AD Circle Spotlight Edition!💡
Featuring our rising stars in Tech 🌟
Before we get into anything, I am SO READY for Spring! 😫 (winter be gone!)
In this issue:
The latest happenings in The Arit Developer Circle, my community of early-career & mid-level tech professionals. 💻
We spotlight a few exemplary members of the Circle, in celebration of International Women’s Day. 🚀
Snippets of some birthday wishes I received last month. 🥰
The ADC 2025 Hackathon kicks off in April!
Once a year, the Circle runs a tech hackathon designed to be a supportive & encouraging introduction for techies who lack the experience of working in a group.
This year, the theme is “Newbies To Tech Collab Or Leadership”!
Our hackathon is geared towards early-career** developers, product managers, and product designers who have either:
Never participated in a group project or hackathon.
Never led a group project or been solely responsible for a group project or hackathon project.
** early-career = zero to 2 years of continuous full-time employment in Tech
If you are interested or know someone who would enjoy this opportunity, check out our Hackathon Info page. While Hackathon participants will be added to the Circle for admin purposes, continued membership in the Circle is NOT required.
💡AD Circle Member Spotlight
Name: Nwakaego O. Onyah
Title: Product Designer
Top Skills:
Proficient in UI/UX design
Problem Solving strategist
Sound use of design tools for value-driven solutions.
Critical thinker.
Ability to conduct research, usability testing, and prototyping.
Conduct audits on websites and digital products.
LinkedIn: Click Here
Resume: Click Here
Q: What does the 2025 IWD theme—“Accelerate Action” - mean to you as a woman in tech?
A: For me, the theme for this year’s IWD means, to just stop talking about change and start taking calculated steps to make things change for the better.
As a product designer and design instructor, I have seen talented women hesitate to get into tech because they don’t feel qualified. It’s not enough to encourage these women but to create opportunities that will help them get into tech fields.
Q: What’s a challenge you’ve faced as a woman in tech, and how did you push through it?
A: The major challenge I faced was imposter syndrome. I struggled with it at the beginning of my career: “the thought of not being good, being criticized, and my work unappreciated.”
But as time went by, I knew things had to change, so I did a lot of self-talk, continuous learning, and connecting with the right set of people, which included having mentors and people with a shared vision for growth.
Q: What advice would you give to women looking to take bold steps in their tech careers?
A: My advice to every woman looking to go into tech will be to just start. You can never feel 100% ready, so the best thing you can do for yourself is to start irrespective of how you feel.
Happy International Women’s Day to every woman out there. ❤️❤️
THANK YOU for all the LOVE on my birthday! 🎂
I was so touched to read your emails! Here are some snippets of what warmed my heart:
Reading this makes me grateful for my rebelling of the supposed-tos that happened when I chose to marry against my mom’s wishes. I was just lucky it happened so early in my life at 22. You have made me realize that it is in that early divorce from expectations that didnt originate from my own soul that I have found freedom to live my way all these years. I have never thought of it this way. Thank you for sharing. It is so delightful to see you soar. Happy birthday month, my love!
Happy birthday Arit. Thank you for your impact and contribution to the community. Your charisma is irrefutable. The Lord shower your new age with unprecedented blessings. New grace. He will continue to protect and preserve you in all your endeavours. Keep shinning. Keep soaring high. Keep breaking new grounds. I celebrate you. Cheers!
Thank you so much for sharing these experiences with me, these words truly blessed me. You are a true definition that when age is just but a number, your pivot into tech is really inspiring. Thanks for all you do for the Circle. Happy birthday in advance! I wish you a fabulous 44.
Happy belated birthday. Cheers to your year of more Grace!
Your decision to choose option 2 has made people like me believe and know that there's no lateness in life, you only need to make up your mind. Thank you mama for all you do and happy birthday.
Thank you for reading!