Black Voices in Tech: She Codes the Culture (virtual)

The Tech Collective Presents: Black Voices in Tech

In celebration of Black History Month, we invite you to join us for Black Voices In Tech: She Codes the Culture.

Tamiyoo Desir and Promise Owa, computer science students at Khoury College, share their personal journeys navigating education, identity, and opportunity as Black women entering the tech space. This conversation highlights resilience, community, and the power of claiming space in an industry still being reshaped.

Tamiyoo Desir, MSCS Align Student Ambassador

“From library assistant to computer scientist, my story starts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I originally ventured out of my hometown to get my undergraduate degree in English and Creative Writing from the University of Iowa. After finishing this degree, I took a gap year to reorient myself and figure out what my next steps should be. This led me to the Google UX Design Certificate Program where I discovered that there was more to tech than coding and software engineering.

“As I pursue my master’s degree in computer science, I want to use my voice and my position as a student ambassador to enforce the idea that the field of tech is versatile and ever-changing, and that it truly is for anyone willing to take the leap.”

Promise Owa, MSCS student and educational innovator

“A former educator from Delta State, Nigeria, I am redefining what it means to be a Black woman in tech. Currently pursuing my master’s in computer science at Northeastern University, I began my career as a kindergarten teacher in Abuja. While I spent my days shaping young minds, I spent my breaks troubleshooting tech for my colleagues — an awakening that eventually led me to defy the “it’s too late” narrative and transition into software development.

“After joining a women-focused bootcamp and working as a web developer/UX researcher for a UK-based firm, I am now deepening my technical foundation in the US. My work is a tribute to the She Codes the Culture mission: I am currently researching ways to personalize K-12 education for underserved students in sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to bridge the digital divide for marginalized populations. By combining my expertise in pedagogy with high-level technical skills, I am creating affordable, sustainable tools designed to empower low-income families. I am committed to mentoring women and youth in the underserved communities, proving that it is never too late to claim your space in the digital revolution.”