Practicing Empowerment & Working/Parenting in the Age of COVID19

Join us for one inspiring talk and 3 breakout sessions from three amazing women, Jennilyn Howell, Erin Winstanley & Imee Cuison who are thriving in their careers as Software Engineers / Full Stack Developers at Booz Allen Hamilton: Where for more than 100 years, military, government, and business leaders have turned to solve their most complex problems. As a consulting firm they provide experts in analytics, digital, engineering, and cyber.

One a former retail and account manager before a career pivot into tech in 2017 another a stay at home mom for seven years before taking the Flatiron School online – all three became full stack developers working at Booz Allen Hamilton. Each of them made the decision (well out of college with no previous qualifications) to jump with both feet into careers in tech. Hear their individual stories of how they were able to learn one of the most sought after skill sets for the jobs in highest demand that have traditionally been fields dominated by men. Not to mention that never before have these roles been challenged with a PANDEMIC and children to raise simultaneously on top of it all!

Please join us for an afternoon moment of decompressing, sharing and learning, from the comfort of your home on Webex – like ZOOM (during ‘work hours’ so it won’t add to your time constraints)

Talk I & Breakout Session: Practicing Empowerment: Nontechnical reflections on my first three years in tech

Jennilyn Howell made her best professional decision when she changed careers in 2017 to pursue programming. A former retail and account manager, her nontechnical skills have proved invaluable in navigating the tech scene. Currently she is a full-stack developer at Booz Allen Hamilton’s Charleston Digital Hub. She lives with her husband and beagle mix in Mount Pleasant and enjoys reading and exploring the great outdoors. My journey into tech was shrouded in uncertainty and a lack of confidence — and often still is! Through lessons learned in my previous careers, I found some keys to self-empowerment and look forward to sharing them with you.

Talk II & Breakout Session: Working & Parenting in the age of COVID

Erin Winstanley was a stay at home mom for 7 years before entering the tech industry. After attending Flatiron School online, she transitioned from wrangling children to wrangling code. She now works as a full stack developer at Booz Allen Hamilton. In her free time she plays board games, tackles her list of fears, and has random dance parties with her 3 kids.

COVID-19 has fundamentally changed how our society works and functions. It follows that parenting will go through the same fundamental change. Join Erin Winstanley in a discussion of how COVID has affected parenting and connect with other tech industry moms to share what successes and failures they’ve had with their children during these times.

Breakout Session III: Time Management and Incorporating Wellness into your Busy Schedule.

Imee Cuison (Software Developer at Booz Allen Hamilton) Imee is a full stack software engineer, data scientist, published author, wellness coach, and single mother to her four year old daughter. Imee homeschools her daughter while working full time as an engineer, writing daily, and helping other women reach their potential. This breakout session will be about how to structure your day for success while working from home and homeschooling.