tech week – yvonne gallagher

photographer: julia powalacz© | make-up artist: ramona van der kooij from art of colors agency

yvonne gallagher(she/her)

leraar vo &  technator technasium at davinci leiden

about

i’m a technator at a technasium, a dutch secondary stem program where students learn through real-world projects in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. i teach research and design, guiding students as they work in teams on challenges that grow in complexity, culminating in a comprehensive thesis solving a current, practical problem. what i love most about my work is seeing students transform into future makers curious, confident, and collaborative thinkers who tackle real societal and technical issues with creativity and determination. i also co-create education with a wide variety of tech companies, bringing the professional world into the classroom and giving students a glimpse of what’s possible beyond school. as a woman in tech and leadership, i’m passionate about showing young people especially girls that they can be innovators and changemakers. every day, i get to witness their growth, ambition, and potential, which is incredibly inspiring.

what advice would you give to your younger self?

if i could tell my younger self one thing, it would be that creativity is just as important as technical skills. being innovative in tech isn’t only about knowing the tools or coding it’s about imagining new possibilities, connecting ideas, and daring to experiment. embracing your curiosity and thinking differently is what turns challenges into solutions.

davinci leiden

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leiden is in 2025 nationale onderwijsstad. leiden is een aantrekkelijke kennis- en onderwijsstad waar je als kind, jongere of onderwijsprofessional je talenten en mogelijkheden kan ontdekken. zonder docenten geen onderwijs. daarom zet leiden in 2025 docenten extra in het zonnetje.