Zainab, an Electrical Engineering graduate from Baghdad, found her true calling in programming. She sought a career with flexibility and growth, leading her to She Codes Too. The program provided her with the technical skills, mentorship, and real-world experience needed to land her first job as a Front-End Developer at Baly. Zainab was part of the Front-End Web Development and Business program, implemented by She Codes Too with the support of Baghdad Business School and the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. This extensive, in-person, seven-month program ran from February 2024 to August 2024, graduating 22 women. Read her inspiring journey below.

I am Zainab, I live in Baghdad. I graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Baghdad, and I currently work as a Front-End Developer at Baly.

I entered the world of programming because I found myself more suited to this field compared to the specialisation I graduated from. Additionally, programming offers flexible work conditions, as I can work from anywhere.

My initial impression of the SheCodesToo Front-end and Business program was very positive and optimistic, as it was supported by She Codes Too, Baghdad Business School and The US embassy in Baghdad.

My experience in the program was pleasant and full of challenges. I gained significant expertise, which prepared me to enter the job market.

One of my favourite projects was the graduation project from the bootcamp. It was a significant project that combined everything I had learned in this bootcamp along with new things I learned while building it. Presenting it to the audience was a memorable moment. My favourite session was the Design Thinking class.

My best memory was during Ramadan, at the Iftar event. I met all She Codes Too alumni and we enjoyed spending time together.

In one of the mentorship sessions, I learned how to approach people, introduce myself, and market my skills to secure a job. I also learned how to handle job interviews and behave appropriately during them.

After graduating from the front-end web development and business program, I immediately got a job in a position that suits me both professionally and personally. I landed my first job as a Front-End Developer at Baly.

Before the bootcamp, I was studying and preparing to get a job in this field and went through interviews. However, I lacked guidance about what the local job market required. Most courses didn’t comprehensively cover the industry. After joining the bootcamp, the trainers, who were professionals in the field, taught us with real-world examples and assignments that reflected work scenarios. This made a huge difference during job applications and interviews.

The program changed the way I interact with people and improved how I control myself in challenging situations. through the lessons and through some of the people I met during the program, I experienced significant personal growth and development.

I believe She Codes Too provides a big opportunity for women to shift their career paths. I encourage everyone, whether recent graduates or those looking to change careers and enter the tech world, to join bootcamps like this.

I advise women to start with programs like this because they meet the demands of the Iraqi tech market and empower women to enter this industry. From my interview experiences, I noticed that many companies lack female representation in tech, and She Codes Too is addressing this gap by supporting women.