The mentorship relationship really takes off at the end of the 10-week program, when mentors and mentees are expected to meet once a week for at least three months following completion of the program.
Brecht initially had mixed feelings about working in the tech industry, nothing that while it can be exciting to be on the forefront of innovation, the rapid evolving pace of technology can sometimes be overwhelming, especially the pressure to constantly develop skills to stay relevant. But having a mentor helped gain a new perspective on a career path and as a guide through interview processes, as well as even job rejections, to help see that career paths aren’t linear. “You have to be more creative than in past years with your trajectory,” says Brecht.
And Saldaña says he’s seen first-hand the confidence boost QueerTech members get when they join, whether it’s through conferences, networking events, or professional development courses. At one conference, he says that during the final reflection session, someone stood up and spoke about often feeling uncomfortable at tech conferences. But by the end, they’d met over 100 people and didn’t feel like an introvert for the first time. “It really surprised them how that shift happened so quickly within that space,” he says. “It’s not just about focusing on business creation, but on supporting the tech talent that’s coming through to land those first roles, and then providing support and guidance as they build their career for longevity,” says Saldaña.
