For the last installment of our Moms Who Make series with GE, we’re turning our attention to six inspiring moms who also happen to be coders. Each of these brilliant women became interested in coding for different reasons, and ended up turning that interest into action with help from Girl Develop It. From sociology majors to photographers to English Lit fanatics, every mama on this list has a different story tell, and we’re excited to share each of their stories with all of you.
But wait, what exactly is Girl Develop It? Glad you asked! Girl Develop It is a nonprofit organization that exists to provide affordable and judgment-free opportunities for women interested in learning web and software development. Through in-person classes and community support in 50 U.S. cities, Girl Develop It helps women of diverse backgrounds achieve their technology goals and build confidence in their careers and their everyday lives. Their motto of “Don’t be shy, develop it!” is one that definitely resonates with the whole team here at Brit HQ.
Before we get to our Q&A with these smart women, we’re going to throw a few crazy statistics your way:
1. Women hold only 26% of the approximately four million computing-related occupations in the US. (Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013 [Occupational Category: 15–0000])
2. Women obtain 57% of bachelor’s degrees in the U.S, but only 18% of undergraduate computer science degrees. (Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 2012 (CIP 11)
3. Tech companies with more women in management have a 34% higher return of investment. (Source: National Center for Women and IT Fact Sheet)
That’s why we’ve teamed up with GE to inspire the inner engineer in women everywhere. After all, moms really are the ultimate hackers :) Read on to get inspired — and don’t be surprised if you find yourself adding “learn to code” to your weekend to-do list.
What did you study in school?
Jen Myers // Chicago, Illinois
The Maker Shop
Smartphone Projector ($27), a gadget that lets you project photos and videos right from your phone.
What did you study in school?
ANDI GRAHAM // ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
What did you study in school?
PAMELA BEY // NEW JERSEY
The Maker Shop
Power+ Solar Charger and Light ($79) and Wristlet Phone Charger ($119), a clutch that charges your devices via USB.
What did you study in school?
JULIA ELMAN // RALEIGH-DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
What did you study in school?
ELISE WEI // PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
What did you study in school?
Susan Metoxen // Minneapolis, Minnesota
<i>more</i>
Girl Develop It are offering the first 150 customers who sign up one seat (up to $100) in any coding or tech course near you! The Girl Develop It courses are in-person and available in 50 cities across the country — so it should be no prob to find one close to you. How awesome is that? To redeem this course, simply register here using the code GDI4Moms. (Note: The Girl Develop It course offer is only available to the first 150 customers who redeem their gift code. So don’t delay!!)
In addition to curating The Maker Shop (in the B+C Shop), GE and Brit + Co are also offering the LED Electronics 101 E-Class (taught by our founder, Brit Morin) for FREE with every purchase! To redeem your free LED Electronics class, look for an email from Brit + Co shortly after you make your purchase — everything you need to to know will be in your inbox.
It’s all about bringing out mom’s inner tinkerer, maker and engineer. These classes are meant to serve as stepping stones for women to invent world-changing products. We’re in a new era of building, and what it means to make is constantly being redefined. It’s up to us to learn these skills to change the world.