Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Lowe-Williams.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
The Difference Engine was born out of: 1) my personal experiences and passion for tech and 2) the challenges of bootcamp graduates to be taken seriously in the tech marketplace. As a young child, I knew I wanted to be involved with computers in some capacity. I pursued the use of computers in high school and naturally went on to major in computer science in college. My first real programming class in college was a real eye opener. I was the only female and person of color in the entire classroom. I learned very quickly that software is built collaboratively and if you can’t find a way to insert yourself into a group of developers/engineers – you were going to struggle. Which I did. Life took me away from computer science for a while but always having a passion for tech the drive to learn more and become a programmer never diminished.
After finally completing my Bachelor’s in Information Systems (having been deterred from the CS degree track), the tech world had evolved. Landing a professional opportunity in the IT field which led to working in a swanky downtown SaaS tech environment, I was determined to become a developer and get out of a supporting role. By this time, programming and coding courses were becoming more readily available online and bootcamps were now an option to collegiate programs, which I couldn’t afford anyway. I discovered a development boot camp called Anyone Can Learn to Code (now called Actualize) and went through that program while working full time as a Software Support Specialist 3 hours from my home.
After completing the program, I started applying to development jobs but encountered resistance as well as non-responsiveness to my applications. Both internally at the SaaS organization I worked for that didn’t feel I was a good fit for a more technical role as well as externally. I applied to over 174 companies and only got called in for one interview. My inbox was filled with rejection letters and biased code challenges that excluded me from even competing for a chance at a development job. Fast forward a couple of years later the opportunity was presented to develop an internal program for graduates of the same bootcamp I graduated from. This opportunity coincided with a long awaited move at my current job to a more technical engineering role, which I obtained due to corporate desperation. There was no one left to fill the role and they had yet to hire externally.
I jumped at the opportunity to do work that had both meaning to me personally as well as provide opportunities for those like me to avoid many of the challenges and pitfalls I experienced along the way. During my time as Director of Product for Actualize, I created The Difference Engine which uses the framework of the program I directed there but serves a much larger purpose and population.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As the first of our kind, being a tech nonprofit apprenticeship program, we have not had a smooth journey nor do I expect for it to be going forward. Some of the obstacles/challenges we have faced and continue to face are:
* Distinguishing ourselves from bootcamps or coding schools – we do not teach people to code as an apprenticeship program we offer job training for those who have learned to code but have never worked in a tech environment.
* Lack of funding in the form of grants/donations since we do not serve the youth – the average age of our apprentices ranges between 28-32 with wide variations at different times. These are career transitioners, life changers, or those that may be unemployed or underemployed. They have already invested in their education and are typically tapped out financially and in morale at this point, so we do them no service if we charge them. As a matter of fact we would like to offer stipends!
* Lack of empathy or understanding of the need to diversify the tech industry – while there are many articles, blogs and mantras around this “concept” very financial dollars go towards supporting programs like ours that are training the current workforce of diverse talent. Following our program (and sometimes during) these developers could be integrated into software teams at various companies.
* Securing a steady flow of volunteers and leaders – since we are a new organization every volunteer is important and plays a critical role in the success of our program. We are 100% volunteer led and rely on the drive, compassion and willingness to give weekly. It can be challenging to source Executive Board leaders, Technical Leaders and Program team members on a recurring basis.
* Creating more revenue streams for our organization – we are currently offering “loan staffing” or contract services for companies that need to add-on to their technical teams temporarily and for those apprentices that have completed the program but have not secured full time roles. As this is not our core service offering getting the word out about this and getting clients is indeed a challenge. It would be great to find more avenues with which we can create non-donation based revenues.
Please tell us about The Difference Engine, NFP.
The Difference Engine’s mission is to empower nontraditional technology professionals launch their careers. We currently do this through our web development apprenticeship program where we build custom software solutions for low revenue nonprofits and social enterprises pro bono. We create a minimally viable product that will satisfy an organizational need. Our apprentices come from various backgrounds (98% coding bootcamp grads) and work on software development teams that are led by Volunteer Technical Leads and Product Managers. We follow software development practices in an effort to emulate a real work environment so that our apprentices build confidence, master technical skills, build a portfolio of real work and serve the nonprofit community which sorely lacks the ability to pay for technical solutions.
Many of the volunteers that have completed our program have gone on to land development or technical roles. We’ve seen salaries increase as much as 108%! Some of the people in our program come from underrepresented communities and backgrounds. As the only organization of our kind, we serve as a catalyst and partner to the nontraditional technology professional. We are very proud of what we are creating here.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory is dancing with my mother in our basement to a mixed jazz collection. It was our own little therapy, completely spontaneous and didn’t happen very often. I’m not even sure it happened more than once but it makes me smile to remember that we had that moment.
Contact Info:
- Address: 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza
Suite 1212
Chicago, IL 60654 - Website: www.thedifferenceengine.io
- Email: hello@thedifferenceengine.io
- Instagram: instagram.com/tde_apprenticeship
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedifferenceengineapprenticeship
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TdeTweets312
- Other: https://medium.com/@TDEkimberly
Image Credit:
Karina Koller, Greg Rothstein
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