/UI is the future. I’m personally passionate about it as it combines both Visual and Psychological aspects. With some more research I found out about Ironhack, and I was able to get a feel of the experience there via the website and some photos within the website. As a person who cares about visuals I can say that I had a fantastic experience on Ironhack’s website in both user experience and user interface, the color choices were fantastic and the functions on the website kept me engaged and I was like, this is where I want to be . What was your experience like? A 10/10 experience. From day 1 until the end, our coaches Milan Vukelic, Mariana Schmidt, and Rafael Borges, all of them were extremely passionate and friendly and gave their absolute best. I love them so much. One of the most incredible things to see is how we had students from different backgrounds, some who had nothing to do with design before, and how they all grew and were able to create some amazing projects! Did you enjoy being part of the community? I absolutely did enjoy it. During the pandemic I didn't get the chance to go to the campus, but during the graduation ceremony I did, and it was incredible to meet all the stars in person. It felt like a big family. What is it about UX/UI that you love the most? Psychology and visuals and how they alter each other. The impact of color on the user in both behavior and choices, and the impact of the psychology behind creating a path for the user which will lead him to reach what they want, but with a little twist that can be in the benefit of both the user and the operator. You’ve recently started a new job as a UI Designer at icon incar. Congratulations! How do you feel? Thank you! I feel extremely proud and happy, the feeling of 'I made it' after creating a long-term plan and being devoted to achieving what I want and overcoming challenges along the way. You've spoken about your experience of leaving Syria to escape the war 11 years ago. How did that impact the trajectory of your life? I was 22 when I left. It has impacted me on so many levels, both physically and psychologically. A traumatizing experience on so many levels. At first I thought, Syria is a very safe and boring country nothing will ever happen. I never thought that I would be going by sea on a boat of 7 meters with 32 people on it, in the sea for 7 hours, in the middle of nowhere and no one knows where we are heading, under the mercy of death itself. Everything in me was broken, not knowing if I would ever see my mom again and more. Long story short, I survived that, and there were even more traumatic experiences in the woods afterwards, for 3 years until I arrived in Germany. I never thought as a student of Fine Arts that I would end up in such situations, a prisoner in Greece, Albania, and Macedonia. I survived all of this with scars on my mental health, but it made me realize how short life is and how things can change dramatically in a matter of seconds. Despite all that I became even stronger, more believing in myself and no matter how tough things could get I know I will survive and reach exactly what I want in life, no matter how much it will take. It made me discover how to touch the warrior in me, believe in him and to embrace him. You’ve overcome incredible adversity, which takes a lot of mental strength. How have you managed your mental health to get to where you are today? There’s no special recipe here. Living in Syria where power and corruption thrive, and going through tough childhood memories, taught me that there is no chance of breaking down because if you do, you’re doomed. It felt like I was in a survival mode since day 1, and I think my mental toughness came from knowing at a very young age that I will need to protect my mother and my sisters from society and my father. I simply found myself in a position where I’m destined to be. What projects/services/initiatives would you like to see from the tech industry, to help refugees break into their dream careers? I think the tech industry is already providing enough by simply being neutral to politics. Entering the Tech industry in my opinion should be not be influenced but rather be a choice, and in 2022 it’s more desired than ever, there are already tons of videos and articles. All it needs is someone to make a choice and make use of these instruments. Finally, for anyone struggling to break into Design, what advice do you have? Without getting there, taking the risk, and experiencing there will never be clarity about whether this is good for the person struggling to break into design or not. There are many interesting paths in design, from Coding to UX/UI. My advice is lengthy research that takes weeks or a month, writing down what they’re skilled at, their likes and dislikes, and what people compliment them on frequently, like ' you’re caring, you've got good taste in colors, you are able to analyze and make sense of things, you’re a peacemaker and able to keep cool in tough situations '. All of this can give a hint about what you’re capable of doing, especially when comes from people because we tend to doubt ourselves a lot as human beings. Therefore when it’s a frequent compliment from someone this means that it’s a solid fact, and that’s all you need to bring to your awareness so you can take the next step in life and in career. So yes, research and a lot of self-reflection on skills and abilities and most important of all is willing to go through the adventure and have the will.

Product Managers work very closely with developers every day. After all, Product Managers are the glue holding product development together. But it’s not uncommon for PMs to see developers making software come to life with their bare hands and feel a sense of jealousy. “I want to be a builder too!” some of them think. Jeroen van Bart, Product Manager turned Junior Developer and Ironhack alum, took the leap and joined our Web Development bootcamp. He kindly sat down to chat with us about his experience, as well as sharing some advice for how others can make the same journey. Can you tell us about yourself? My name is Jeroen van Bart. I live in Amsterdam with my wife and dog and in addition to coding, I love to paint. To display my paintings, I often played with the idea of creating my own website, but never found the time to dive into the world of coding. Then the world was struck by COVID-19 and that gave me the opportunity to rearrange my life. A few of my friends and Ironhack alumni suggested the Ironhack bootcamp and this is where my coding journey started. Tell us about your experience at Ironhack Ironhack was a rollercoaster ride with many ups and downs and boasted a pace that, at times, didn’t seem manageable. But after the ride, almost everything made sense. The amount of information you have to deal with in 9 weeks is insane and at times I felt I was not going to make it, but after the first few weeks the puzzle pieces fell in place and I started to make sense of everything. So my experience was intense and at times stressful, but I learned so much. Looking back, Ironhack was definitely worth the challenge! Before Ironhack For the last nine years, I have been working for a company in the IT branch on a commercial level. But the technical side of things always piqued my interest. So with the whole COVID situation, I had time to think about how I wanted to rearrange my life. Since I knew a few people who went through the Ironhack bootcamp already and the positive experiences they had, I decided to start my Ironhack journey too. Why did you decide to make a career change? In life, you spend most of your time working and sleeping, so you best make sure you have a good bed and a job you love. It’s important to know what gives you energy and from where you get most of your satisfaction. For me, that happens when I am able to create. For any creative process, however, you need to have an understanding of the world and the present reality. Therefore, for me to gain a better understanding of the world nowadays, it was inevitable to come across coding, since most of what we do, see, and feel happens in the context of technology. I wanted to dive deeper into the world of this technology so my career change actually comes from the fact that I want to spend my time creating something useful while doing what makes me tick. Do you think having been a Product Manager has helped you in the world of programming? How? No, I do not think being a Product Manager helped me be a good programmer; the closest my previous job came to learning to program was using formulas in Excel. But I do have a good understanding about products, services, and markets. So in the long term, I think my previous experiences will help me in my new career. After Ironhack First of all, I am super grateful to the people of YPA for their guidance and for offering me the opportunity to learn on the job. I actually have an Ironhack alum as my mentor and she recognizes many of the struggles I am going through. She has been a tremendous guide during my onboarding and I would love to pay it forward one day and become a mentor to another Ironhacker myself. Working at YPA, which is an agency, I get to work on different cool projects for a variety of clients. The diversity of work and the mix of signatures in projects is such a “deep dive” into learning how to code. While at Ironhack, I was not really aware of the complexity in understanding code made by others. So far, understanding code has taken up to 60% of my time on the job and while it’s a big challenge, it is also thrilling to solve a puzzle. Looking back on my time at YPA as a Junior Front-end Web Developer, I cannot believe how much I learned in such a short time. I can honestly say that I truly love my job. Advice for future Ironhackers Just do it! If you start a journey like Ironhack, you have to find peace with the fact that you will spend your first weeks confused and wondering why you chose this. Don’t give up, push through, and enjoy the rollercoaster ride until the end. And who knows, maybe it will be as life-changing for you as it’s been for me.

The word data is thrown around a lot , and nowadays there’s no part of a business that doesn’t use it.. The rate that companies gather data today is bigger than anybody could have imagined a couple of decades ago. But having a big collection of data alone is not enough. It is what, how, and why you use your data that really can make a difference. With the ever growing list of Business Intelligence (BI) tools, data is becoming increasingly accessible and easy to gather, and dashboards and spreadsheets are quicker to build. So isn’t it funny that companies are still struggling to harness the power of their data. What they lack is a key storytelling component. Dashboards can only ever tell you what is happening. They can rarely tell you how, or why, or what this means for a business. As awesome as its power is, data alone will never be enough. In a time of information overload - with screens on our desks, walls, and even our bodies - storytelling to cut through the noise is more important than ever. That’s where data visualization comes in. Here, we’re going over: What is data visualization? Why tell a story with data? How to create a compelling data Story Using narrative as a tool …with some real life examples to tie it all together What is Data Visualization? Before we dive into the storytelling part, it is good that we have a base understanding about some key principles in data visualization. Our eyes are naturally drawn to colors and patterns. It helps us identify and focus on key points. Simply put, images speak louder than words. Data visualization helps tell a story by curating information into an understandable form, highlighting hidden information and guiding the audience through a path that leads to a conclusion, or to discover something that was not so obvious from raw data. The key elements that are played together to help data be more clear are: Size, Color, Order and Scale. Size can help emphasize information and add context to the user. Size is easier to be adjusted to the values and has a more direct connection to the information itself. Colors are another element that can help the viewer understand the context and make associations between the elements. It is especially good to categorize your different labels or to emphasize the intensity. Order should help reduce cognitive overload. When the data is pretty close, ordering, for example from largest to smallest, will help you automatically see the most important points. Scale is important to not give misleading information. We tend to associate the magnitude of the data by its scale, so keep that in mind when building your visuals. One thing to keep in mind is that your visual will be useless if only you can understand it. You need to have a good picture in mind of who you are designing the visual for, and keep your audience in mind when creating it. If your viewer is not so familiar with the data, or it's their first time seeing it, be more instructive and give directions to guide the user experience. Besides this product mindset, there are 4 commandments that every visual must follow. They are: Up down, left right speaks to the order that information should be presented in your graph. All of Western culture reads and writes in a very specific way, that is, starting from the top left corner and going from that direction downwards. Keeping this in mind when building a dashboard can be useful to guide you selecting which visuals are going to be present first, and then prepare your story to in the end your audience reach the right conclusion. Color correctness is so important…and so easy to mess up. Our brain is so powerful and it is built in a way that we are looking for patterns and associations all the time. Using this in your favor can make your visual easier to read and coherent. Failing in color correctness can lead to misleading analysis. A good example can be making all data related to monetary features green. Or dividing your labels into different colors and keeping this consistency throughout your different visuals. Filtering is specific to interactive visuals (e.g dashboards). This can be a powerful tool to present more data without necessarily having it displayed all at once. However, be very careful where you put your filter, how well you signal it, and where the data is being filtered. Granularity is the amount of detail in your visual. Is good to start with low granularity and end with high granularity. Something that is very usual to happen is when you reach the end of your presentation and some colleague asks you for the Excel spreadsheet of the data. Some people tend to need to see a table to believe what you’re saying, so it is a good idea to have this high granularity element at the end of your visual. There are 2 main forms of delivering a data story. It can be explorative or narrative. Explorative forms are delivered usually in Powerpoints, PDFs or Dashboards. Narrative forms can be delivered in presentations, talks, meetings and in Dashboards as well. Today we will focus more on the narrative type of data storytelling, but keep in mind that exploring your data is necessary and you might need to do it first before building your story. Telling A Story With Data A good data story is composed of fiable data, well-designed visuals, and compelling narrative. The data aspect is straightforward, we must have accurate data to reach trustable insights. The visual elements help us visualize (duh!) the data better, finding trends and insights that are not easily seen in the rows and columns of a common spreadsheet. The narrative part comes into play to give voice to the data. Looking at raw data to get information or to prove a point is just the hardest thing to do. We use data visualization because we want to help the viewer understand the message that we want to pass on. Each data point can give a message, and the combination of them creates a story that voices the insight that you are looking for. Data storytelling is an attractive way to communicate the story that you found inside your data. It also improves the credibility of your data, as you look to find connections. You can have a brilliant idea or message that you want to transmit, but if you don’t know how to do it in an effective manner, your audience will counter argument you or create other narratives to explain to you the things that you have found. “People need a narrative, and if there isn’t one on offer, they make one up.” Jean Hanff Korelitz You don’t need to be the best storyteller that there is. It is a question of finding the right elements, understanding the simple “Pixar” formula and remembering the most important concept: “Show, don’t tell." Storytelling is the art of delivering, developing and adapting creative stories utilizing specific elements: characters, context, conflict and message. What we will do now is try to translate this into the data world: The characters are your data points, your features or your KPI’s. They are the ones that go into the journey. The context is your business setting. This is your start point and should be present at the beginning, as in “Once upon a time…” The conflict is the reason that you are doing the story. No story is good without a conflict, people must be presented with a challenge to make the story exciting. In data this is the problem that you are trying to solve, or give insight on. The message is your insight in itself, or the key takeaway you are trying to make your audience understand. At the end of the day, your audience may forget you, or the title of the presentation, but they must remember the message. Define the objective of your story since the beginning. Do you want to uncover a threat to your company, reveal an interesting insight or just tell a funny story? Creating a Narrative As said before, a complete narrative contains characters, obstacles, conflict and a well defined journey of transformation for the protagonist. Think about your favorite movie and certainly you will find it. Now translating this into a data story is tricky because things may not seem so obvious at first, but you can think of not the data being the story, but the story being the structure that your data will fit in. Following the “Pixar” model you will find the sections in your journey. Presentation: “Once upon a time…”. Insert your audience into the context. Their minds are not yet fully prepared to receive all the information, so start slowly introducing the different features that you are going to work with. For example, if you are doing a Sales presentation and your company has different segments -  Consumer, Corporate and Home Office - start by showing them to put this in their mind as you advance in your story. Conflict: After that, it is not good to keep the viewer waiting for some action, or people might start to sleep. Present your conflict, or the point of interest that motivates you to follow the direction that you are going. Because of this conflict you will need to show a bunch of different other features that along the way will help you solve or give an insight about this. For example, if your Sales team is struggling recently in profiting, this is the struggle that you want to show. Journey: Here is the part that you will need to work around the different elements that you have at your disposal. Focus on compelling visuals and comparisons that will show the different facets of your conflict and give basis for the next steps. The change: We are presented with the takeaway, the pinpoint data point that demonstrates the reason for the conflict or the tool that can help solve it. Use that moment to deliver your message and convince people that the journey that you took is justified. You can show for example that the state of Tennessee has had a significant increase in costs and selling there isn't the best option right now. A second challenge: It is common that we are faced with another challenge that we will have to deal with. This happens because nothing in real life is so simple that with only a change on a lever will solve your problems. Ok, we can stop promoting sales in Tennessee, but maybe we will lose future customers there. Be ready for these counter arguments and use past elements to deal with these other conflicts. The conclusion: Returning to your usual setting, and at some times, presenting recommendations for the future, as in a movie that ends with a cliffhanger.  This is very interchangeable and so it's difficult to put it in a formula. Changes from story to story and must be taught as the moment that you put it all together and end on a high note. How Real Companies Use Data Storytelling Spotify “Wrapped” is a great example of a compelling data story that has the unique element that every company looks for: is personal. It was in 2006 the first time they presented this feature and it's been a sensation since the beginning. Being a data enthusiast myself I can tell that it was one of the things that motivated me in subscribing to the paid version. It shows you how powerful big data can be, and at the same time how simple you can be with it. In the past it came in your email and now it is present as “stories” inside of your app, which makes it easier to post on other social media apps. They put together interesting statistics for each user such as the number of minutes they’ve listened to music, their favorite artists, podcasts and many other data points. This is very engaging because the direct reaction that most people have is sharing this with their friends, promoting the brand in an organic way. Another cool example is Microsoft's “Anatomy of a breach” . This data story guides readers though a data heist to show how prevalent breaches are. Viewers are encouraged to explore the data to draw their own conclusions, but the provider has full control of the flow that the user is taking so in the end you are taking the journey that they’ve built for you. LinkedIn's “Data and Insights” page is trying to promote data into the job seeking world. By presenting stats like “Most in-demand job” and “Most confident markets” Linkedin builds a story with their own data, gathered in their website and, as it has nowadays the status of a mainstream tool for job seeking, you can expect that the data is somewhat reliable. Turn Data Into Beautiful Things As Plato said 2400 years ago: “Those who tell stories rule society”. Want to meet others like you who love data, and want to use it to make beautiful things? You need to join the Ironhack family! Our Data Analytics bootcamps empower you with all the knowledge you need to launch your Data career. Learn part time or full time, live online or on campus. We've also got financing options to make investing in your career as easy as possible.

What would you do if you were more…adventurous? What would you do if you had the same guts as Arya when she took down the Night King? What if you were as intrepid as Indiana Jones diving into ancient temples, or as fearless as Princess Leia facing down the Galactic Empire? Choosing to change your life and pursue a new career isn’t as dangerous as any of those things, but it still takes the same bravery. Investing in yourself and daring to do something new is no small feat. It’s literally life-changing! But where would the tech world be if nobody ever dared to build something new, or to be creative, or to innovate? Whitney Wolfe Herd: Dared To Build Something New Innovation is no stranger to Whitney Wolfe Herd, an American entrepreneur and current CEO of Bumble. Wolfe entered the dating app industry in 2012, as VP of Marketing and Co-Founder of Tinder. Tinder needs no introduction, largely in part to Wolfe’s earlier branding and marketing methods, which saw Tinder ignite and spread like wildfire (puns intended). However, all was not golden. Although she and her fellow industry women were experiencing great career success, and were constantly breaking down barriers in the workplace, society outside of the office was still plagued with misogyny and danger for women. It was a prevalent issue in many places, but few more so than in the dating world. Speaking in a letter on Bumble’s blog, Wolfe says, “When I founded Bumble, it was because I saw a problem I wanted to help solve. It was 2014, but so many of the smart, wonderful women in my life were still waiting around for men to ask them out, to take their numbers, or to start up a conversation on a dating app. For all the advances women had been making in workplaces and corridors of power, the gender dynamics of dating and romance still seemed so outdated. I thought, what if I could flip that on its head? What if women made the first move, and sent the first message?” Working with Badoo founder, Andrey Andreev, Wolfe left Tinder and started the first female-friendly dating app now known as Bumble. With 42 million MAUs (Monthly Average Users), Bumble filed for IPO in 2021 , with Wolfe achieving her status as the world’s youngest self-made billionaire. A title which she still holds today. But Wolfe’s success isn’t just about the amazing app she built, the awesome company she’s led, or even the revenue that she’s bringing in. Bumble is an app born of a desire to effect real world change, contributing to important conversations about how women are treated online and in the real world. Bumble helps women to feel more empowered in their dating lives, helps to keep them safe, and who knows how many weddings and babies it's been responsible for! And it would have been the dating scene’s biggest loss if Wolfe had played it safe and stuck it out at Tinder! Dare to build something new? Book your Earlybird spot on a Web Development bootcamp ! Julie Zhuo: Dare To Be Creative Julie Zhuo’s career in tech started out like many others, as an Engineering intern. She went on to join Facebook in 2016, long before it was the global behemoth known as Meta today. Over the next 14 years she rose through the ranks of Design at Facebook, becoming one of the most influential Product Designers at the company. But it’s not just her resume that’s impressive. Zhuo is even better known as the author of The Making of a Manager . Understanding that good managers are made, not born, Julie set out to write a book based on the lesson she’s learned about being a people-leader. The book soon became a Wall Street Journal bestseller, and you’ll barely find a list of great reads for leaders that doesn’t feature Zhuo! Many have pointed to Zhuo as an inspiration to them, and her book as an incredibly valuable resource in their journeys to become the best possible manager they can be. What started as a side project for Zhuo while she was making waves at Facebook, became a true handbook for leaders across the world. Where is Zhuo now? She co-founded her own company, Sundial, which will soon launch a new data product for organizations. (If you had any doubt about Zhuo’s design chops, check out how gorgeous Sundial’s website is !) Ready to unleash your creative spirit? Book your Earlybird spot on a UX/UX bootcamp ! Edward Snowden: Dare To Speak The Truth Even those outside of the cybersecurity industry know about Edward Snowden. In the early 2010s, it was a difficult story to miss unless you really were living on another planet. Snowden was working for the U.S. National Security Agency (the NSA) as an intelligence contractor. In 2013, while working at this top-secret organization (we’re talking seriously protected information here), Snowden uncovered information that proved that digital privacy was pretty much just an illusion. Leaking information to the press, Snowden let the public know that their personal devices could essentially be turned into microphones, allowing them to be listened to by agents at any given moment. The NSA also ran a classified data-mining operation called PRISM, which collected sensitive user data from companies like Facebook, Apple, and Google. You’d think that if you leaked this kind of information, and became enemy #1 for the U.S. government, you’d try to keep a low profile. But Snowden revealed his identity to the world, and spoke openly about what he did and why. "I can't in good conscience allow the U.S. government to destroy privacy, internet freedom and basic liberties for people around the world with this massive surveillance machine they're secretly building." His advocates support the idea that he did this to control the narrative, and stop the NSA from twisting the story. His critics claim he did this for attention and clout. We’ll let you make up your own minds as to what side you’re on. (We made these layered and complicated events sound very simple, otherwise you’d be reading this blog for hours! If you’re a cybersecurity nerd like us, we highly recommend checking out the full story!) So what did Snowden manage to change after all of this? What was his exile worth? In August of 2013, then-U.S. president Barack Obama proposed pro-transparency reforms for the NSA’s operations, and organized an independent panel to assess the actions of the NSA and other security agencies. Before Snowden, data privacy was something that the public didn’t particularly think about. We were all ticking those ‘I agree’ boxes on the terms and conditions without a second thought. OK…that might still be true today. But it’s also true that more people are installing VPNs, deleting accounts with companies that lose their trust, and more and more young professionals are entering the world of cybersecurity. Demand for cybersecurity professionals is also on the rise, with the Global Tech Council reporting a 350% increase in new cybersecurity jobs from 2014 to 2021. That’s 3.5 billion jobs! Want to dive into a world of drama and intrigue? Book your Earlybird spot on a Cybersecurity bootcamp ! Hilary Mason: Dare To Innovate Data Scientists and enthusiasts know how exciting, beautiful, and creative data can be. This is something that Hilary Mason - data scientist, tech entrepreneur, Forbes 40 under 40 listee- knows very well. Mason started making waves in data when she joined bitly as their Chief Scientist. She went on to found Fast Forward Labs, a research company with a goal of making machine learning possible. Fast Forward Labs research “ focuses on emerging trends that are still changing due to algorithmic breakthrough, hardware breakthrough, technological commoditization, and data availability.” It was acquired by Cloudera in 2019. Now, Mason is the Co-Founder of Hidden Door , proving that you can make beautiful and creative things with data. Hidden Door is a ‘new kind of social roleplaying experience, powered by narrative AI. ’ It’ll be launching in early 2022 so keep an eye on this amazing project! As well as innovating in ways that the global data industry can appreciate, Mason is also a great example of the incredible things that can happen when you fall in love with your hometown tech industry. Mason is a New Yorker, through and through. She also co-founded hackNY.org , which helps local tech talent break into the NY tech scene by introducing them to startups, and facilitating paid internships to make entry-level roles accessible. Want to turn numbers into beautiful things? Book your Earlybird spot on a Data Analytics bootcamp! How to Be Daring: Jump Into Your Future Tech Career Can you imagine what the world would look like if no one ever dared to be intrepid? Think of all the cool projects that would never have been possible, the things we wouldn’t know, and the products that wouldn’t exist at all. Now imagine what your life could look like if you do dare to be intrepid? What does that future look like, the one where you take a leap of faith? We hope it involves choosing a career that you love. One that excites you, gets you out of bed in the morning, and can even take you around the world. So we hope you’ll take that leap of faith, and invest in your aspirations by checking out our tech bootcamps. We can teach you the things you need to know to become a professional in Web Development, UX/UI, Data Analytics, and Cybersecurity. You’ll be an Ironhacker, part of a growing community of passionate tech professionals who love what they do. 🦜 Check out our 10% Earlybird Discount for upcoming cohorts 🦜 Spots are filling fast, so get leaping!

Interested in what a Data Analyst salary in the London looks like in 2022? We’re all here because we want to have a job that we love, or to help you get a job you love. But let’s not pretend there aren’t bills to be paid! Your savings account deserves as much attention as your job satisfaction. The data industry is huge, and it’s growing even still. In the UK, it offers superb opportunities for those with the skills and drive to succeed. What are the current average salaries for a data analyst? The average salary for a data analyst in the UK is currently around £28,750 for an entry-level job, and salaries can rise very fast with progression and experience. Data analysts with a degree earn from £29,000 in their first role on average and those at entry-level but without a degree usually start at around £24,000 . Data analysts are in high demand as the field is growing rapidly and analysts working in a big firm are usually earning around £35,000 after just a few years. Once you’ve got a few years of experience under your belt a good Data Analyst can earn on average around £60,000 , which is comparable to consulting roles in the field. If you're outside of London, even though remote work is evening out the playing field, the company's location will greatly influence the salary on offer. Data Analysts working in the South of England can expect to earn more than those elsewhere. Across the UK, larger cities will most likely be offering higher compensation, but the cost of living is also likely to be higher than rural areas. You'll have to do the maths to figure out whether the salary a company is offering can support your lifestyle...but luckily Data Analysts are pretty good with numbers! And in such a well-paying field, you shouldn't have to tighten your purse strings anyway. What does a data analyst do? Today's businesses are completely driven by data, which governs every decision across every function. From deciding which customers to target to identifying ways to reduce waste in the business, managers need to access timely, accurate and rich data upon which they can steer the business. Everyone in a business needs data, but not everyone is completely data literate. Marketers need to understand how touchpoints with their users are attributed, to figure out which channels and campaigns are working best. Product Designers need to know where the digital experience they’ve built is working and where people are dropping off, in order to make improvements. Leaders and c-suite need to understand performance metrics in order to make key business decisions. But these individuals may not be the best at looking at a spreadsheet full of raw data, and at extracting the insights they need. That’s where Data Analysts come in. Data analysts work with each business function to provide vital data. The job certainly involves looking at the numbers, but data analysts take things further and know how to use data that allows organisations to make informed choices. This might include producing reports, visualisations, summaries and other methods of data presentation that bring raw numbers to life and provide context and insight. These roles are already greatly in demand and the field is growing fast as businesses deal with increasing volumes of data and have to find ways to manage and organise it. What sorts of things do Data Analysts do? Data analytics combines practice and theory to pinpoint and share data-driven insights that allow organisational stakeholders to make strong decisions. Experienced analysts will consider their outputs in a broad context, including organisational factors such as the competitive environment, when they make updates and recommendations to their internal customers. Data analysts will be skilled in fields such as probability theory, data visualisation, statistical modelling, risk management and predictive analytics. They will usually also be adept with database languages, programming languages nad other software languages. Data analysts will work with descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive analytics which build upon each other to add increasing value to the business. In a typical week, a Data Analyst might: Design and manage a data system and series of databases, ensuring that they are free from errors Mine data from a range of sources and then organise it for easy reading Use statistical tools to analyse data sets and look for patterns and trends that are key for diagnostic and predictive analytics Explain how the data results sit within the broader environmental context Prepare reports that include visualisations of data, patterns of data, and predictions Work with internal and external partners such as engineers, programmers and business leaders to identify ways that processes can be improved, systems developed and data policies for governance strengthened Produce and manage data analysis documentation and processes Data analysts tend to take on increasing leadership roles over time and become internal consultants with strong communication, management and functional skills. They work closely with senior business leaders to help them make sound decisions with the in-depth data and insight they provide into the business and its operation. This makes data analytics a good choice for a career changer who will have many of these existing higher-level skills and can build their technical base through further targeted study. What's the best way to get a data analyst role? Those lucky enough to realize what their dream job is while they’re still youthful teenagers may choose to pursue a university degree in Data Science, Data Analytics, or even Big Data. But it takes years of full-time study and thousands of pounds to earn a traditional degree, and without hands-on experience graduates still find themselves fighting over entry-level roles. Others may look for an IT apprenticeship to fill their skills gaps, and gain entry to the data industry through on-the-job learning. These apprenticeships aren’t as regulated or well established as degrees, and can be hard to find. You really do have to be in the right place at the right time…or know just the right people. At Ironhack, we designed our Data Analytics bootcamps to fill the gaps left by traditional education. You don’t need to quit your job and go back to university for 3+ years, as you can earn your Data Analytics certificate in as little as 9 weeks full-time or 24 weeks part-time. And with our dedicated careers services, we’ll help you meet the right people at the right time, (with the right resume to show off your new skills!) Take the guesswork out of breaking into the UK data industry, and check out our Data Analytics bootcamps ! Join our Hybrid Data Analytics bootcamps in London If you’re weighing up the benefits of learning online vs on-campus, have you ever considered what a hybrid learning environment would be like? With our Hybrid Data Analytics bootcamps you get the flexibility to choose between learning from our live remote instructors in the comfort of your own home, and spending time on-campus with your fellow students. Take your online classes from your sofa, from your favorite hipster coffee shop (no shame, we’ve all got one!), or from our awesome Shoreditch location. It’s all the flexibility of remote, but with direct access to the London tech community and local Ironhackers! Interested? Find all the info you need right here .

To most people, April is a month of spring showers and beautiful blooming flowers… But in Miami, things are a little bit different. With the rise of tech companies and startups crashing into the city as fast as our beach waves, the tech scene has been hungry to make a mark. In true Miami style, it decided to combine its love for events and tech and make April Miami Tech Month. There was something for everyone, from Web3 talks, to Miami NFT Week, to the Bitcoin Miami conference, and every networking session that happened in between. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that in-person gatherings are back and here to stay. With the Ironhack Miami Campus being at the center of it all, we couldn’t resist taking part in all the tech festivities! During Miami Tech Month we partnered with the eMerge Americas Conference to host a Web3 Hackathon and showcased Ironhack at the conference with a booth. Why eMerge Americas? eMerge Americas Conference is a premier tech conference that’s transforming Miami into the tech hub of the Americas. They partner with the entire tech and entrepreneurial ecosystem, from government to higher-ed, startups to investors, corporate enterprises and media to connect talent, capital and entrepreneurs. The team at Ironhack loved how our values of bridging the gap between talent, technology, and community aligned, so we knew that attending this tech conference would be a game-changing experience. To give you a glimpse of how we set our mark at the conference, here are the top 5 highlights of Ironhack at eMerge Americas 2022. A Fireside Chat Predicting the Future of Learning and Education On the first day of the conference our co-founder/co-CEO, Ariel Quinones and VP of People/ General Counsel, Karina DuQuesne discussed their big predictions for the future of learning and education. During the 30 minute chat, over 50 people gathered around the Launchpad Stage to have a peek into the future of ed-tech. Check out the 5 predictions: Prediction 1: Thanks to Al, every learner will have the equivalent of a "personal" tutor for free. Prediction 2: Emotional Intelligence and "Soft skills" will become the most important skill of the 2030s. Prediction 3: We will dramatically transform learner incentives. We will go from "Learn to Learn" to "Learn to Earn" (i.e. learn to get a job) to "Learn while you Earn." Prediction 4: The blockchain will play a key role in alternative credentials. Prediction 5: We will see the rise of a true Edtech Giant: the first education company to reach $100B in valuation. The Launch of the eMerge Americas x Ironhack Diversity in Tech Scholarship Announced exclusively at eMerge Americas, it was exciting to share that we’re giving away $200K in scholarships to help you and anyone you know launch a new career in tech. The eMerge Americas x Ironhack Diversity in Tech Fund was born to provide scholarships to underrepresented communities to increase diversity in tech. We couldn’t be more proud to partner with eMerge Americas in this cause! It’s important to create a world where everyone has equal access to the tech sector and an opportunity to build a fulfilling career. Especially since Miami is such a diverse city. We highly encourage you to learn more and apply. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis and are evaluated based on application requirements. APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIP HERE Ironhack Creates Buzz with an Epic Booth One of the biggest projects behind attending the conference was designing a booth that represented what Ironhack stands for: education, technology, community, and passion. After a couple ideation sessions and some help from design experts, the Ironhack booth showcased a wall-sized screen with videos, branded merchandise, a photobooth, a meeting area, and fun tech trivia. Seeing all of our hard work and vision come to life was a breathtaking accomplishment. Throughout the 2 days of the conference our booth was filled with attendees excited to learn and collaborate with Ironhack. eMerge Americas x Ironhack Hackathon winners were announced Prior to the conference we collaborated on the eMerge Americas x Ironhack Hackathon powered by Blockchain.com . This was the official hackathon of the eMerge Americas Conference. The theme of the Hackathhon was Deploying Web3 Tech for Social Impact. Teams had 12 hours to build a Web3 project that addressed a social/community challenge. On the last day of the conference the winning team was announced on the main stage in front of hundreds of people. The winners were Team Green Crate who created a decentralized platform that subsidizes groceries for families in need. This amazing web3 project for social good earned them $10,000! We’re so proud of them! All hands on deck with the Ironhack Team If there’s one thing that we learned about planning and attending this conference, it’s that there’s nothing like the support we give each other as a team. From the local Miami Campus team that coordinated everything, to admissions who shared their knowledge with booth attendees, global members who were flown to the US to assist us, alumni who shared their experiences on social media, and last but not least how our co-founder/co-CEO, Ariel and VP of People/ General Counsel, Karina gave an amazing presentation; every contribution and action made this event a success. But the fun doesn’t end there… This type of collaboration and support is what we share with our students everyday! Final Thoughts Miami Tech Month and eMerge Americas has brought us a whirlwind of positive emotions! We couldn’t be more grateful to be part of such an amazing event and booming tech hub. A big thank you to eMerge Americas for collaborating on so many great projects with us. Also, a huge shout out to everyone who participated in the Hackathon and came to meet us at our conference booth. We can’t wait to see what next year’s Miami Tech Month brings. Now on to the next Ironhack events! Keep your eyes peeled for invites… And if you’re ready to start your career in tech and be part of the Ironhack community, don’t hesitate to apply. See you in class! APPLY TO THE NEXT COHORT HERE

Today’s spotlight is on Dria Thomas. Prior to enrolling in Ironhack 's bootcamp, she was a middle school Technology Teacher with a passion for web design. After completing Ironhack’s 24 week part-time Web Development Bootcamp , she was able to take her coding skills to the next level. Dria learned the top frameworks used by development teams, how to create responsive and user friendly designs in front-end development, and how to be comfortable with back-end development. The knowledge she gained from Ironhack gave her the confidence and courage to sign up for a 9hr hackathon hosted by J.P. Morgan Chase. Here’s her story. Life Before Ironhack After a year of teaching web development during the pandemic, I realized I had a passion for web development. This spark began when I was in my senior year in college: our group was working on our capstone project and I was in charge of creating/designing the web page on WIX. I noticed I had more fun creating/designing the webpage than editing the video. I was prouder of the work I had done for the website than the actual video editing. I was discouraged from looking further into web development because I felt that website builders such as WIX and Squarespace existed, so I didn’t feel the need to dig deeper into the subject. Everything changed when I became a middle school technology teacher during the pandemic. I found myself watching endless amounts of YouTube videos on web development on a Saturday night. That's when I realized it's time for a change. I’ve heard great things about Ironhack and have seen students go from zero to hero! After hearing so many success stories, I wanted that for myself. Ironhack To continue my journey and growth in web development , I decided to enroll in Ironhack’s Full Stack Web Development program. I'd known about Ironhack since my freshman year of college at FIU, heard great things about Ironhack, and have seen students go from zero to hero ! After hearing so many success stories , I wanted that for myself. The JP Morgan Chase Code for Good Hackathon JPMC Code for Good hackathon is a great opportunity for individuals who want to switch into or start a career in the tech industry. You experience what it’s like to work in a fast paced environment with different individuals who have different knowledge of tech stacks. JPMC Code for Good is a 9 hour virtual hackathon where you team up with 6-7 team members to help a non-profit organization. Each team is also given two mentors who guide you throughout the hackathon. Dria’s Hackathon experience My experience completing the hackathon opened my eyes to the different approaches to web development. During the hackathon, I wanted to challenge myself by working with the backend. I usually work on the frontend and wanted to see if I could learn something new. I was able to convince my team to use Mongodb instead of SQL because the setup is a lot quicker (important as we have limited time!). Some of my team members were not familiar with Mongodb, so I used my teaching skills to help them. We used a npm package I learned about at Ironhack to help speed the process of setting up the backend. While I was teaching, I discovered both what I knew and didn't know about Mongodb, helping me gain new knowledge about the backend. Now, I feel more comfortable taking on the backend than before. Overall, JPMC Code for Good was a great experience to meet and learn from other developers on the same level. Tips for participating in the Code for Good Hackathon (or any other Hackathon!): Plan ahead on what tech stack your team wants to work on Separate your team into frontend and backend before the hackathon Make sure you learn and have fun! After Ironhack In the future, I would love to become a Unicorn developer because of my love for design and web development. I believe I have what it takes to become well versed in both of these skills ; I want to be able to design and develop web applications to help make people's lives easier and safer. — Big thanks to Dria for sharing her Ironhack experience and tips for participating in a Hackathon. It’s amazing to see how she went from a middle school technology teacher to a self-motivated web developer that is ready to take on any challenge! We’re so proud of her and happy to share that a few weeks after the hackathon, she accepted a position as a Software Engineer at J.P. Morgan Chase. If you’d like to follow a similar path as Dria and are looking to change careers, we encourage you to check out our Full-Stack Web Development Course in addition to our UI/UX Design and Data Analytics courses. We look forward to seeing you in class!

Chances are someone’s told you “learn to code” at least once in your life. It makes sense — with the world becoming more digitized every day, the need for developers keeps growing. Working as a developer can be a rewarding career path for people who get a rush from making and implementing creative solutions for real problems. But few of us have a clear idea of what developers actually do. Sure, it has something to do with writing in the terminal and drinking lots of coffee, but what’s really going on? What Does a Developer Do? Imagine you just moved into a new house with a big plot of land in the back. Great place to start a garden, right? So you start designing: the azaleas can go here, the succulents can go there, a trellis for the tomatoes… But once you plant your seeds and sprouts, the real work begins — pruning, reorganizing, figuring out why the hydrangeas are turning brown, plus all the daily maintenance to keep your garden in tip-top shape and wow your guests every time they stop by. Being a developer is kind of like that. You start with a design, developing the structure of your software or website, going on to implement your plans with code. But it doesn’t end there — just like a garden, it’s the day-to-day work that makes or breaks a project. That means troubleshooting, debugging, maintenance, testing and all the little tweaks and customizations that keep things running smoothly. The pay off? Making your software users and website visitors feel like they’re at a garden party in the springtime. Let’s break down what you can expect to do as a developer: Make apps that solve problems Maintain software through updates and debugging Create customizations for specific needs Test new programs Make sure programs are secure Adapt software to different operating systems Another thing to remember about being a developer is that your field isn’t limited to tech. Just think about how many websites go live everyday — every single one has a developer behind it. As a developer, you’ll have opportunities to work in fields as diverse as digital marketing, finance, graphic design, health care and a whole lot more. Not to mention that developers often have flexible hours and the option of working remotely. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, right? There aren’t many careers that let you flex that special combination of creativity and critical thinking. But before your career as a developer can take off, it’s important to acquire the right tools for the job. Let’s go through the basics. The Skills It Takes to Become a Developer Now that we know what developers do, it’s time to find out how they do it. What skills do you need for a career in software development? You might be surprised to hear that it’s not all about just knowing how to code. That’s definitely an important piece, but succeeding as a developer requires a mixture of hard and soft skills. Hard skills are forms of technical knowledge — the know-how and expertise that you can rely on when creating solutions. Soft skills are personal qualities — the characteristics, habits and behaviors that prepare you to succeed in a dynamic and often demanding work environment. Let’s take a closer look at both of these skill sets. Hard Skills for Developers Programming Languages: HTML, CSS and JavaScript All code is written in one programming language or another, which makes knowledge of a handful of programming languages your ticket to ride the developer express. If you’re interested in web development, then HTML, CSS and JavaScript are like the Triforce, or the Three Musketeers, or anything else super powerful that comes in threes. Find out more over here . Express Back-End and React Front-End Express and React are frameworks for working on web development in two different but related ways. Express is one of the ways developers configure the servers that power a website. React lets you create and replicate the components that appear to users of the site. Check out this helpful little guide to learn some more about both sides. Databases You know how instagram already knows that you’re thinking about buying some new headphones? Yeah, that’s data — and it’s getting collected all the time. A developer needs to know how to turn digital mountains of raw data into something meaningful, and ultimately valuable. Here’s a quick breakdown of data analytics. Git and Github Remember that garden we were talking about? Well imagine that instead of just you, there were dozens of gardeners involved and they all lived in different places — dropping seeds from drones and using little robot gnomes to do the weeding. The next time you check on the garden, how would you know what changes had been made? For developers collaborating on projects, Git and Github let you do exactly that, through software and a platform for tracking changes and coordinating work. Agile Methodology As a developer, you’ll often be involved in projects organized according to the Agile software development framework. Simply put, it’s a set of collaborative practices that helps teams deliver projects early and adapt what they’re doing in a way that’s, well, agile! Soft Skills for Developers Communication Being a developer usually means being part of a team. It’s crucial to know how to exchange ideas and work productively with colleagues as well as clients. Organization A big part of working as a developer is time management. Being able to evaluate the urgency of tasks and get them done at the right time will make your career journey go a lot smoother. Multitasking Developers rarely just work on one project — you’ll have a lot going on, all at the same time. You’ve got to be able to handle juggling multiple tasks at once. Attention to detail A developer has to always keep the big idea in mind, while having a keen eye for detail at the same time. Paying attention to the little things helps minimize errors, improve efficiency and ultimately produce outcomes you (and your clients) are excited about. How to Become a Web Developer OK, that was a lot of information. Believe us, we've barely even scratched the surface of all things web development! But that's the great thing about a career in development...it's vast, rich, and full of surprises that'll keep you on your toes. It's also much more accessible than you think. The path to a dream career is rarely straight, and thousands of people pivot to a career in tech every year. Do you want to join them? Check out our Web Development Bootcamps, available online or on-campus in one of our amazing tech hubs. Choose from part-time or full-time learning, with a course that's designed to fit into your life.

The world of technology may have been traditionally male-dominated, but the landscape is changing fast. Many of today's most exciting tech and digital startups are being driven by women. With a broader industry drive towards greater diversity, this is bound to be a trend that is set to grow, especially with an accompanying push to get more girls and women into coding and other vital technology areas. So who are some of the biggest female names that have been transforming the technology industry over the past decade? Here are just a few to know... 1. CEO of Bumble - Whitney Wolfe Herd Herd became the youngest self-made female billionaire in the world recently, after her firm - Bumble - went public. But she had a difficult route to achieve her heights, without family connections of a STEM degree. She was also late to the tech industry, and dominated it in just five years, beginning at Tinder as the VP of marketing - and then leaving after being discriminated against and sexually harassed. Now she's at the helm of dating app, Bumble, where 100 million female users make the first move. Bumble is also making waves in the field of anti-discrimination, removing any misogyny on the platform, working with lawmakers to change harassment policies and taking a strong stance against body shaming in any form. Follow her at: @WhitWolfeHerd 2. U.S. Director of National Intelligence - Avril Haines We're used to hearing about women in the field of digital tech, but Avril Haines has been changing the US intelligence community as the first female leader of America's intelligence agency. She's certainly an interesting character too, with a love of rebuilding cars and planes, years spent training at an elite Japanese judo academy and even a stint of experience running an independent cafe and bookstore. Her government career has included stints as the legal advisor to the National Security Council and deputy director at the CIA. 3. Senior Security Researcher at Kaspersky GReAT - Noushin Shabab Shabab grew up a fan of mathematical problems and puzzles, gearing her up for a career in programming and IT. She took part in national programming and computer science competitions from a young age and then moved into the cybersecurity field - when she was offered a job at a security products firm, alongside her twin sister. Today she works at Kasperky on an elite team of security experts, and she's changing the game of online security with research, analysis and cutting-edge solutions. Follow her at: @NoushinShbb 4. Founding Member at SB Opportunity Fund - Stacy Brown-Philpot Brown-Philpot spent a decade at Google, beginning as sales director and eventually leaving as the senior director of the firm's global consumer business. She then became COO at TaskRabbit and worked to CEO position by 2016 - becoming not only a rare female leading a tech firm in a traditional man's world but a black female. She now acts in an advisory capacity at SoftBank Opportunity Fund, helping people of color to get their business ideas off the ground and encouraging other female entrepreneurs and leaders. Follow her at: @sbp04 5. CEO of Project Include - Ellen K. Pao With STEM academic parents who taught her to code when she was ten, Pao is a real game-changer in the tech field, speaking out against discrimination and racism in the industry. In fact, she sued Kleiner Perkins, a VC capital firm in silicon valley, after being passed over for an expected promotion in favor of men. The lawsuit didn't win but it garnered her interest and coverage. From here, she became Reddit's CEO and worked to found a non-profit, Include, that is promoting diversity and inclusion across tech via advocacy and data. Follow her at: @ekp And we couldn't ignore these two amazing women either... 6. CEO of Black Girls Code - Kimberly Bryant Bryant graduated with an Electrical Engineering degree and moved into biotech and pharma. However, the lack of diversity in tech encouraged Bryant to move out of corporate roles and to found her own non-profit, Black Girls CODE, which promotes women in color across the tech industry by providing tech and computer science opportunities to young girls of color. Follow her at: @6gems 7. President of Coinbase - Emilie Choi Choi worked for 8 years at LinkedIn as the VP of corporate development, before joining Coinbase as VP of business and corporate development in 2018. She rocketed to COO position and president at the crypto exchange start-up and helped to grow the cryptocurrency field through the platform. Although she had reservations about digital currency as a means of exchange, she managed to secure $325 million of funding and helped Coinbase to secure a valuation of $8 billion in 2018. Follow her at: @emiliemc The fascinating thing about these women is that they are invariably doing more than just making money for shareholders. They are true revolutionaries, changing the way that people live their lives through the application of digital and technology solutions - from currency exchange and dating to coding access and cyber security. They are working to change the diversity and inclusion profile of global technology too, boosting visibility, access and support to women and minority groups who want to make their mark in the tech field. Perhaps you have always wanted to learn to code, or are fascinated by digital technology? Take your next step at Ironhack - the global tech school, designed for everyone.