Social media handle(s): LinkedIn (@Rowena Habadah)
A few words about me:
Hi! I'm Rowena,
I'm originally from Accra, Ghana. My family migrated from there when I was really young. I moved there around 3 years ago to experience it for myself and it was a life-changing experience.
I have a dog child called Space, she's the sweetest Maltipoo you'll ever meet (I might be biased).
I love, yoga, meditation and anything to do with feelings and the human experience (whatever that means).
Are there any professional experiences you've had that are quite unexpected compared to what you do nowadays?
Not unusual, but I worked for a non-profit in Ghana. My favourite job by far! We taught the kids creativity, tech, comprehension and developing soft skills. It was great seeing their development, genuine interest and witnessing endless potential inspired me in my career journey. I had the most 'AHA' moments working with the kids, they taught me a lot.
Is your background more STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) or non-STEM related?
My background is non-STEM related.
Where did your professional journey start?
I studied Politics and International Relations at University.
I hoped to work for a NGO or IGO working in development or education but my career diverted into tech.
I liked the similarities of a user-centred approach that centred empathy and accessibility when building products - especially in UX and UI.
How did you get into tech and what motivated you?
My first job in tech was in sales for AI and Data Learning platform. It was a whirlwind and so complex to get my head round at first. But I loved that, understanding Machine Learning and Data Analytics gave a great building block to understanding the technical parts of programming (since it wasn't my background).
After that I taught myself UX and UI, that's been my favourite part of the tech I've experienced, since I got to use my creative and research skills.
Have you experienced any 'career in tech' challenges / stereotypes?
No.
"Jump in! Explore everything, before you decide what you want to do (if you're not from a technical background). ... See what fits with you, what you enjoy, what value you're adding, what excites or challenges you. There are so many options."
What you wish you knew before getting started in tech...
I wish I knew there was space for everyone in tech. Before getting into the industry I thought you could only be in tech as a Programmer or a Designer, but there's room for every skill. Sales, people and research are vital to tech companies. Your unique background or skills set you apart and add value.
What has been your biggest 'wow!' moment related to working in tech so far?
Teaching myself Figma. It was a challenge at first to create responsive designs but once I figured it out (with consistent practice), I was amazed that I could do it.
What do you like / not like about working in tech?
Tech can be somewhat rigid, depending on the company or sector of tech you're working for. Jobs may not be as diverse as you may assume.
"I wish I knew there was space for everyone in tech. Before getting into the industry I thought you could only be in tech as a Programmer or a Designer, but there's room for every skill. Sales, people and research are vital to tech companies. Your unique background or skills set you apart and add value."
And to wrap up, is there any advice you'd like to give to others interested in a career in tech?
Jump in! Explore everything, before you decide what you want to do (if you're not from a technical background). There are free resources available (google courses, coursera, youtube, code academy etc) that will give you basic to intermediate-level content for you to try.
See what fits with you, what you enjoy, what value you're adding, what excites or challenges you. There are so many options.