Lydia smiling at the camera in a green hoodie in front of a white background

She supported building my confidence; reading drafts, CVs and applications; sending me links to resources, events, schemes and scholarships

I had never met a software developer before Holly, and I was immediately inspired by her expertise, experience at companies leading in technology, and readiness to share what she has learnt with me. She has supported me: building my confidence for interviews and networking; reading drafts, CVs and applications; sending me links to resources, events, schemes and scholarships. My visit to the Microsoft office in Paddington with her last year felt like a dream; to be able to see the work that devs really do, learning about the different job opportunities available to me as a STEM-enthusiast, and testing out old and new tech gave me something tangible to aspire to. When we attended my first ‘meetup’, I was pleasantly surprised to see her seamlessly join a panel at the last minute and step up to the plate when a panelist didn’t show. I hope to emulate her adaptability, care, and clear work ethic in my life.