Find your Pathway Into Tech with Niya
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Banu Ali
The Advocate - I champion the needs of our network
My biggest career advice is to take every opportunity to grow and let your passion lead the way.
My pathway to Niya...
- Age 21, I taught programming languages weekly to first-year university students in Iraq 👨💻
- Co-organised Startup Weekends, which played a vital role in building startup culture in Iraq 🚀
- Completed IT internships at two major tech companies in Iraq 🖥️
- Contributed to the "Internet of Women" book 📚
- Served as Community Manager for a Non-Profit Organization in Iraq 🤝
- Founded the first Lean-In Circle in Iraq to support women, and traveled to Silicon Valley to participate in the First Regional Circle Leaders Program, where I also met former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg 🌍
- Worked as an Application Support Specialist in the IT Department of one of Iraq's largest private hospitals 🏥
- Founded a startup in Iraq focused on teaching children (ages 8-16) coding and technology skills through organised coding sessions 👩🎓
- Relocated to the UK as a Chevening Scholar to pursue a master's degree in Management 🎓
- Joined Niya as Head of Community, helping the unconnected access career pathways in tech ❤️💻
