Hey there TechDiva!

My name is Kira and I am a women currently working in the career of Cyber Security. All though this career is fun and exciting, I did not originally want to be in information security. I had so many different interests, but I knew I want to do something that mattered and helped my community. I went into a local program that encouraged STEM careers and it introduced me to even more interesting fields; like Cyber security, environmental science, and software engineering. I tried EVERYTHING, but eventually I found my way to a hacking challenge and from there to Cyber Security.

Hey there TechDiva!

My name is Maris. I’ve been working at Verizon for almost 20 years. I majored in psychology in college, thinking that I would become a guidance counselor or something along those lines. I never would have guessed that I would end up working for a technology company, but I’m so glad that I did.

Here is a little background into my career history. My first job at Verizon was in a retail store where I greeted customers and showed them where to go to get their questions answered. From there, I moved into customer service, sales and then management. After about five years working in the stores, I got promoted to the training department. I trained our new employees & managers and did a lot of project management. I have worked in the technology space, providing connected (IoT) solutions to cities and towns and I’m currently in the data analytics department.

Hey there TechDiva!

Congratulations to you for exploring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Match). Hope this journey opens a world of wonders and a thousand many doors for you as it did for me. I have had a technology career for 22 years now. Every step of the way I learned new ways of creating something. For example…creating a website for our customers so they can make purchases online or collecting customer feedback from social media to understand how satisfied our customers are or launching products such as BlueJeans, Broadband, and 5G connectivity to large businesses.

Hey there TechDiva!

My name is Prabha and I am a Sr. Manager in the Business Information Security Office. I grew up in India in a lower middle class family with substandard living but highest standards of values. I was the youngest of four siblings and while education was treated as priority, girls clearly did not receive the same attention when it came to prioritizing career over household. I was a rebel to start with and at the age of four I actually participated in an all-boys only religious ceremony because it really meant agreeing to committing a life of yogic principles. I recall shaving my head with my brothers as a symbol of letting go of external looks for the higher search of wisdom.

Hey there TechDiva!

My name is Raegon. I commend you for taking this journey into STEM. I loved math. I was good at it. so good that I would charge $5 for math assignments in high school. I received a full scholarship to Georgia Tech in 1994. I was ready to begin my journey as a Computer Science Engineering student. Earlier that year before I graduated some things happened within my family and I passed on my scholarship to stay home and help my mom and younger siblings. But that didn't stop my dream. The local university offered a 2yr pre-engineering program. So I decided to enroll in it. My freshman year I completed college algebra, trigonometry, and during the summer I took calculus. During my sophomore year, the engineering courses began. Drafting and design were my Achilles heel. I was not good at drawing or design and when I asked for help from my professor, I was told that I would either get it or I would not. He was of no help to me.

Hey there TechDiva!,

I am writing to you to encourage you to pursue your dreams. In today’s world, there is more opportunity than there has ever been. You can do anything and be anything you are willing to work for. It is up to you. Never forget that. Never.

When I grew up, women didn’t have so many choices. I remember sitting down with a college counselor wanting to take science classes. The counselor talked me out of it. Women could be secretaries or they could be school teachers. Those were our choices. Science classes were a waste of my time. So I took typing and short hand to satisfy what I was supposed to do. I also took science classes to satisfy what I wanted to do. It was a heavy load to do both, but I was willing for work for it. I spent some years as a secretary, but with hard work and commitment, I climbed the ladder and made a great career for myself, now in engineering at Verizon.

Hey there TechDiva!

My name is Rosalyn and I have worked for Verizon for about 24 years. I received my degree in Psychology and was working in Human services, but transitioned to Verizon shortly after having my daughter. I had no previous experience in technology but decided to take the leap.

There weren’t many people who looked like me when I started working, and it was a little intimidating at first, but I had others who were willing to help and guide me through the process.

Hey there TechDiva!

How exciting is it to be a part of such a wonderful organization?!?! My name is Jacquetta and I am currently a senior manager for Verizon who specializes in technical project management. I am leading a team of engineers who document what is required for new software enhancements for my company’s network maintenance system. When I chose to pursue my bachelor’s degree in computer science, I was one of a few African American girls making this decision. By the time I graduated from my HBCU, Jackson State University, my class had so few young ladies who finished in our field I wondered if this would ever change. I am elated that Black Girls Code is allowing this opportunity to expand your knowledge with other young ladies with similar interests as yourself along with the visibility of such talents. I would encourage you to continue with the course you are on and here are a few reasons as to why.