Girls Learning Code: Meet Our Rocking Ruby Mentors!

We are so excited to spend the day tomorrow with these fine women and a a bunch of girls to learn all about programming with Ruby! If you know a girl between 9-13 who is available tomorrow, there are a few spots left! http://glcruby.eventbrite.com/

Lead Instructor: Dessy Daskalvov (@dess_e )
CTO and Co-Founder of Greengage Mobile

Tell us a little about yourself! 
For the better part of my life, I’ve wanted to be an entrepreneur. I did my undergrad in Engineering at Queen’s, and spent several years working as a software developer afterward. Following that, I finally took the leap into entrepreneurship, and am now the CTO and co-founder of Greengage Mobile.

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code? 
Being a “builder” has had a tremendous influence on my life. Builders can solve the problems they’re most passionate about, and they’re given the freedom to create, just for the fun of creating. I love what I do every day, and I want to make sure others have the same opportunity. Coding shouldn’t be a scary thing, and anyone that has a desire to get involved should be able to, without any fear. I want to see people new to the topic get really excited about it.

 

Ashley Lewis (@AshleyJaneLewis)
Girls Learning Code Event Producer, TIFF Workshop Facilitator

Tell us a little about yourself!
With a background in fine art, she also enjoys painting, sculpting and drawing when she isn’t coding. She loves collaborating on creative projects with people of different specializations and is currently aiding in the launch of Toronto’s first mobile Children’s Museum, inspired by the late great Marshall McLuhan. She has worked and interned for companies like TIFF and CBC and is thrilled at the opportunity to add Girls Learning Code to that list. As a lady learning code herself, she is excited at the thought of passing on that passion to younger generations.

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code?
Girls Learning Code is an awesome organization! Seeing the girls learn skills and confidence in the realm of tech each week is really inspiring. We’re really motivating girls to be the best that they can be, all while having fun.

 

Laura Plant (@lauralynplant)
Director, Ladies Learning Code

Tell us a little about yourself!
Laura grew up all over Southwestern Ontario, moving around her whole life. Always “the new girl” Laura began to understand, pretty early on, the importance of relationships and “staying connected”. With an educational and professional background in Human Resources, Laura made the shift to the world of consulting four years ago and has not looked back. The link between technology and human relationships fascinates her. This has ignited a personal passion for exploring and helping others to learn how to leverage and evolve the technology available to us in our world today and even tomorrow. In her spare time, Laura is exploring what technology has to offer and how it can help her do her job better, much like many of Ladies Learning Code’s beginner-level students.

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code?
Laura is thrilled to have the opportunity to shape the way a group of 9-13 year old’s view technology, and show them that it can be a creative medium for self-expression.

 

Hannah Allen (@hannah_dna)
Intern, Girls Learning Code

Tell us a little about yourself!
My background is in fine art and my passion has always been photography, but I’ve recently begun to immerse myself in the world of all things tech.

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code?
I am the new intern at Girls Learning Code, and I’m excited to be part of such an exciting community! It’s interesting to see how much the level of comfort and understanding of technology has changed for the girls compared to when I was their age.

 

Erika Casupanan (@erika_cas)
Account Coordinator at Media Profile

Tell us a little about yourself!
After five years of school in media studies, multimedia design and public relations, I’ve become a working girl in downtown Toronto. I work at a public relations agency and I love the fast-paced nature of my job. In my spare time I can be found crafting, volunteering and attempting to kick box.

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code?
I’m a young lady with a tech background, a love for volunteering and the desire to never stop learning. Girls Learning Code let’s me put my passions together while empowering young ladies in the community.

 

Caitlin Davey (@caitlindavey)
Mobile Wed Developer at CBC

Tell us a little about yourself!
I am a 2010 alumni from the University of British Columbia and graduate of Sheridan College’s Interactive Multimedia program. In my current role as a mobile web developer I build and maintain mobile web pages.

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code?
As a relative newcomer to coding I greatly appreciated the support of Toronto’s technology community. I am especially grateful for Ladies Learning Code as they make learning approachable and fun. I want to contribute to my knowledge and experience in assisting girls to develop technical skills, creativity, and confidence.

 

Ellen Saunders (@ellensayshello)
Freelance user experience and front end web designer

Tell us a little about yourself!
Originally from the Washington DC area of the United States, Ellen came to Toronto to study in the design program at York University. She has always loved technology and has been making websites since she was in grade 7. Today, she is passionate about creating things that are simple and useful for users, and is especially interested in experimenting with gesture and touch-based user interfaces. She loves to explore, solve problems, cook, and play both board games and video games. She is super excited to help out at the Girls Learning Code!

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code?
I mentor with Girls Learning Code because I want to encourage girls to explore their technological passions.

 

Lucy Feng (@lulfeng)
RL Solutions

Tell us a little about yourself!
I’m 23, and a UW grad. I love the software industry and have gotten as close to it as I can without becoming a developer myself. I love learning about user interface design and the psychology of how different demographics respond to different UI elements.

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code?
I believe that children should be immersed in the power of technology as early as possible, and that the more they learn, the better their problem solving and critical thinking skills.

 

Kathryn Barrett (@kathryn_barrett)
User Experience Ping Pong Story

Tell us a little about yourself!
Kathryn grew up in a small town just north of Toronto and found passion for design and code at the young age of twelve. Today at twenty one, she is an aspiring independent new media artist attending her fourth year at Ryerson University with an eager attitude towards learning and the development of technology. In her spare time, she is a user experience web developer currently working amongst a start-up team at Ryerson’s own Digital Media Zone and a freelance web developer and designer for various clients. Her interests lie in simplistic user interface within web, mobile and print, as well as physical interactive installations, physical computing and sound art.

Why did you get involved with Girls Learning Code?
We live in such a fascinating world with such fascinating tools and it’s awesome how I can pass down all the information I’ve gathered since I was young to the next generation. I think it’s also really cool to be in an environment where girls can feel comfortable around technology and look up to friendly, tech-savy women for guidance. Ultimately, I hope to inspire a group of girls to be creative and confident, meanwhile being able to give them the motivation to change the world.

 

Thanks Mentors! We can’t wait to get started!