A lifelong technology lover, Jake Scheele knew he could turn that passion into a thriving career. Developing an app for his parents’ construction company sparked Jake’s interest in pursuing developing full-time, and it became his north star. Jake’s self-learning and passion projects left him with a thirst that could only be quenched by a formal education. When…
Virginia de la Riva is 54 years old, and to many in the tech industry, that’s too old to be re-entering the world of tech after taking a break to be a mom. Virginia vehemently disagrees. “There may be a perception that older people aren’t as up-to-date on newer technology,” she said. “But that just isn’t…
When people talk about their workplace being like a zoo, they usually don’t mean it literally. For Twin Cities resident Melissa Nelson, it was the honest truth. Melissa began her career at the Chahinkapa Zoo in Wahpeton, North Dakota. As a zoologist, she spent her days cleaning animal enclosures, feeding them, and even training them. “My…
Ugonna Ojiaku had all the makings of a burgeoning career. A series of internships and forged connections led to a great job right out of college—which isn’t always easy with an environmental science degree. Despite her early success, Ugonna questioned the future. She wasn’t sure how long she wanted to continue working at an environmental lab…
Derek Frand is a current student at the University of Minnesota Coding Boot Camp. After getting injured at his construction job, Derek decided to develop new skills that would still allow him to be creative. Derek shared his story about how he became interested in coding and how the program is going so far. What were…
