photographer: carly wollaert © | make-up artist: violeta marinova from art of colors
asia tall diouk(she/her)
founder & director at involve & evolve
about
my journey into tech wasn’t traditional. i learned by doing, questioning, and refusing to believe that tech wasn’t a space for me as a woman. being told tech wasn’t for me because i am a woman pushed me to grow stronger and more confident. instead of shrinking, i chose to show up, curious, ambitious, and determined. i founded involve and evolve to reflect growth, inclusion, and empowerment, inspired by my own experiences. my mission is to empower people to be brave enough to follow what they truly want, while giving them a support system. if my story helps even one woman believe she belongs in tech, it’s worth sharing.
why do you think it is important that role models need to be visible?
visible role models matter because seeing people achieve their goals makes others believe it’s possible for them too. representation turns ambition into something tangible. for women, and especially for people from minority backgrounds, this is crucial in spaces like tech where representation is still limited. growing up, i rarely saw people in tech who looked like me, which made it hard to imagine myself in that world. when role models are visible, they don’t just inspire, they open doors in the mind. they show that you belong, that your goals are valid, and that success is achievable no matter what you look like or where you come from.
involve & evolve
involve & evolve is ontstaan vanuit een simpel maar krachtig besef: niemand groeit alleen. te veel mbo-studenten lopen vast door onzekerheid, een gebrek aan motivatie of het gevoel dat ze er alleen voor staan. vanuit persoonlijke ervaring binnen het mbo is dit mentorschapprogramma opgezet om studenten met elkaar te verbinden en te laten zien wat er wél mogelijk is. door studenten die het pad al hebben bewandeld te koppelen aan degenen die nog zoeken, ontstaat vertrouwen, richting en groei. involve & evolve is meer dan begeleiding, het is een community die hoop geeft, kansen creëert en het mbo laat zien zoals het is: vol talent, potentie en toekomst.