Ten years ago, my husband filed for divorce after nearly 25 years of marriage, and I unexpectedly had to return to work to support our five children.
As I struggled to put together my resume, I realized I had an 18-year career gap. Despite having a degree in advertising, I was new to the digital world and terms like Google AdWords were foreign to me.
A local friend encouraged me to create a LinkedIn profile, but the professional photos and polished profile I saw online made me feel insecure.
Convinced that no one would hire me, I applied to every open administrative assistant position I could find, but I didn’t hear back.
Feeling totally discouraged, I asked my brother for advice. He recommended that I schedule an informational interview with the friends who founded KT TAPE. He assured me that I would learn a lot, get good practice, and maybe even get recommendations for other companies in Silicon Valley.
A few days after meeting with them, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that they wanted to hire me as a Marketing Coordinator, even though I had no direct experience in marketing. Grateful and relieved, I started my new job two weeks later.
My role at KT TAPE gave me so many more opportunities than I could have ever imagined, and although I intended to stay there for the long term, my responsibilities were gradually scaled back as the founders eventually left.
At that point, I decided I wanted to move into tech, and I thought this would be easy because I had read a lot of stories about tech companies wanting to hire more women.
I was wrong.
I applied to nearly every tech company within a 40-mile radius and didn’t get a single interview. I was discouraged, but I was determined to get into tech. But to do that, I knew I had to convince people I was a good fit for the industry.
So I took an introductory coding class. I started regularly attending local tech conferences like Silicon Slopes Summit and Qualtrics X4. I networked with people in the industry, wrote an article for Silicon Slopes Magazine, and offered to interview tech startup founders about their company culture. I also became familiar with tech terms like SaaS, DevOps, full-stack, and cloud computing.
Eventually, my efforts paid off: I was hired by Domo and then by Amazon Web Services (AWS). In less than six years, I went from being a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) to working for one of the most respected technology companies in the world.
Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” After 10 years of an unconventional career, I decided last year to focus on giving back, and Elavare is the vehicle for that mission. We are committed to helping mothers confidently return to the workplace, especially in the tech industry, where women currently make up just 15% of the workforce in Utah, compared to 22.5% nationally.
We aim to change this through tailored support, resources and returnship programs.
To support as many women as possible, Elabale will be hosting an event both in person and online at Utah Valley University (UVU) on October 26, 2024. Save the dates!
Mothers will learn how to craft a resume, create a LinkedIn profile, interview effectively, and navigate the job market. The event is specifically designed to equip mothers with the tools and confidence they need to re-enter tech roles that will help close the gender gap.
Students can also attend for free if they bring their paying mother, providing a unique opportunity for students to encourage their mothers to restart their careers. Additionally, students will benefit from the event by learning the same essential skills that will prepare them for the workforce after graduation.
Local businesses can support mothers by sponsoring events or partnering with Elavallé to launch a return-to-work program modeled on Goldman Sachs’ initiative in 2008. These short-term, paid internships help women return to the workplace and provide them with the skills and experience they need to succeed and become leaders.
Enabling mothers to rejoin the workforce increases household income, reduces reliance on social services, and contributes more effectively to the economy, creating positive ripple effects for communities.
Please encourage the mothers around you to join us. Website For more details, proceeds from the event will provide scholarships for single mothers to return to school, helping them build a better future and contributing to the growth and diversity of the tech industry.
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