Tech / Inclusion
My First Hackathon Experience as a Woman Who is Not in Tech (Yet)
What I learned in the two-day hackathon hosted by Girls in Tech Germany
I discovered Girls in Tech Germany thanks to my constant curiosity about technology and interest in learning and meeting like-minded people. So when I heard they were to organise their first Hackathon for the FLINTA (which stands for Female, Lesbian, Intersex, Trans and Agender) community, I immediately applied to take part in it. It was an excellent opportunity to meet talented people and learn more about tech since I am into UX and UI design. Weeks later, I was thrilled to receive an email invitation to Hack for Impact!
The first day: Getting to know each other
On Friday evening, at the On Cloud office in Berlin, we got an overview of the three challenges and prizes. We picked one problem and then started forming the teams. Before that, there was food and talks about diversity and the usual networking. I loved the atmosphere straight away. The organisers did a great job.
I was glad I joined because, until that day, I was still questioning if I would fit in. After talking with fellow women interested in tech, I found it was a common thought among us: “What if I am not good enough for this?”.
However, we all felt very welcomed. And I never expected to form a team that fast! I joined five other girls I met for the first time and immediately started brainstorming to solve our chosen problem: “Inclusive fitness”. The other two challenges were “Green buildings” and “Intelligent consumption”. There were ten teams of around six people in total.
Second day: The hackathon begins!
Our team consisted of members from various countries and diverse backgrounds, all eager to collaborate. We had breakfast on site on Saturday at 8:30 am before heading to our designated workspace.
Everyone did a great job. These fantastic girls -Basia, Laya, Stephanie, Alina and Laura- brought a broad skill set in front-end and back-end development, machine learning, and product management. We came up with an inclusive fitness app idea for women going through hormonal challenges that not only involved menstruation but also menopause, pregnancy and those who are transitioning and therefore doing hormone therapy. These fluctuations often affect physical activity, and in today’s world, the only problems that seem to matter concerning women’s fitness journey are, although valid choices, weight loss and looking better. There hasn’t been a significant interest in making fitness inclusive for women in other ways.
We were proud of our idea and how it turned out. After eight hours of research, coding and designing, we had the chance to pitch it to the judges. And even though we didn’t reach the first three winning places, the public reception was fabulous, and we made a great team.
After a whole day of working on the challenge, I was exhausted, but it was worth it. My first hackathon experience could not have been any better. I felt part of something unique, and people were very encouraging, from mentors to other teams and organisers.
Here are some of the most important takeaways from my first hackathon experience:
- You are valuable. I have often asked myself whether someone with little to no experience in the tech environment could find a way in. Imagine how difficult it is for women new in the industry to gain junior positions without proving themselves constantly: we tend to undervalue ourselves when we lack experience. Fortunately, events like this show us that we are all valuable and capable of great things.
- A diverse team enriches the work. We may come from different backgrounds and education, but we have the same interests and passion for making a difference. The greater variety of skills and experiences makes viewing a problem from different perspectives possible, and we can arrive at more innovative solutions.
- The tech industry requires more women. It is not only about the gender gap but also the need to include more voices in shaping our future as a society through technology. Why not encourage and support women to join this field?
- A welcoming environment is essential for growth. I would have never participated in a hackathon if I was not confident I was in a safe space where it is okay to be on the learning path and ask questions.
In conclusion, I would like to encourage all girls who work in tech, and others like myself who are interested in it, to attend these events and help spread the word about them. It is a beautiful experience, and the people you meet are fascinating. You will have a lot of fun and learn something new!
