Women’s Association Work Experience Week

This summer, our London office welcomed a group of five students for a week-long work experience program called The Women’s Association Challenge. This aims to bridge the gap between aspirations and achievements for young women and it was organised in collaboration with The Women’s Association.

The Context

The Women’s Association is dedicated to removing barriers that prevent women from creating the life of their dreams, focusing on access to careers in Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts, and Maths (STEAM). Our collaboration was a practical step towards this mission, providing real-world experience in a tech environment.

Objectives

For the tech team, the goal was clear: to inspire these young minds by exposing them to the different roles within a tech team and to help them understand that a tech career is as diverse as the people in it. From PhD holders, to computer science graduates to people joining bootcamps, our team’s varied paths to tech were showcased, highlighting that there is no single route to success in our field. One particularly inspiring story is that of one of our test engineers, who transitioned from textile design studies to travelling full time, then becoming a baker, before finally moving to tech. This varied path enriched her personal development and brought unique perspectives to her role in tech, highlighting the innovative and inclusive culture we foster at Bloom & Wild.

Activities

The week was packed with activities designed to immerse the participants in Bloom & Wild’s different departments. In tech, we kicked off with a 45-minute presentation in which members from our backend, frontend, apps, and data science teams shared their daily roles and personal journeys into tech. This session demystified what working in tech entails and showcased the supportive culture we foster at Bloom & Wild.

Following the presentations, our product team, assisted by one of our tech leads, conducted a hands-on workshop. The task? To create a product line to be featured on our website. This was not just about coding but about thinking creatively, working as a team, and seeing a project through from conception to execution.

The Impact

The response was overwhelmingly positive. The participants engaged actively, asking insightful questions and demonstrating a keen interest in our work. Their final presentations displayed their new-found knowledge and testament to their potential in the tech industry.

The experience was equally enriching for us. Witnessing their growth and enthusiasm reminded us of the importance of our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It was a week of learning, not just for the young women but for every member of our team involved.