In the spirit of International Women's Day, it's a moment of pride and reflection for us at NexaScale to celebrate the remarkable women within our community. Their journeys, challenges, and triumphs not only inspire but also pave the way for the next generation of female leaders in technology and beyond. This year, we decided to shine a spotlight on some of the incredible women who are not just shaping their future but are also instrumental in nurturing a more inclusive and diverse technological landscape.
Let's dive into the stories of eight outstanding women from our community, whose answers to our interview questions reveal the depth of their passion, dedication, and vision.
Oyinkansola Shoroye
Favorite Quote
The best way to predict the future is to create it.
Favorite Part of Career Growth
Oyinkansola cherishes the journey of overcoming challenges she once believed were impossible to face. Completing her Frontend Engineering Diploma Program while in tertiary institution and securing internships have been significant milestones. These experiences have taught her that she is not defined by circumstances but by the decisions she makes, and every failure carries the potential for success.
Five-Year Vision
In the next five years, Oyinkansola envisions herself as a world-class software engineer, entrepreneur, speaker, and author. She aims to explore her full potential, making a positive impact on the world, and inspiring others to pursue their passions and excel in the tech industry.
Influence of NexaScale on Career
NexaScale has played a crucial role in Oyinkansola's growth, providing her with resources, opportunities for collaboration, and a supportive community. This environment has enabled her to unlock her full potential, experiencing many 'firsts' and fostering a sense of belonging that fuels her aspirations.
Dick Chisom
Favorite Quote
You didn’t grow the day you didn’t learn. When you stop learning, you stop growing. -
Kenneth H. Blanchard
Favorite Part of Career Growth
For Chisom, the realization that she could reinvent herself as much as she wanted marked a significant milestone in her career. Transitioning from a struggling backend developer to embracing new opportunities fearlessly has empowered her to pursue anything that serves the greater good.
Five-Year Vision
In five years, Chisom aspires to advance to a senior role in her career, empower more women in her community, educate them about tech opportunities, and leverage technology for business growth. She is committed to initiating impact projects to mentor and support the younger generation.
Influence of NexaScale on Career
Joining NexaScale has taught Chisom to be ambitious and audacious in her goals. The community and resources provided have encouraged her to share her wins and learning phases, seek guidance, and contribute back to the community. This supportive network has been instrumental in her growth and development.
Makinde Mercy
Favorite Quote
Never let the opinions of others define who you are, and remember, if you give up, you let them win.
Favorite Part of Career Growth
Mercy enjoys seeing how much she has grown, gaining visibility, and improving her skills. Seeing how far she has come and achieving milestones that once seemed out of reach has been the most rewarding part of her journey.
Five-year Vision
Mercy has big and diverse dreams for the next five years. She wants to run an Edtech platform that connects students with career guidance and mentors, create a fintech hub, and reach personal goals like getting married and earning advanced degrees in industrial and organizational psychology. She also hopes to write at least five books on tech and psychology and make a difference in women’s lives around the world.
Influence of NexaScale on Career
As a front-end developer, Mercy is grateful to NexaScale for providing an invaluable community for her professional growth. NexaScale’s access to tools, resources, and mentorship has been pivotal in her development, helping her navigate challenges and align with her goals. The "TEACH WOMEN'' initiative within NexaScale has also been instrumental, offering a platform for sharing insights and fostering a supportive environment for women in tech.
Ezuma Grace
Favorite Quote
In the underworld, reality itself has elastic properties and is capable of being stretched into different definitions of truth. - Roderick Vincent
Favorite Part of Career Growth
Grace cherishes the connections she's made with like-minded individuals in the tech community. These relationships have provided her with guidance, resources, and support, essential for navigating the early stages of her career in technology.
Five-Year Vision
In the next five years, Grace envisions herself as a seasoned Cloud Security Engineer, leading in the cybersecurity and cloud fields. She aims to contribute to innovative solutions, mentor individuals, and make societal impact through active involvement in communities.
Influence of NexaScale on Career
NexaScale, initially known as Adora Hack Study Group, has played a transformative role in Grace's career. Through a mentorship program led by Adora, she gained practical experience in automation, cloud environment design, and database creation. This experience has significantly improved her skills and reaffirmed NexaScale's role in nurturing new talent.
Valentina Buoro
Favorite Quote
It’s not a sprint, but a marathon.
Favorite Part of Career Growth
For Valentina, a standout moment in her career was winning first place in a hackathon. This achievement not only underscored her technical skills but also boosted her confidence and visibility within the tech community.
Five-Year Vision
Valentina aims to be a leader in software development, serving as both a senior engineer and mentor. She is passionate about remaining active in the open-source community and becoming a leading voice on software practices.
Influence of NexaScale on CareerSince joining NexaScale, Valentina has found an amazing community that has significantly impacted her career. The opportunity to meet and be inspired by successful women in tech, and the experience of participating in her first hackathon, have been pivotal in her growth. Special thanks to the best technical writer Peace) she met during the hackathon, highlighting the importance of networking and community support in her journey.
Olubusola Odunuga
Favorite Quote
Sunrise and Sunset do not determine how far you go in life. How you rise of your mindset does. - Victor Adogbajale
Five-Year Vision
In the next five years, Olubusola envisions a balanced life filled with personal and professional fulfillment. She aspires to be a happy mother and a supportive wife while becoming the most sought-after tech sis. She also plans to embark on a food tour career, merging her passions outside of technology.
Favorite Part of Career Growth
Learning new skills on the job represents Olubusola's favorite career growth moment, highlighting the challenges and adventures that come with stepping out of one's comfort zone. This experience underscores the importance of adaptability and continuous learning in the tech industry.
Favorite Part of NexaScale
For Olubusola, the essence of NexaScale lies in its community—a network of like-minded individuals eager to support and uplift each other. The ability to access valuable resources for career growth and to receive timely information and assistance exemplifies the strength and value of the NexaScale community.
Akaeze Kosisochukwu
Favorite Quote
Keep putting in the effort, it will make sense someday.
Favorite Part of Career Growth
Overcoming the fear of online visibility marks a pivotal moment in Akaeze's career. Growing her social media presence to over 700 followers on Twitter and more than 1,000 on LinkedIn, alongside improving her public speaking skills and embarking on a cloud journey, highlights her commitment to personal and professional development.
Five-Year Vision
In five years' time, Akaeze sees herself working as a Cloud Engineer at Amazon and a cloud advocate, helping in building cloud communities.
Influence of NexaScale on Career
Akaeze say's that joining NexaScale has been instrumental in her career growth because it helped her understand the best path to take in achieving her goal as a cloud engineer. She was also opportuned to participate in the 12 weeks AWS Cloud Engineering Bootcamp, which improved her visibility on different social platforms as well as exposed her to different opportunities in the cloud space. She was able to pass her AWS Cloud Practitioner exam with the help of the hands-on practice and knowledge she got from the Bootcamp. She was also able to renew for the second time as an AWS community builder with the exposure the program gave her.
Mary Mbaoma
Favorite Quote
Blossom wherever you are planted.
Favorite Part of Career Growth
Mary's career journey took a significant turn when she pivoted from backend development to DevOps. This transition was driven by her curiosity and desire to enhance systems integration and operational efficiency. It broadened her skill set, introducing her to cloud services, automation, continuous integration, and delivery, while also emphasizing the importance of collaboration and agility. This move was not just a shift in roles but a transformation that deepened her understanding of the software lifecycle and the pursuit of operational excellence.
Five-Year Vision
Looking ahead, Mary aspires to step into a managerial role, where she can focus on talent development and creating an environment that allows individuals and teams to excel. She envisions herself employing empathy, effective communication, and motivational skills to inspire her team, fostering an innovative, learning-focused, and success-oriented workspace. Mary's goal is to contribute to both her team members' professional growth and the organization's success, reflecting her dedication to leadership that supports collective advancement.
Influence of NexaScale on Career
NexaScale played a pivotal role in Mary's career by offering exposure to a wide range of opportunities and challenges that propelled her professional growth. Engaging in diverse projects and utilizing cutting-edge technologies allowed her to hone her technical skills and expand her industry network. This experience not only refined her abilities in problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership but also laid a strong foundation for her future career aspirations.
Conclusion
Reflecting on these stories, we're reminded of the essence of International Women's Day, “Invest in women: Accelerate Progress.” Each story, from the ladies, paints a vivid picture of resilience and ambition. Their journeys highlight the power of support, ambition, and community in tech and beyond.
NexaScale's role in nurturing this supportive environment showcases a commitment to diversity and empowerment, essential for fostering the next generation of female leaders. These stories are not just personal victories but milestones on the broader path toward equality in technology.
As we celebrate these women, we recognize the work ahead. Their experiences serve as a call to action for us all to uplift and empower the women around us, breaking barriers and creating opportunities. Let's honor the spirit of International Women's Day by continuing to support each other, pushing for a more inclusive and equitable future in tech and every field.
Here's to the women of NexaScale and women everywhere, whose resilience and innovation inspire change. Let's keep this momentum alive, today and every day.
