Her Story
About Hannah
Hannah Desrosiers recently graduated with a degree in Computer Science and Software Engineering from Mercy Lob School. During her studies, she gained hands-on experience in full-stack development, building websites and apps, and collaborated on a project that was selected for presentation at Cognizant in New York. She is actively involved in professional networking organizations including Rewriting the Code, which supports women in tech, and Up Notch. Hannah has a strong passion for education and mentoring, having taught basic coding skills such as Scratch and block coding to children through smaller tech organizations and previously running the Code Nation non-profit to provide free coding instruction in schools. She attributes her success to the supportive community she found after transferring schools, which helped her feel comfortable taking up space and asking questions. Hannah values curiosity, discipline, and creativity, and advises young women entering tech to surround themselves with like-minded people who want to see them succeed.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Hannah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say definitely the community I had around me, because when I transferred, actually, I didn't have the best experience at the school I was going to, even though I was learning a lot of meaningful things that even helped me in my new school. But that community was just so different and so open that it allowed me to learn, to be comfortable with myself, and be comfortable taking up space, and asking the questions, and wanting to grow for myself, and then for the people around me.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say definitely take up space and be loud, and don't be afraid to ask questions, for sure, because even when I first started, I was super shy, I wasn't asking questions, and I realized this is such a great community, as long as you surround yourself with people who are like-minded, and not just like-minded, but also want to see you succeed, you are able to take up that space, and so you should take up that space, because they want you to.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
My biggest challenge is battling imposter syndrome, realizing that I am good enough. Sometimes I'll get into interviews and feel like I don't even know how to do these things even though I've done all the classes and work. It's about realizing I deserve to be here, I made the work to be here, so let me try my best to be here.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Definitely curiosity for sure, definitely discipline, and also creativity as well.
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