photographer: carly wollaert © | make-up artist: sharmila vooren
johanna guacide(she/her)
software engineering student at codam
about
i used to be a political science major, and decided in my early thirties to make a career change. i went into software engineering, needing something more concrete and opening doors to a dynamic industry. it was scary at first, entering a stem cursus without any background but this turned out to be the best decision i’ve ever made.
what qualities do you think are essential for success?
building confidence in yourself is key because it empowers you to take risks and persevere through challenges. i also believe that fostering a playful mindset helps: taking some of the pressure off, viewing opportunities as fun experiments and a chance to step out of your comfort zone! codam really helps to nurture both qualities, as it teaches you to fail and never give up, learning at your own rhythm in a supporting environment.
codam
at codam, we believe in the power of diversity and inclusion to drive creativity and innovation. our education is open to everyone, no matter how much programming experience you had before or what kind of school diploma you got. we give anyone a chance to get into tech regardless of background or financial resources available.
with 30% female and 2% non-binary students within our pool of 450 students, we understand the importance of showcasing diverse success stories to inspire even more youth to learn software engineering. our commitment to diversity isn’t just symbolic;it’s integral to shaping a more inclusive and equitable tech industry.
together, let’s inspire more diverse youth to get in tech and empower them to build the future they want to live in!