Graduate Profile: Ying Wang
Immigrant Journeys
2023 Graduate – Software Engineering
Ying Wang is no stranger to technology. Born in China and raised in the culturally rich city of Xi’an, she received a bachelor’s degree in IT from Xidian University. She worked as an IT project management engineer until immigrating to the United States and taking a break from her career to care for her family. But when she tried to reenter the workforce after a ten-year break, she found it difficult.
“I struggled to even get the opportunity to interview, even with a valuable skillset and work experiences,” Ying said. “Fortunately, I had a friend who had gone through ActivateWork’s program and recommended I check it out.”
Ying was impressed by ActivateWork’s promise of not only free intensive tech training but also local resources and connections to employers.
“I didn’t just update my IT skills, I also got to spend one day a week doing in-person career development training. I learned how to connect with my peers and solve problems together, and I got to practice interviewing with real HR professionals. I felt very supported and ready to meet employers.”
Ying graduated from ActivateWork’s Software Engineering program and is currently thriving as an apprentice CTE Programmer Analyst for the Colorado Community College System. Ying says, “I love the apprenticeship because I am getting a lot of on-the-job training in advanced tech skills – and because there’s a scaled progress plan from ActivateWork. I’m still getting on-going coaching sessions and continuous resources from them.” Ying says she recommends ActivateWork for other parents who have stepped away from their careers but are ready to reenter the workforce.
“ActivateWork offers support, opens up a world of connections. To me, they mean hope.”
Graduate Profile: Anacani Briseno
Immigrant Journeys
Anacani Briseno is a graduate of the ActivateWork Summer 2021 cohort.
Anacani first developed an interest in computer systems as a child through her brothers, who often shared their computer games with her. Since then, she has been experimenting with computers in her own time as a hobby.
Anacani was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She graduated from George Washington High School, where she had taken college-level courses. She graduated in 2012 and went on to Metropolitan State University of Denver, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in management.
Anacani had hoped to continue to graduate school, but her financial situation held her back. Freshly graduated but unsure what she wanted to do next, Anacani joined the Transportation Security Administration at Denver International Airport.
For three years, she worked as an agent and slowly leveled up the ranks to an officer position. But she found herself taking on roles that she didn’t feel comfortable in. Then the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down.
With the airports operating in survival mode, Anacani watched many of her coworkers lose their jobs or quit. She remembers, “It was a very stressful work environment for everyone there.” She realized that a career in IT could put her where she wanted to be mentally and financially.
At the beginning of the pandemic shutdown, she had been going to work at the airport while many of her coworkers worked remotely. There were days when she spent a lot of her time on the phone in the airport with an IT support person working from their home. After a while, Anacani would ask the IT support members about their industry.
With her background and understanding of computer systems, Anacani channeled her workplace frustrations into a search for better opportunities. She says, “I went down rabbit holes of information looking for the answers I needed.” She discovered ActivateWork’s tuition-free IT training through an Indeed job posting.
“I thought it was too good to be true,” she said. She was intrigued and felt that she should scope out the program before she wrote it off. She applied and found that it was an educational course designed to help people like her level up in the workforce.
Anacani felt that the program would give her a leg up in her job search. She felt confident, despite the rigorous 15-week commitment, that she could find great success with the support of the community ActivateWork could provide.
“It was a lot. I was up from 4:00 AM and often didn’t get downtime until 12:00 AM. I was trying to balance work and going to school, but joining ActivateWork was a 180-degree change for me.”
After graduating with her IT support certification, Anacani started her job at Ardent Mills as an IT Support Analyst.
“I feel like I’ve finally found a company that will put their employees first. They’re very supportive of their people and are open to helping them through more workforce development. I’m a lot happier here.”
Anacani feels she has a great team at Ardent Mills—she appreciates their encouragement and support, which helps her continue on an upward trajectory. She plans to continue upskilling and expanding her skill set into cloud computing and engineering.
Graduate Profile: Randy Cordova
Immigrant Journeys
Randy Cordova is a 2021 graduate of ActivateWork's IT Support program.
Randy had been interested in tech all his life but only became involved in the field in recent years. He had previously worked a variety of jobs, including construction, plumbing, and customer service.
While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems, Randy realized that his education was not actually providing him with the experience he needed to secure a job. All of the jobs Randy looked at also required specific certifications he wanted to earn, but he found it difficult to find the motivation to pursue them alone. Randy enrolled in ActivateWork’s IT Support course and found it to be exactly what he needed. Randy credits the structure and discipline provided by a classroom setting and the support from his colleagues and the team at ActivateWork for helping him complete the course.
He enjoyed the diversity of his cohort and was overwhelmed by the support that the program provided for him.
“The whole program – the professional development, the mock interviews—it gave me the confidence that I needed,” Randy recalled. “It changed the way that I think. Instead of being intimidated, I had confidence, and I had a whole team of people helping me with what I needed. Doing [ActivateWork] was probably one of the best choices I ever made.”
Since graduating, Randy has begun working full-time as an IT service desk analyst at Centura Health. He is interested in potentially pursuing Networking, Cloud Support, and Cybersecurity certifications and is currently taking an alumni NET+ course through ActivateWork.
“I feel like my path is on the right track for everything I need to do, so I’m very excited,” Randy reflected. “My confidence is up! This was a great opportunity. My whole cohort was so intelligent, and the teachers were great. I think this really changed my life.”
Graduate Profile: Mamadou Diallo
Immigrant Journeys
Mamadou Diallo, an ActivateWork graduate of 2021, is a dedicated student of personal and academic growth. He spends much of his free time studying subjects of philosophy, computer science, and general well-being.
Before immigrating to the US from Senegal, Mamadou had completed his bachelor’s in biology. He worked as a mental health counselor and health technician for a while after graduation. While it was honest work, he felt that IT was where he wanted to be in the long run.
Mamadou’s interest in IT grew when he worked as a customer service rep troubleshooting iPads and desktops. When Mamadou moved to join his cousin in the US, he knew he would want to enroll in school and began studying computer networking at the Community College of Aurora.
He felt that doing so would give him a leg up in the job market and make him eligible for more diverse job opportunities.
However, the transition was difficult; despite his interest and passion, he found that the school’s affordability was taking its toll. He had begun applying for entry-level tech jobs to no avail. At the time, Mamadou didn’t have a strong resume, nor did he have the tech certificates to back up his skillset. He thought that all his years of IT work experience should have qualified, if not over-qualified, him for all the positions he was applying for.
“I just needed someone who could allow me to start from the bottom.”
One day, he had brought this sentiment to his friends at a barbecue his brother hosted, and someone from the BBQ told him about ActivateWork.
“He said they helped you with everything; school, resume, and getting a job, so I applied. I thought it was too good to be true,” he said.
The next day, he applied. When he came to ActivateWork, Mamadou had already stopped applying for jobs. He was discouraged by the requirements employers were asking for in entry-level positions.
At ActivateWork, he was given a team of support. Before long, Mamadou was flying through his coursework. He worked with Dulcy Booth, Director of Career Development, to spruce up his resume. With the help of Ace VanWanseele, Manager of Business Solutions, he applied for jobs until he landed a position as Advance Video Engineer I at Spectrum/Charter.
“I am so happy. This is real.” Mamadou had been self-studying IT material for years. He took courses online through sites like Udemy and read textbooks, but ActivateWork helped him fill the gaps where self-teaching fell short. “I am so grateful for what ActivateWork does.”
Aside from studying, Mamadou enjoys spending time with his friends. You can catch him playing soccer in our local parks or enjoying a meal at Noodles & Company. His longer-term goals include upskilling in areas including Python, Terraform, Docker, and Kubernetes. Ultimately, he hopes to work in Cloud systems where he can expand his diverse skillset.
Graduate Profile: Elena Kim
Immigrant Journeys
A multicultural professional with Russian, Korean, and Uzbekistan roots, Elena moved to the US at the age of 24 without knowing any English.
Her diverse professional experience as a former accountant, bakery manager, photographer, and real estate agent has provided her with a rich skill set that she now brings to her tech career.
Elena’s journey at the Credit Union of Colorado exemplifies dedication and growth. As she neared her six-month milestone, Elena’s enthusiasm and engagement in her help desk responsibilities were evident.
“When I was an accountant, I worked with QuickBooks and often collaborated with my best friend, who is a cybersecurity specialist. Watching her work and asking questions sparked my fascination with the process.”
Her commitment to continuous learning and development is evident as she aims to transition from an end-user specialist to a full-time help desk technician, with a future goal of moving into cybersecurity.
Pursuing a CompTIA Security+ certification upon transitioning to full-time status highlights her dedication to advancing her skills and career within the organization. Elena credits her ActivateWork career coaches for playing a crucial role in providing the necessary guidance and resources for her personal and professional growth.
“My coaches at ActivateWork have been instrumental in ensuring that I received the guidance and resources I need for professional development.”
Elena’s story is a testament to resilience, growth, and the relentless pursuit of excellence! Her journey is an example of what can be achieved with hard work and the right support.