Aminat

Tell us about your journey into tech?
I transitioned into a technology profession last year after completing a Digital Intensive Programme with BT and Code First Girls. I had just graduated from UCL with a 1st Class Honours degree in Chemistry so I was slightly out of my depth! However, less than 2 years on I’m comfortable and proud to announce I’m really a Software Engineer. I’ve worked on Fullstack, Backend and DevOps Engineering projects and I’m currently leading a data migration project to the cloud.

How do you feel you have made a difference in what you do?
I’ve made it a point to be involved in as many projects in my team as I can in order to contribute significantly to the services we provide. I’ve transitioned from being a Junior Engineer with no technical professional experience to a Lead Engineer within my team. I’ve also, socially, tried to share my experience as a Black women especially after George Floyd’s death in order to get my colleagues and the wider team to understand the Barriers in place for Black people.

What would you say is your biggest achievement?
To date, it would be solidifying and significantly contributing to the software and services my team develop. In my first 6 months at BT, I definitely had a strong bout of imposter syndrome and could not foresee me Leading Various feature and project developments with my team a year on.

How do you think people can go about making a difference, in regards to spreading awareness of Black Women in tech?
Every little helps so even if it’s as small as helping a grad struggling to complete their university assignments or letting someone know of an opportunity that’s been shared with you, these small steps build up. Also sharing your journey, especially with young girls who may not even be contemplating a career in Tech because of a lack of representation.