Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Holien.
Hi Alexandra, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am the VP of Revenue & Strategy and Deputy Director of Ada Developers Academy, a non-profit, entirely cost-free coding school for underrepresented gender-expansive adults and women. As a Black woman in tech, I’m passionate about bringing more Black people into the industry, and I fiercely believe that diversity without equity is simply oppression in a new pair of heels.
Growing up, I lived in a small town in Louisiana. My father wanted me to go to college to break into a world that wasn’t represented at home. I went to college at a PWI in Washington state and saw the contrast from the poverty in Louisiana. I realized how crucial economic empowerment was to build a lifestyle and pathway for yourself, family, and future.
Going to college was a culture shock. I was a first-generation college student on both sides of my family. I went into recruiting and saw the social capital presented in earning money and this opportunity growing in tech. I wanted to be part of this tech game. During my time as a recruiter, I started questioning the stratification of why things are the way they are – and saw the gatekeepers in tech were recruiters.
I pursued my Master’s Degree in Cultural Studies at UW Bothell. This program gave me the language to talk about the history and context of why things are the way they are.
At Ada, I wanted to give folks this opportunity in tech where you can be Black, Brown, Women, and gender-expansive folks and get the same access.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Social capital was a struggle. In college, the gap between myself and my classmates was huge: the internships they landed without an interview, the connections they had without searching on LinkedIn, and asking strangers for an informational meeting. I had to elbow my way into this tight-knit monolithic world of tech and business culture.
One thing I worried about in a room of white folks was being the diversity hire. I had a master’s degree from UW and still had to elbow my way into spaces where I wasn’t always invited, but I was at least outside the door. At that point, I had to prove myself constantly. I had to not only be good but better than everyone else there. There was no room for error or mistakes.
I’m finally at that point in my career where I am proud to make that road easier for others.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Ada Developers Academy?
Ada Developers Academy is a non-profit, entirely cost-free coding school for underrepresented gender-expansive adults and women. Ada exists to provide a pathway to tech for folks historically denied access, prioritizing individuals from the Black, Latine, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, and LGBTQIA+ communities.
We envision a world in which Black and brown women & gender-expansive people achieve economic power through careers in tech.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
You don’t always need to commute to an office to be productive. There is something beautiful about the community in an office, but so much time can be wasted on that commute. It’s important to find balance in your lives and balance in your families. We live in one of the countries that demand the most from employees with work-life balance. Covid showed a different way of what work-life balance could be.
Another learning was how creative people could get in times of crisis – from parents to people learning new hobbies and companies learning how to pivot to digital. I loved seeing how community-driven people were. Philanthropy didn’t falter in our Ada community, and we relied on one another during this difficult time.
Contact Info:
- Website: adadevelopersacademy.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adadevacademy/
