Chisom Nwokwu is a nominee for the rising star talent by the Women in Tech global award and the She Code Africa summit and one of those women in tech who has become a mentor in the Nigerian tech ecosystem.
As the tech industry expands, mentoring in this ecosystem has been one way to help individuals better understand the industry and how their skills can be impactful in the market.
Chisom Nwokwu is one of the few providing this mentoring opportunity. The 22-year-old graduate from the University of Nigeria has amassed a considerable following on social media, and her achievements are inspiring to men and Women in Tech.
Chisom Nwokwu’s journey in tech
Chisom Nwokwu grew up in a household where technology was the norm. Her parents somehow understood the creativity attached to technological gadgets and always bought the latest gadgets for her.
I didn’t know there was a career like software engineering or programming, but all I knew was I would always want to be around a computer.
Nevertheless, she was introduced to programming while in university, where she decided to focus on learning about software development. She became more enthusiastic and had the chance to learn more about android applications.
She released her first Android application on the Google Play Store, which has now received over 10,000 downloads. Her participation in the UNN Roar Hub inspired and motivated her to advance in the tech industry. Her increased self-assurance and skill set enabled her to secure positions as a campus ambassador.
During her last year in university, Chisom Nwokwu received a global internship opportunity with the Bank of America. But combining it with schoolwork was hard.
Similar to how thousands of Nigerian students who managed to obtain jobs during the ASUU strike must figure out how to balance both with their academic obligations. Chisom Nwokwu was no different during her school days. She had to develop time management skills as her main priorities were doing well as an intern and maintaining good grades after graduation.
The one skill I has to learn was time management, and also the realisation that as days passed, either your school activities or internship might suffer, it can never be 50/50. I had to prioritize the most important things, but what I never forgot to do was REST. It may sound dumb, but when your body is overworked, trust me, you won’t be able to do anything.
Becoming a young mentor in the industry
Chisom has made significant career advancements. She was nominated for the Women In IT global award’s Rising Star Talent category and the upcoming She Codes Africa summit. Mentoring has aided her career advancement, and she is on a mission to pay it forward to Nigeria’s tech sector.
The Tech Queen began offering free coaching sessions this year after receiving numerous inquiries from people inspired by her about how they could succeed in the global market. To date, she has assisted about 26 people in obtaining employment with major tech firms like Google, Microsoft, and Bank of America.
So far, I’ve been able to guide individuals who later landed offers at Google, Microsoft, Bank Of America and other international firms. This is truly exciting to see. I would love to do other free sessions as my time permits
Her coaching workshops cover topics including how to get into the tech industry, how to apply for your first tech job, and how to join a major tech business. In the 1:1 session, Chisom assists people in making particular decisions and comprehending the challenges they encounter in the tech sector.
I help people get international jobs by having resume review sessions with them to create a winning resume, hosting mock interview meetings where we simulate a typical coding interview and lastly sharing job openings I come across.
She plans to launch a paid programme this month to improve the quality of the services she offers to these people.
Regarding mentorship, the 21-year-old recently published her first book, A Techie’s Guide into Big Tech Companies, in which she merely expressed her thoughts and those of other Nigerian techies who work or have worked in major international tech firms.
Gender-biased challenges women face
Chisom Nwokwu believes these gender-biased challenges are also from a mental standpoint. With the gender imbalance in society, many women have already programmed their minds and believed that the tech space is a “male” industry. This was a mindset Chisom overcame in her struggle to progress in the industry.
Your mind just plays tricks on you for you to believe that you’re not meant to be in tech, or you won’t excel in the tech space because it’s a “guy” thing.
Words of wisdom
As always, Keep Keep going, and only allow positive thoughts. Look up to people who have gone ahead of you and be encouraged by them. Also, ask questions, be focused and do the work; according to Chisom Nwokwu, everything can be achievable.
She also believes increasing online visibility will help attract you to like-minded individuals
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