2 minute read
Planting Seeds for Success
Women in Tech Scholarship Helping Students Create New Paths
Being in the Technology field means seeing trends before they happen, creating opportunities, and having the expertise and savvy to carry out your plans. Since 1999, Women in Technology of Tennessee has done precisely that. By hosting education and networking events, outreach opportunities, and scholarship and internship programs, the organization has helped pioneer ways for women to galvanize the booming industry.
The opportunities are plenty. Tech Giants such as Amazon, Asurion, and Oracle chose Nashville as the city to operate out of, and from 2019-2022, tech employment saw a 37% increase. In 2022, Nashville ranked 11th among the best cities for women in tech in a study by Smartasset.com.
A year prior, Women in Technology of Tennessee recognized the potential for upward mobility for women in the industry. They created the WiTT Endowment Scholarship Fund to support women pursuing careers in technology and bring more gender diversity to the IT industry. With the support provided by the WiTT Endowment Scholarship Fund, intrepid young women can receive the education to take advantage of Nashville’s fantastic market offerings. Intrepid women like the inaugural recipient Kimberly Amaya Hernandez.
Kimberly is a Computer Science Major with an Entrepreneurship and Marketing Minor and a member of the Honors Program at the College of Sciences and Mathematics at Belmont University. As a first-generation college student, Kimberly knows what it takes to pioneer and succeed in unfamiliar spaces, making her the perfect first recipient of the WiTT Endowment Scholarship. Her advice to women who want to continue to make history and entrench themselves in the tech industry is to grab the bull by the horns and accept the challenge head-on.
“Recognize your potential and continue trying to build, grow, and learn from yourself,” says Kimberly. “Challenge the stereotypes, be resilient, and use these instances to break down barriers. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and take risks. The path to a career in technology may not be straightforward, but being determined, resilient, and passionate can take you a long way.”
