For nearly three years, I have been a proud member of the Rewriting the Code community, and it has profoundly supported my journey as a woman in tech. This incredible network has connected me with inspiring women in the industry who generously share resources, opportunities, and invaluable guidance. Being part of RTC provides women in tech with a nurturing space where we feel seen, supported, and uplifted. It also opens doors to mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities, whether it’s finding job roles and resources, teaming up for hackathons or amazing projects, or even discovering future co-founders. To me, success means making a positive impact, no matter how small, while continuously growing and helping to pave the way for future generations of women in tech to thrive.

Rewriting the Code has meant a lot to me during recruiting. As someone navigating tech and CIS recruiting for the first time, it can feel overwhelming, especially as a first-generation student who didn’t always know where to start or what the process even looked like. Being part of RTC reminded me that I’m not figuring it all out alone. Hearing other women share their experiences, struggles, and advice made the process feel more possible and a lot less intimidating. Communities like Rewriting the Code give women in tech something really powerful: support and honesty. You meet people who are going through the same things, who share opportunities, give advice, and genuinely want to see each other succeed. That kind of environment makes a huge difference. For me, success means continuing to learn, build things that matter, and create opportunities for others the way this community has done for me. If I can help make the path into tech a little easier for the next person, that’s success to me.

The RTC community has supported my journey by connecting me with women leaders and ambitious peers who have helped me better understand the tech industry and my place in it. Starting as an underclassman with no idea where to find opportunities, I discovered some of my first tech experiences through RTC’s Slack channels. A few highlights include Break Through Tech AI, Dandilyonn (a nonprofit that teaches you how to build AI agents), and an AI Ventures accelerator (as I have always wanted to become a founder). These experiences genuinely changed the trajectory of my early tech journey. Some specific gains in RTC that I really enjoyed include company visits and seminars. For example, last summer, I had the opportunity to visit Nvidia and Datadog. Through these occasions, I built my professional network and learned more about the tech field. My favorite part, though, remains to be the people in the community. Whether it's the advice channels or reaching out to members directly, people have been so generous with their experiences and guidance. That generosity made me feel so grateful that paying it forward felt like the natural next step. For me, success in a fast-moving tech industry means continuously learning and growing in the value I bring to my work. I've come to realize that outcomes don't define who you are, and that there are often better things ahead when you follow your passion and trust the process.

As someone who didn't write a single line of code until coming to college, I felt extremely unprepared compared to some of my classmates who have been coding since middle school. Being a part of Rewriting the Code has both given me access to valuable resources and boosted my confidence in my abilities. The RTC community is incredibly special- I have been in very few environments that are this supportive and dedicated to making every single member stronger. After attending meetings or classes where I may be one of the only women in the room, RTC gives me hope that this generation of women in tech is thriving.

Rewriting the Code is my total spark as an international student navigating tech waters—linking me with fellow grinders through insightful events & sessions! Meeting RTC team members and snagging early career applications has been chef's kiss 🔥 for this career-switcher. RTC's steady posts yank me back from sidetracks, keeping my focus laser-sharp. Success? Dream work turning full-time! 🚀

The Rewriting the Code community has helped me feel less alone in a field that can sometimes feel intimidating. Being able to connect with other women who are navigating similar challenges has been really encouraging. It’s also been helpful to hear about internships, career paths, and experiences from people who are just a few steps ahead of me, which makes the path forward feel more possible. Women in tech can gain mentorship, support, and access to opportunities that might otherwise be harder to find. A community like Rewriting the Code creates a space where women can ask questions, share advice, and uplift each other. It also helps build confidence because you’re surrounded by people who understand the challenges and want to see you succeed. For me, success means continuously growing and using my skills to make a real impact. I want to build technology that solves meaningful problems while also opening doors for others who want to enter the field. Success also means staying curious, learning from others, and creating opportunities for the next generation of women in tech.

When I first started studying data science and finance, I often felt like I was navigating the tech world alone. Many opportunities in tech seem to circulate through networks that can feel difficult to break into, especially as a woman still figuring out where she fits in the industry. Joining Rewriting the Code changed that. Through the community, I found something that is easy to underestimate but incredibly powerful: visibility and access. Seeing thousands of women pursuing careers in software engineering, data science, product, and quantitative fields made the path feel much more real. Instead of wondering whether I belonged in tech, I could see people just a few steps ahead of me doing the work I hoped to do one day. The Rewriting the Code network has also made the industry feel less opaque. Whether through job boards, career resources, or conversations with other members, I’ve learned how people navigate internships, interviews, and early careers in tech. That kind of shared knowledge is something you rarely get in a classroom. For women in tech, being part of a community like Rewriting the Code means you don’t have to figure everything out alone. It provides both practical support and a sense of belonging. When you see others asking the same questions, sharing opportunities, or celebrating wins, it reminds you that progress in tech doesn’t have to be a solitary process. Success for me isn’t just landing a specific role. It means building the skills to solve meaningful problems with data and technology while also helping make the path clearer for the women who come after me. If someone a few years earlier in their journey sees my story and thinks, “maybe I can do this too,” then I would consider that a success.

Rewriting the Code changed my life by giving me a community of women in tech where I felt comfortable asking for advice and support. What truly stands out about RTC is that no matter the question, someone is always willing to help. Having a community like this in a male-dominated field is incredibly encouraging. I wasn't aware of many of the opportunities out there, but RTC provided the transparency and visibility I needed to stand out. It has played a massive role in my success as a woman in tech.

Being part of the Rewriting the Code community has helped me feel truly connected to other women in tech. Through RTC-hosted events from the tech crawl over summer 2025, I had the opportunity to meet so many incredible women who were navigating similar paths in the industry. Those events didn’t just feel like networking opportunities, they felt like genuine spaces of support and encouragement. Many of the women I met through those events still stay in touch today. We support each other on LinkedIn, celebrate each other’s accomplishments, share opportunities, and have a safe space. That experience made me realize how powerful community can be in tech. Rewriting the Code helped me feel like I belonged and reminded me that we are stronger when we lift each other up.

Being part of the Rewriting the Code community has given me a strong support system of women who share similar goals and challenges in the tech industry. Through this community, I have gained access to mentorship, career resources, and networking opportunities that have helped me grow both technically and professionally. It has also given me confidence by connecting with inspiring women who are navigating and succeeding in tech, which motivates me to keep pushing forward in my own journey. Women in tech gain mentorship, guidance, and a sense of belonging from being part of a community like Rewriting the Code, which provides opportunities to learn from experienced professionals, collaborate with peers, and access career opportunities such as internships, workshops, and networking events. Most importantly, it creates an environment where women can support each other, share knowledge, and build confidence. The last AI connection with NVIDIA has changed my view of AI, and it gave me the opportunity to connect with professionals and students. For me, success means continuously learning, growing, and creating meaningful impact through technology. I aim to build innovative solutions that solve real-world problems while also advancing my career in fields like AI-driven products. Success also means helping others along the way, especially encouraging more women to pursue careers in technology and contributing to communities that support diversity and inclusion in tech.

Being part of the Rewriting the Code community has been incredibly empowering for my journey as a woman in tech. Entering the tech industry can sometimes feel intimidating, especially when you do not always see people who look like you in the room. Rewriting the Code changed that for me by creating a space where women support, encourage, and learn from each other! Through mentorship, shared experiences, and career resources, the community reminds me that I am not navigating this field alone. Women in tech gain something powerful from communities like Rewriting the Code: confidence and belonging. Being surrounded by ambitious, supportive women makes it easier to ask questions, pursue opportunities, and take risks in your career. For me, success means continuous growth and using my journey to uplift others. If my path helps even one woman feel more confident about entering tech, that is a success I am proud of!

Rewriting the Code has played a meaningful role in my journey as a woman in tech. At one point, coding was something I simply studied and practiced, but through this community I truly fell in love with it. Being surrounded by other women who are building, learning, and solving problems together completely changed my experience. RTC gave me a space where I could ask questions, get help when I was stuck, and see how others approach problems differently. Hearing multiple perspectives from women with different backgrounds made me a stronger engineer and also taught me discipline and consistency in learning. It reminded me that growth in tech is not just about individual effort, but also about learning from a community. Through RTC events, I also had the chance to meet inspiring leaders and professionals in the industry. Listening to their stories made the path into tech feel more real and achievable. The in-person events have been especially impactful. Meeting people face-to-face, sharing experiences, and discussing technical challenges together helped me grow both as a software engineer and as a person. Communities like RTC replace the isolation many women in tech feel with support and belonging. Tech can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to figure things out alone. Being part of a community means you are surrounded by people who understand the challenges you’re facing. You gain mentorship, encouragement, and practical guidance. You also get exposure to opportunities, events, and industry leaders who help you see what’s possible. Most importantly, communities like RTC help women build confidence. When you see others like you succeeding, it becomes easier to believe that you can succeed too.

RTC has helped support my journey as a women in tech by providing a safe space to meeting other women and tech and support each other. There are so many things that women go through, especially being a minority in tech fields, and RTC has lifted my spirit and shown me that I am enough and women can do tech! A lot of the times I feel like maybe Computer science isn’t for me because i’m the only girl in my recitations, or the constant mans-planing I have had to sit through, which has effected how I pursue my future. RTC has shown me that even though I might feel alone, I’m not! I felt extra supported by being one of the the RTC members to get a scholarship to attend the 2025 SHPE convention. I didn’t have the funds to attend the convention but because of RTC, it was possible. Im incredibly grateful to have gotten the chance to attend SHPE in support of RTC. A women can gain so much from RTC, from networking with professionals, attending career fairs and events, to making friends across the nation! Success to me is graduating from College and working in a tech position where I can combine my creativity and technical skills. Success means to not only have a job, but to have a job I enjoy doing and surrounded by people who support me!

RTC was my first real resource in my tech journey. I go to a small arts college and finding my space and community in tech was vert challenging, RTC helped me connect with other likeminded girls during my internships, build more connections during conferences and get exclusive interviews and opportunities, but more importantly it was the support that i knew was there that pushed me forward and helped me become fearless in navigating my career.

As a first generation muslim women in tech, I initially felt very alone and scared when deciding to do cs. However, ever since joining the rtc community I have been able to connect with so many likeminded women and find the support I was longing for.

Rewriting the Code has given me something that’s often missing when navigating tech early in your career: visibility into how others are actually doing it. Through the community, I’ve been able to see how women approach internships, research, graduate school, and industry roles in very real ways. That kind of transparency makes the path feel less abstract and more achievable. Being part of a community like RTC also means not figuring everything out alone. Whether it’s advice on interviews, sharing opportunities, or simply seeing people a few steps ahead of you, it creates a network where learning and growth feel collaborative rather than competitive. For me, success in tech means building systems that solve meaningful problems while continuing to grow both technically and intellectually. I want to contribute to work that has real-world impact while helping make the field more accessible for the people coming after me. Communities like RTC make that kind of long-term perspective possible.

You know, in my first year of computer science, I’d look around the lecture hall and just feel... alone. I was surrounded by people, but I didn't feel like I was part of a community. I thought maybe I just wasn't cut out for it. That all changed when I stumbled into a Women in Computing Science (WiCS) event. For the first time, I was in a room where I didn't have to explain myself or feel like an outsider. I found my small, tight-knit group—the people who became my study partners, my cheerleaders, and my friends. That experience is exactly why I ended up serving as the Technical and Communications Coordinator for three years. It wasn't just a title; it was personal. I remembered how lost I felt, and I was determined to make sure other students, especially younger women, found their people sooner than I did. We'd host workshops and networking nights, and the best part wasn't the RSVP numbers—it was seeing a first-year light up when they connected with a mentor, or when someone realized they weren't the only one struggling with a concept. It was about building a space where people could be their full selves, not just "the only woman in the room." That sense of belonging is everything. It turns imposter syndrome into confidence, and isolation into a support system. It’s what makes people stay in tech, grow, and eventually lift others up too. I’ve lived it, and it’s why I’ll always believe in the power of community.

I grew up in a place where people openly said that “women don’t do coding,” and for a long time, I didn’t have anyone around me who believed otherwise. I didn’t know any women in tech, I didn’t have a support system, and I definitely didn’t have a community that understood what it felt like to step into a field where you’re told you don’t belong. Finding RTC changed that for me. For the first time, I met women who looked like me, had similar backgrounds, and were going through the same challenges—from struggling through CS classes to trying to figure out internships and career paths. Through RTC, I met people who encouraged me, shared resources, and made me feel like I wasn’t doing this journey alone. Some of my favorite moments were attending RTC events, like the eBay event and the NVIDIA one. Being in those spaces—surrounded by other women in tech, hearing their stories, learning directly from industry professionals—made everything feel real. It gave me confidence and showed me what was possible. Belonging matters as a woman in tech because so many of us come from environments where we’re told we don’t fit, or we’re the “only one” in the room. RTC gave me a place where I didn’t have to explain myself or prove that I deserved to be here. I could just learn, grow, and connect with others who understood the journey. To me, success means continuing to break those expectations I grew up with, building a career I’m proud of, and lifting other women the same way RTC lifted me. It’s about growing not just as an engineer, but as someone who helps open doors for the next person.

The true meaning of Rewriting the Code came alive during our very first Student Info Session in United States International University - Africa. RTC exists to replace the isolation and doubt so many women in tech carry with confidence, community, and the feeling of finally belonging to a team. In that room, everything clicked. Our incredible speakers, Rachel Namiba and Joyce Achieng, shared how they broke into big tech—the real, vulnerable stories behind the polished LinkedIns. Hearing those honest journeys and “impossible” paths made us realize: we can do this too, as long as we show up and give our best. It was beyond what we hoped for. Completely worth it. And honestly… it’s just the beginning.

RTC has been one of those rare communities where I’ve actually felt seen and supported. It’s not just about tech talks or career tips — it’s about having people who get it. The doubts, the imposter moments — there’s always someone who understands. As a woman in tech, finding that kind of belonging matters so much. Sometimes you’re the only woman in the room, and that can feel isolating. But being part of RTC reminds me that there’s a whole network of women out there cheering each other on, sharing opportunities, and lifting each other up. For me, success isn’t a job title or a salary number. It’s waking up excited about what I’m building, learning something new, and helping someone else along the way. RTC has played a big role in shaping that version of success for me.