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Moms do a lot! Between caring for kids and households and other responsibilities like jobs or classes, it can seem like there's not enough time (or energy) in the day. But do you know what else they can do? Moms can code!

Erica Peterson sees tech as a perfect solution for working moms. As a new mom with a biology degree, she was working in a research lab when she realized that maintaining a work/life balance that way was simply too difficult. But being a stay-at-home mom felt unbalanced in the other direction, so Erica decided to try something new on her own.

Her first venture was a nonprofit called Science Tots, born out of her love for science. She started with classes in a church basement, leading parents and young children through activities to build early STEM skills. Now, the nonprofit works with schools and hosts large events.

While attending educational conferences to get new business ideas, Erica kept hearing about coding. She realized that since coding was probably something her son would be learning, she should try it too. To unite other moms who wanted to do the same thing, she started another group-and thus Moms Can Code began. Her online program connects moms with coding resources, mentors, and remote job opportunities to help them build a flexible life.

In this episode, Erica talks about her journey, what she's trying to accomplish with Moms Can Code, the flexibility of tech, and the importance of finding your passion. Listen below!

Key Takeaways:

Tech isn't a scary, inaccessible industry-it's all around us and open to anyone

Working in tech can mean saving for college for the kids, putting a downpayment on a house, or building a retirement fund, all while keeping space and time for your family

Start with something that you're passionate about. Think of something that would be useful to you or solves a problem that you care about, and work towards building that.

Have a plan. If you just go through all the lessons and courses that you can find, you could be learning forever. Dabble at first, but with the goal of finding something you enjoy and starting on a specific path.

Have fun with it and embrace the new opportunities tech brings your way!

Links and mentions from the episode:

Where to listen to the podcast

You can listen to the Learn to Code With Me podcast on the following platforms:

1. iTunes

2. Overcast

3. Stitcher

4. Spotify

If you have a few extra minutes, please rate and review the show in iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show. I would really, really appreciate it!

Special thanks to this episode's sponsors

MongoDB: MongoDB is a free, open-source document database that has all the querying and indexing tools you need, and the scalability and flexibility to get work done faster. They offer free courses on deploying and developing with the MongoDB software, so head to university.mongodb.com to get started today.

Flatiron School: If you want to break into software engineering, Flatiron School's comprehensive Online Software Engineering Immersive will give you the skills and support you need to launch your career. Start learning for free with their coding bootcamp prep course at flatironschool.com/learntocodewithme.

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Why Tech is the Perfect Industry for Working Moms With Erica Peterson (S6E2)

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Moms do a lot! Between caring for kids and households and other responsibilities like jobs or classes, it can seem like there's not enough time (or energy) in the day. But do you know what else they can do? Moms can code!

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Episode 046: Working From Home with Kids

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Episode 046: Working From Home with Kids

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Emily Kennedy built an AI tech company from the ground up for a social mission, to fight human trafficking. Over the years, she learned a lot about hustling and just figuring things out. She interviews CEOs, founders, and world-changers to learn their battle-tested tools and tactics for success. This podcast is all about empowering women to change the world.

Emily Kennedy built an AI tech company from the ground up for a social mission, to fight human trafficking. Over the years, she learned a lot about hustling and just figuring things out. She interviews CEOs, founders, and world-changers to learn their battle-tested tools and tactics for success. This podcast is all about empowering women to change the world.

Anne W.

Beautifully spoken, Emily!

An Inspiring Queen

Emily makes my day. I love hearing her topics and ideas because they're always so thought provoking.

Woohoo!

Love this podcast!! Every episode is a gem.

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‎The Empower Podcast with Emily Kennedy on Apple Podcasts

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‎Emily Kennedy built an AI tech company from the ground up for a social mission, to fight human trafficking. Over the years, she learned a lot about hustling and just figuring things out. She interviews CEOs, founders, and world-changers to learn their battle-tested tools and tactics for success. Thi...

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Dear HR: A Letter From A Stay-At-Home Mom - a DisruptHR talk by Erica Peterson - Founder & CEO of Moms Can: CODE & Science Tots, Inc.

DisruptHR Pittsburgh 2.0 - April 19, 2018 in Pittsburgh, PA #DisruptHRPGH

#DisruptHRPGH, DisruptHR, DisruptHR Pittsburgh, Erica Peterson

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Dear HR: A Letter From A Stay-At-Home Mom | Erica Peterson | DisruptHR Talks - DisruptHR

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Dear HR: A Letter From A Stay-At-Home Mom - a DisruptHR talk by Erica Peterson - Founder & CEO of Moms Can: CODE & Science Tots, Inc. DisruptHR Pittsburgh 2.0 - April 19, 2018 in Pittsburgh, PA #DisruptHRPGH #DisruptHRPGH, DisruptHR, DisruptHR Pittsburgh, Erica Peterson

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Moms Can Code (and Quit Apologizing)  | Erica Peterson | TEDxPittsburghWomen

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Pittsburgh's technology industry may be a hub of innovation and research, but women are often shut out of these spaces. Pittsburgh ranks 46th among the best 58 cities for women in tech, according to a 2018 SmartAsset report that analyzed data on the gender pay gap, income after housing costs, representation in the workplace, and overall growth in employment.

It's well documented that a diversity of people in the room leads to diversity in ideas. In a city looking to lead the charge in technology, an industry that aims to solve the world's problems with apps and ideas, solving the gender gap is paramount.

It's a problem that's not solved in a few brainstorming sessions or hackathons, but StartNow spoke to some women leading the way in the region about what steps the city can take to make our booming technology industry more inclusive.

"We are 100% women-run and didn't realize how rare it was."

RedTree Web Designs ' team has always been 100 percent women-run, but it was only last year that founder Meesha Gerhart considered that it might be noteworthy.

RedTree Web Design staff picture. Photo Credit: RedTree Web Design

Gerhart is a leading member of RedchairPGH, a nonprofit committed to gender balance in Pittsburgh's technology professions, but she didn't set out to create an exclusively women-staffed company. "It was completely by coincidence. We just tried to find good people that were a good culture fit. They all just happened to be women."

In an industry where only 5 percent of tech startups are owned by women, the data on entirely women-run companies or teams is nonexistent.

"For us, it has really been a conscious effort when we're marketing not to make that our differentiator." Click through RedTree's website and you'll see headshots of the all-women team, but it's not the banner greeting visitors. "Then people can take a look around and realize, 'Oh hey, they just happen to be women.'"

Though she comes from a women-owned and -operated tech company, Gerhart is first to say that's not the solution to Pittsburgh's gender disparity. "The first course of action for any kind of movement is to start the conversation."

How does the conversation start? It's education all around. Gerhart advises at Chatham's Women's Business Center, leading courses on salary negotiation. "What I really love is that you see a lot more women knowing their value."

Gerhart's also seen the effect of RedChairPGH's efforts in Pittsburgh's bigger workplaces. "Leaders are realizing there's a problem within their company structure, and they're inviting women to the conversation. That's the thing-you don't need to get a whole bunch of your guys together to solve this. You need to bring more women to the table."

"I realized we're not reaching everyone that needs to be heard."

Erica Peterson saw her venture as a way to break down a few of the many workplace barriers that face women in tech. Moms Can & Co. provides online programs for moms, busy parents, and anyone else interested in learning more about coding.

"Transportation is one of the reasons globally that women have trouble getting work," explains Peterson. With the workforce, especially in technology, becoming more remote, Peterson knew what angle she wanted to take with her coding boot camp.

The signature 12-week program, now in its fifth cohort, is entirely online, and students learn the ins and outs of GitHub and begin a web developer portfolio. "Remote work is the future of the workforce," Peterson says, and Moms Can & Co. courses help prepare participants for remote work culture.

Working remotely isn't for everyone, but it can remove some of the barriers to entry that keep women from finding jobs in tech, Peterson explains. "I've taught wives of NFL coaches, or spouses of athletes because they couldn't sustain that five-year or 10-year career at a company with their husbands moving season to season."

Remote work also appeals to stay-at-home parents who want to kickstart a new career while balancing childcare duties. Peterson, who works full-time from home with her children, views remote work as a great equalizer for women in technology. "When you interview someone for a remote role via video, you can't tell where they live, you can't tell what brand they're wearing. It's not as much about the person sitting in front of you as the work that they're presenting."

Learning new skills and launching into a remote tech career could go a long way toward solving the gender disparity in tech, but Peterson acknowledges it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. But cubicle-laden workplaces could learn a thing or two from the fully remote office, adopting more flexible policies to foster an inclusive workplace.

"One of the barriers I see, at least locally, is the infrastructure to go remote or flexible just isn't there; they rely too much on that in-person communication," says Peterson. In contrast, a remote company has processes clearly outlined and meetings and presentations recorded. For instance, if a mother has to leave her software engineer job to pick up a sick child at school, she doesn't run the risk of missing out on the new launch ideas in the big afternoon meeting. "Let's think of other ways to accommodate everyone and be more accessible for everyone as a workplace," says Peterson.

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How Pittsburgh's Women in Tech Aim to End Disparity

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Pittsburgh's technology industry may be a hub of innovation and research, but women are often shut out of these spaces. Pittsburgh ranks 46th among the best 58 cities for women in tech, according to a 2018 SmartAsset report that analyzed data on the gender pay gap, income after housing costs, representation in the workplace, and overall growth in employment.

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Pittsburgh companies Gridwise and Moms Can: Code are two of 50 finalists in the South by Southwest Accelerator Pitch Event this spring in Austin, Texas, while a third local startup, Hustle, snagged an alternate spot for the contest.

It's a huge honor to be a finalist for SXSW, said Erica Peterson, founder of Moms Can: Code, a membership-based community that helps moms learning to code.

Also, "it's an incredible funding platform," she said. Per a news release from SXSW, more than 70 percent of the companies who've pitched at this event have gone on to receive funding as a result.

Gridwise CEO Ryan Green agreed. His company aims to help rideshare drivers increase their earnings through their app.

"We are excited to be selected as one of the five transportation technology companies to pitch at SXSW. It will be a great place for us to create awareness of Gridwise and make some new product announcements," he said via news release.

The pitch contest is one of the headlining events for SXSW's conference and festivals. This year, more than 600 companies applied for the 50 finalists slots in 10 categories.

Moms Can: Code, which launched this summer, is a finalist in the Social and Culture Technologies category, whilenearly 2-year-old Gridwise is a finalist in transportation technologies.

Peterson said she's most excited about the exposure and opportunity to spread the word about Moms Can: Code and its mission on a global and national scale.

See a full list here of finalists, who will pitch in front of a panel of judges and a live audience of industry experts, venture capitalists and media on March 10 and 11. In addition to naming a winner in each category, there will also be a "Best in Show" to mark the event's tenth anniversary.

Matt Michaux, CEO of Pittsburgh-based Hustle, an app for sports drills and instruction, said that as an alternate, he'll compete in a mini pitch contest with other alternates in the Sports and Performance Data Technologies category as well as have backstage access to SXSW events.Hustle, which launched in January of 2016, provides basketball drills and instruction from professionals to users and plans to add more sports such as soccer, baseball and softball.

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These 2 Pittsburgh startups are pitching at SXSW's Accelerator Pitch Event

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Pittsburgh companies Gridwise and Moms Can: Code are two of 50 finalists in the South by Southwest Accelerator Pitch Event this spring in Austin, Texas, while a third local startup, Hustle, snagged an alternate spot for the contest.

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We all know that there's a massive skills gap when it comes to the tech industry, with a lack of women in tech roles.

In the next series of # womenin blogs, we're talking all about how to win as a woman in the tech industry.

recently consulted the 5 biggest names in tech (all female) and asked them for their tips, techniques, and tactics that have afforded them their tech success. Just The Muse one-quarter of all computing roles are filled by women , so we wanted to learn how they stood out and what it's like for a female building a lifelong career in their field.

1. Big each other up

Sheila Oh, Director of Seattle University's Computer Science Fundamentals Certificate Program, joined Systers , an online platform for females in tech roles.
"Understanding that I wasn't alone was so powerful for me" - Sheila
Having access to women who were in her position, though not in her company, allowed Sheila to feel included, rather than isolated. With so few women in tech, it's better to band together than compete against each other. She identified Systers as a place to '. trade diversity and inclusion solutions from one another's companies '

2. Fight the imposter syndrome

Being the only female in the room can be daunting - it can even convince you not to speak up for fear of being ridiculed. Lisette Cruz suggests reminding yourself that you were ". Keep looking for problems to solve, processes to improve and contributions that could be made. hired for this position for a reason"

Erica Peterson, of Moms Can: Code, " - be forward thinking, speak out and don't allow your contributions to be quashed. You have every right to be here and voice your opinions. encourages women to build their own table"

3. Don't let bias get into your head

Whether or not you feel or think that someone you work with might have a bias or believe that women have no place in tech, don't rise to it. Whatever situation you're in, focus on the technicalities, the specifics. If you're being interviewed, concentrate on aligning yourself with the job spec but don't over-egg it. Don't assume a bias, just do your best and know that you are welcome in any room you put yourself in.

4. Create your own tech space for women - and don't stop there!

Whitney Wolfe developed the dating app, Bumble, after a sexual harassment lawsuit that saw her leave Tinder. Bumble only allows women to talk first - empowering women against the kind of male backlash Whitney faced herself.

Holly Brockwell founded Gadgette , one of the only online tech space s that were created by women.

Nicola Mendelsohn is the VP for Europe, the Middle East & Africa for Facebook. Not bad for a woman who, upon having her third child, was chided by her boss with ' how many more times are we going to have this conversation, Nicola? '

Sarah Wood co-founded video advertising, Unruly, because " women often have all the requisite skills, they just don't know it. There's no ability gap, but there's often a yawning confidence gap, and that's what we need to close" .

5. Take advice from those who came before you

We love a good quote, a nice motivational nugget to start the day. Here are a few blinders from some inspirational women in tech:
"Collaborate to learn. Join different organisations that are representative of different industries and obtain positions that will help you to learn a different skill-set in each."Tiffany Pham - Founder & CEO of Mogul Inc.
"Volunteer to work for the best people in the industry you really want to get into. No need to worry about title or pay. Once you get into the company, talk to everyone. Meet as many people as possible and learn as much as you can about how the business works. And remember to always follow up. Do what you said you would do."
Edith Yeung - Partner of 500 Mobile Collective Fund."Be aggressive. You have all the goods - be confident! Sometimes it may feel that's not what society expects of women, but just keep going and be bold. In my experience, women tend to be over prepared and under-confident. It's important to match your competence with your confidence." Chenoa Farnsworth - Managing Partner of Blue Start-ups.

So, there you have it - 5 stages to tech success, from those who have been there and done that.

Be confident, make your gender irrelevant to your skillset, make your gender relevant to your support network and lift up another woman whenever you can.

Perhaps being female is your niche? Have you had a unique experience that you could improve upon for others? Are women being particularly underrepresented in an area that you're extremely qualified in?
Go forth and conquer!

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recently consulted the 5 biggest names in tech (all female) and asked them for their tips, techniques, and tactics that have afforded them their tech success. Just The Muse one-quarter of all computing roles are filled by women , so we wanted to learn how they stood out and what it's like for a female building a lifelong career in their field.

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When considering the gender imbalance in technology-related professions, consider the words of a British man who goes by "Replicant Fish."

"Men will always have a bigger, more natural connection with tech than women will. It's not a sense of men keeping women out. Men are more naturally into these things," he states amid the recurring misogyny of one of his YouTube posts, while alleging that women prefer the confines of, say, the cosmetics industry.

"I listened to this with my kids sitting there," Amy Halter said after playing a portion of the video for her audience at Crowne Plaza Suites Pittsburgh South in Bethel Park. "I was just boiling inside. What are we talking about here? This is craziness."

Halter, vice president of operations for technology solutions company Accion Labs, joined two other speakers recently for Impactful Women: Technology Summit, hosted by the South West Communities Chamber of Commerce.

Audrey Russo, Pittsburgh Technology Council president and chief executive officer, and former Washington resident Erica Peterson, founder and owner of Moms Can: Code and Science Tots, also shared insight about their careers and how women, indeed, can find success in technology.

The Replicant Fish rant elicited strongly negative reactions among those in attendance, which was Halter's intent.

"This kind of really drove me forward in understanding what I believe in and really kind of reignited that fire for me: why I'm here today, why I go out to the schools and what I hope to accomplish," she said, referring to her frequent talks with students, especially girls, about what technology has to offer them.

She quoted statistics from the National Center for Women and Information Technology: "By 2026, 3.5 million computing-related job openings are expected. At the current rate, only 17 percent of these jobs could be filled by U.S. computing bachelor's degree recipients."

Halter contends that such numbers represent tremendous opportunities for women, despite Replicant Fish's observations.

"Here, we have a tremendous talent shortage, and this guy is saying: Go to the makeup industry. Just stay over there. Really?" she said. "This video was everything, to me, that I'm trying to push against. I'm trying to remove those gender barriers."

In a field where men outnumber women four to one, Russo has led the Pittsburgh Technology Council for 11 years.

"There's this need for massive, massive, continuous skill acquisition," she said about the industry's outlook. "So the opportunity for all of us women is: how are we 'upskilling' each other? How are we developing new skills, and what's the method to that, both formally and informally?

"Here's what I tell women all the time: Learn finance," she continued. "Learn how to read spreadsheets. Learn how to read balance sheets. Understand profit and loss. Have conversations about that all the time. It's the best skill that I've learned."

Peterson, who has two young children, founded Science Tots to connect families with instruction and tools to provide early learning about subjects related to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Her latest project is Moms Can: Code, a global community and training program that features online classes.

"If you are somebody who's considering a path as an entrepreneur, my advice is to always go for it, because it can be life-changing," she said. "And I am definitely proof of that."

She pointed out that women already have a leading role with regard to technology.

"We own the most mobile phones. We use them the most. We have the most buying power, too," Peterson said. "You are all in business and using tech daily, and it has enhanced either your business lives or your personal lives."

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south west communities chamber of commerce

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'Impactful Women' summit addresses opportunities in technology

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When considering the gender imbalance in technology-related professions, consider the words of a British man who goes by "Replicant Fish." "Men will always have a bigger, more natural connection with tech than women will. It's not a sense of men keeping women out.

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Three decades later, Pittsburgh tech startups still pretty bad at hiring women, speaker says

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Investors are still mostly interested in returns and are "not necessarily interested in the culture" of the company.

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Delivering superior customer experience can drive success for your business. Consider these tips to maximize your customers' satisfaction.

In today's ultra-competitive business environment, keeping your customers happy and ensuring they have a positive experience can separate you from the pack. But what exactly does customer experience entail?

How you communicate with customers, the product support you offer them and the image they have of your company all contribute to the customer experience, says Blake Morgan, author More is More: How the Best Companies Work Harder And Go Farther to Create Knock-Your-Socks-Off Customer Experiences. Put another way, Morgan says, "it's the perception the customer has of your brand, shaped by a series of interactions, experiences and touchpoints."

Taking a passive approach to customer experience by letting the chips fall where they may and troubleshooting problems after they arise can be a shortsighted approach. To deliver a winning customer experience, you need to get ahead of customer perception and manage it throughout the business life cycle.

If customers have a difficult time getting help with a product they purchased from you, for example, they probably won't think highly of your company. But if your support staff is quick to respond, friendly and helpful, customers will be more likely to come back and recommend your business to others.

Boosting the customer experience can propel your business ahead of the competition. Here's how to get started.

Make customer experience a priority

"Given the rise of always-on mobile customers, the key to differentiating your brand today is through a customer experience strategy that's woven into your fundamental business strategy," says Robb Hecht, marketing professor of marketing at Baruch College.

Morgan agrees. "Customer experience is a business strategy," she says. "Most companies struggle with simply being customer-focused over being product-focused. Make this simple shift and it will greatly impact everything about your business."

Taking the time to improve your processes so customers don't bombard you for help is a good start. "Many companies don't focus on efficiencies and as a result spend much of their time putting out fires," Morgan explains. Instead, she advises creating "a culture of preventative care."

Automating more of your processes can be a big help, Morgan suggests. So can soliciting customer feedback and putting it to good use.

"Just because you're a small business doesn't mean you can't act like a big business," Morgan says. "There are many amazing CRM tools out there that will help you create more seamless experiences for customers."

Give customers more

"It's now a customer-first world where brand expectations are high," Hecht says. The more value you give customers, the greater their loyalty will be. Think coupons, rewards, free and quick shipping, product recommendations, recognition of customer shopping preferences and self-service features like FAQs and demos.

Jeff Neal, operations manager of The Critter Depot, which sells live crickets to reptile and amphibian owners, will attest to that. The company's website features numerous FAQs, video tutorials and pet care guides written by zoologists and herpetologists. Besides adding value to customers, this free information helps lighten the load of the company's four customer agents.

"Our videos and care guides have definitely reduced the amount of incoming emails," Neal says. One of the biggest questions customers used to ask The Critter Depot was how to store the hundreds of live crickets they'd receive at once, he says. But now pet owners can find an easy-to-follow tutorial on the company website.

Offering personalized service is a must, too. The Critter Depot's customers can share their pet profile to their online account. " When they place an order, this lets the agent see what type of pet they're feeding, which gives us the chance to make important suggestions to boost their diet," Neal says. He estimates that adding this feature has boosted customer retention by at least 50 percent. "Now customers see that we're concerned about 'Spike' or 'Mango' or any other pet they're caring for," he says.

In addition, The Critter Depot, which uses breathable packing insulation for its shipments, guarantees live delivery within two to three days. "We know our customers need these crickets to feed their beloved pet," Neal says. "So it's important they arrive in a timely manner and in great health."

Offer multiple channels of support

Today's customers have higher expectations thanks to the ubiquity of smartphones and social media. Consumers favor businesses that provide immediate customer support, Hecht says. Millennial and Generation Z shoppers, in particular, prefer using mobile websites, social media and automated chatbots for customer support, he adds.

But delivering a satisfying customer experience in this hyperconnected business environment takes effort. "The customer wants to be served on the channel they came in on," Morgan says. What's more, she adds, customers expect instantaneous updates on their wait time. Otherwise, they may contact you on all your channels at once out of frustration.

Like many small businesses, Moms Can & Co., a job leads and code training service for mothers, offers customers the option of interacting via email, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and live chats on Slack. " Customers can directly contact me or one of the instructors or managers of our online programs at any time," says founder and CEO Erica Peterson. "In order to engage and retain customers, it's important to listen to theirs needs and share ways for them to directly communicate with real people, not chatbots."

Give back to society

Study after study shows consumers prefer to spend their money on products and brands that do some good in the world. That might mean reducing your carbon footprint as many corporate leaders have done. Or it might mean donating a percentage of your proceeds to worthy causes like online retailers TOMS and Warby Parker do.

When it comes to corporate social responsibility, authenticity is key. Feign interest in social causes just to score points with customers and they'll see right through it.

Consider Noah Glanville, who served as a Navy corpsman in Iraq and owns Pit Barrel Cooker Co., which sells "hook and hang" drum-shaped grills. Since founding the company in 2010 with his wife Amber, Glanville has prioritized supporting the veteran community. PBC seeks out veterans during the hiring process. The company also gives customers who are military, police and fire veterans a custom logo plate featuring their branch or department with their purchase at no extra charge. In addition, PBC donates a portion of those sales to charities serving veterans and first responders.

"From our perspective, this is less about appealing to potential customers and more about an inherent shared commitment," Glanville says.

Get employees on board

Even the best customer engagement strategy will fall flat if your employees don't share your zeal for your product. Hiring people with an upbeat, customer-focused, can-do attitude is the first step. Training them to provide outstanding service during each customer interaction is the second.

Glanville places a premium on employing enthusiastic customer service workers and ensuring they know how to use his products. "Many of our customer care staff cook on the Pit Barrel Cooker a few times a week and are passionate about the product," Glanville says. "But most importantly, we ensure they have the personality for the job and really enjoy helping our customers get the most out of their PBC."

Enabling salespeople and customer-facing reps to fulfill various customer needs is also crucial, Morgan says. "Don't make employees get your approval for every single customer request," Morgan explains. "Life happens for customers; allow the person in front of them to fix their problem. Think of the experiences you would like to have as a customer. Then go build them for your own customers."

This article is intended for informational purposes only. Readers should consult their own financial advisers, attorneys or other tax advisors regarding any financial or tax strategies mentioned in this article.

Equal Housing Lender. Santander Bank, N.A. is a Member FDIC and a wholly owned subsidiary of Banco Santander, S.A. ©2017 Santander Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Santander, Santander Bank, and the Flame Logo are trademarks of Banco Santander, S.A. or its subsidiaries in the United States or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Help Your Company Stand Out by Improving Customer Experience | Santander Business First

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Delivering superior customer experience can drive success for your business. Consider these tips to maximize your customers' satisfaction. In today's ultra-competitive business environment, keeping your customers happy and ensuring they have a positive experience can separate you from the pack. But what exactly does customer experience entail?

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Hey, kids, start your engines!

Even if you're not old enough to have a driver's license, there's plenty to do at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. Events run from July 11-21, with the biggest fun for kids reserved for the final weekend.

In its 37th year, the Grand Prix includes the nation's largest vintage street race, car shows, parties, parades and motorsport events. The calendar is loaded! Kids with a passion for Hot Wheels will love seeing the life-size race cars during a series of car cruises and parades taking place Downtown and in Squirrel Hill. Pirates fans will get a kick from seeing the newly restored 1972 Dodge Charger awarded to Roberto Clemente as the MVP of the 1971 World Series.

But on race weekend, the Kids' Tent, sponsored by Ford, will be the best high-octane adventure for young attendees. Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 20 and 21 in Schenley Park, the 20-by-40-foot space is more than crayons and crafts, it's filled with state-of-the-art technology meant to inspire the next generation of automotive engineers.

The myriad stations incorporate STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) activities. In addition to checking out Vintage Grand Prix's marquee cars - the Shelby and Mustang - kids can learn how to code on iPads or put on a pair of virtual reality glasses. Ford Performance mascots Shelby and Turbo McBoost, who are making their first stateside appearance, will join in the fun.

"When we look at activities, we want the kids to have a great time, but there also has to be learning involved," says Nancy Lewis, public relations manager for Neighborhood Ford Store, a group of 80 Ford dealers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and West Virginia. "The parents are learning, too. It's a benefit for everybody."

Science Tots, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit organization founded in 2016, is behind the wheel of the activities, which are aimed at everyone from babies to teens.

"This year, we're really excited to bring developmentally appropriate virtual reality and augmented reality activities to the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix," says Erica Peterson, Science Tots founder and president. The organization's certified educators and volunteers will model how to incorporate the new technologies into every day early childhood play.

"All of our activities are hands-on," she says. "And this year, we'll have a lot more take-home activities than the previous two years so that parents can continue conversations about science, tech, engineering, art and math at home."

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Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix brings high-octane adventures for kids | Pittsburgh is Kidsburgh

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Hey, kids, start your engines! Even if you're not old enough to have a driver's license, there's plenty to do at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. Events run from July 11-21, with the biggest fun for kids reserved for the final weekend.

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These days, it seems like there is always a new "it" gadget or app creating buzz. Whether it's something that turns your house into a smart home, or an app with real-time rapid fire questions (HQ, anyone?), there is constantly something new coming out of the tech industry.

So, if you want to be in tech, you'd better love the intensity and pace of it all, says Michelle Wingard, co-founder of Dynamo, an IT consulting and recruiting firm, noting that we're living in the midst of a transformation of the technology landscape. These changes don't just lead to the challenge of keeping up-they also lead to a wealth of opportunity.

Jen Low, career developer at Hackbright Academy, an engineering school for women, agrees. She points out that curious, adaptable people are likely to do well in tech. "It's hard to get bored with so much to learn and different areas to pursue within the industry," she says.

While there's plenty of opportunity, the reality remains that building a career in technology has proven more difficult for women than it has for men. Just one quarter of all computing roles are filled by women, and less than 10 percent of that number are women of color. Not only do women hold less tech jobs, but they also don't stay in tech for as long as men do.

So, we spoke with five women in tech to get their advice on how to build a lifelong career in their field.

When Sheila Oh, now director of Seattle University's Computer Science Fundamentals Certificate Program and community leader of AnitaB.org's Seattle Chapter, started her tech career, she says she wasn't surprised to be the only woman in the room and didn't give it much thought.

But as she moved forward in her career, her sense of isolation grew until she finally realized that there must be other women feeling just as isolated as she was and also not getting the support they needed. Rather than leaving the field, she decided to give and seek help by getting involved in Systers, an online forum for women in tech, which later lead to her volunteering and mentoring with AnitaB.org.

"Understanding that I wasn't alone was so powerful for me," she says, noting that isolation can often lead to imposter syndrome and is part of what causes some women to leave the field.

"Having a community, even just someone else to talk to who's in a similar experience, helps you support one another." Not only can you connect with and inspire others, Sheila says, but you can even use this as a venue to trade diversity and inclusion solutions from one another's companies.

Nearly everyone harbors biases of some sort, and this has proven true when it comes to women in technology.

"It's almost empowering just to accept that there will be bias," says Sheila. "Women may be seen as less technical, even if their experience matches their male counterparts." To combat this in interviews, she says it's most effective to speak directly about the job description and how you fit it.

"Focus on what you bring to the table and on what you do know rather than focusing on where you may need to further develop," Sheila suggests, noting that bias can affect everything from interviews to promotions to the projects people are staffed on.

Lisette Cruz, program manager for Hewlett Packard Enterprise's Power Advisors and Data Center Infrastructure, admits that because her field is male-dominated, women may feel that it's risky to share their ideas for fear of being ridiculed when they speak up. But she fought through this fear when she saw opportunities to improve the user interface of one of HPE's software tools.

"I had moments of doubt. I felt like I couldn't deliver and that my ideas were not innovative enough," she recalls. "But I told myself I was hired for this position for a reason. When I presented the changes to my team and our stakeholders, they loved it."

Michelle agrees. "Be proactive when looking for opportunities to help move the organization forward and grow. When you observe opportunities to contribute to the greater good of the people you serve and the organization, take it," she urges. "There's no shortage of opportunities or hard problems that need solving. Stepping up and taking action demonstrate accountability, with the added bonus of building new skills and keeping yourself relevant in the process."

Special projects are a great starting point, but why stop there, asks Erica Peterson, founder of Moms Can: Code, a membership-based community that provides opportunities for moms with the similar goals to connect.

"Pulling up a chair to sit at the table is great advice if you want to be a part of someone else's legacy. I want to encourage women to build their own table," she says. "My advice is to create your own!"

"I highly recommend identifying a mentor and reaching out to them for direction," says Erica. "If this isn't something you're comfortable doing within your own company, you should hire a career coach."

Jen explains how Hackbright alumnae find active mentors within their network. Some, she says, even land future engineering roles by leveraging their greater alumnae community. She suggests using the filtered search on LinkedIn to identify a few individuals with a role, company, or career path that interests you. Then reach out to them via a LinkedIn message or email for an informational interview.

"The purpose is to get to know each other and start developing a professional relationship-not to ask for a job," Jen advises, noting that, depending on how your relationship develops, one of these mentors still may end up referring you or keeping you in mind for job opportunities down the road.

"Find female mentors who can support you and share their own experience navigating the tech industry as a woman. Mentors are especially important in tech, where women empowering other women can really make the difference in staying in the tech industry."

Finding mentors can be more challenging for women in technology, says Sheila. So, she suggests viewing the relationship as both give and take. Feedback and introductions don't have to go only one way, she says. Consider how you can help your mentors just as much as they help you.

"Finally, try for multiple mentors," Sheila counsels. "You'll get value from different people in different ways. Mentors can be above your level, of course, but also peers or even those junior to you."

"Many women I've worked with question if negotiating and asking for more will lead to the employer rescinding the offer," Jen says. "But I have not seen any of the women I've worked with get their offer rescinded from negotiating. Most employers expect you to negotiate!" At Hackbright, she coaches students to prepare for negotiations not only by researching the average market salary for the title, company, and city, but also by writing and practicing responses out loud. "This is especially important for women," she says, "as more women than men accept a job offer without negotiating."

Sheila, who has experienced the sting of making significantly less than a male employee junior to her, points out that practicing negotiation can happen more often than just in the salary conversation. "It's about being heard and getting a seat at the table," she says. When trying to negotiate anything, whether it be a promotion or getting an opportunity to lead the next big project, start with why it's in the other person's interest to say yes. "Get more practice asking and find things that are mutually beneficial," Sheila says.

Give!

All five of the women we spoke with share this sentiment: Women who are about to start or have already begun their career in technology can have a positive impact on what the future environment will look like for women in their field.

"There is strength in numbers and the numbers representing women in tech are not currently in our favor-yet. Every unique challenge brings an opportunity to do something about it. Being a woman in tech is a badge of honor. Wear it proud, loud and continue to do the hard work to help lead the way for others." Even if you're uncomfortable inciting change at your own company, there are plenty of ways to make a difference.

Sheila suggests volunteering and mentoring, teaching tech skills to kids, and even inviting men to events for women in technology to build their understanding and help them gain perspective.

"Technology is a great field for women because it gives us power," Erica adds. "Knowledge is power, and when you know how the world works, you're better able to not only contribute but also innovate."

Anne Shaw is a writer and marketing consultant with a side passion for helping people find work they love. If she's at her desk right now she's either crafting content or planning integrated marketing strategies. Otherwise, she's initiating a dance party with her preschooler and toddler or trying to navigate an obstacle course in the backyard.

More from Anne Shaw

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These days, it seems like there is always a new "it" gadget or app creating buzz. Whether it's something that turns your house into a smart home, or an app with real-time rapid fire questions (HQ, anyone?), there is constantly something new coming out of the tech industry.

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Is tech making your work day bleed into your family dinner? Did your five year old just ask you to turn off your phone? Can't shake the stresses of your work day during story time?

It's impossible to escape that overwhelming feeling of guilt as your children run from room to room shouting for your attention. And all the while, you need to finish just one more spreadsheet, send one more email, and make one more call.

Figuring out a way to balance your work and home life is becoming increasingly difficult these days, no matter what industry you're in. And it can be especially tough for parents who set impossibly high standards both at home and at work.

But don't worry, it is possible to find balance in your work and home life while maintaining your sanity. Read on for tips on how to do just that.

Finding Balance

The key to finding balance is to set yourself up for success. To do that, you need to change the way you think in two major ways:

1. Accept who you are. Sometimes work is going to be a priority and other times your family is. Accepting that every day is not the same is the first step to finding balance.

Instead, embrace both your parental side and your professional side. Turn off your work notifications when you get home, or stash your cell phone in your bag, until your kids go to bed. Then if you need to log back in to answer emails or finish something that was left outstanding, you are doing so on your own time, not your mom time.

2. Be realistic. Do you have a big deadline coming up? It may not be realistic to attend every recital, networking event, game, and get a homemade dinner on the table five nights a week. If you're stressed, ask yourself-are my expectations realistic?

If not, you need to pare down your to-do list and work on prioritizing. Maybe that means the week you have that huge work deadline, you order in or meal prep a few simple dinners on Sunday. Whatever the solution, keep reminding yourself to be realistic about what you can accomplish in a day.

Leave Work at Work

We know, shutting off work mode the second you walk out the office door is nearly impossible and not always advisable for your career. But, there are ways to work towards unplugging after hours.

1. Plan ahead. If you want to disconnect when you're at home and focus on reading your little ones a bedtime story, schedule it in and hold yourself accountable, just as you would a work meeting.

If you find you're having trouble sticking to your work free schedule, block out time on your calendar. This way, you'll have a reminder just like you would with a work appointment and your colleagues will also be on notice that you're busy during that time.

2. Set boundaries. Of course, we all need to work overtime once in a while, but that doesn't have to be the norm. Let your boss know that you value a work/life balance and that you're willing to go above and beyond, but you'll do so on a schedule. As with any relationship, clear communication is important.

3. Reassess work time. If you work a 9 to 5 job and you're taking work home more often than not, it's time to re-evaluate how productive you're actually being at the office. Are you attending unnecessary meetings? Is your neighbor a little too chatty?

Assess the situation and identify ways to be more productive during working hours. We're all guilty of falling down internet holes, but the key is to be honest about how often you're doing this. Once you realize how much time you're wasting, and how much more free time you could have at home, it will be easier to correct this behavior.

You'll probably never truly rid yourself of the pings of emails, chats, and phone calls unless you go off the grid. But the good news is that you don't have to. With a little preparation, honesty, and a solid plan, you can find balance in your work and home life that will work for your boss and your kids.

Erica Peterson is a mother of 2, entrepreneur, and TEDx speaker living in Pittsburgh, PA. She is the Founder & CEO of Moms Can: Code, a membership-based community for moms learning to code. Erica is very passionate about exposing women and children to STEM and finding work-life balance.

More from Erica Peterson

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Finding Balance: How to Shift Gears From Work to Home

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Is tech making your work day bleed into your family dinner? Did your five year old just ask you to turn off your phone? Can't shake the stresses of your work day during story time? It's impossible to escape that overwhelming feeling of guilt as your children run from room to room shouting for your attention.

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Erica Peterson, CEO of Digital Project Masters, has championed remote work policies in Pittsburgh for years, and she said the scenario set forth by the COVID-19 pandemic may have significant impact on the way Pittsburgh companies do work even once the pandemic is over.

"This has been a bittersweet thing," Peterson said. "Everyone just, not by choice, has been forced to realize that it's absolutely possible to work from home. It's possible to have a remote team and be distributed and use all the tools that have been here for a while now."

Peterson's company, which she founded earlier this year, provides a year-long online training for digital project managers. She's also the founder and CEO of Moms Can & Co., which creates a bimonthly email newsletter, directed at mothers who want to work from home, that features remote coding jobs.

Peterson said digital project managers, or people who are trained to see a project from concept to completion completely online, are likely a job many Pittsburgh companies are missing currently.

"I think it's a huge wake-up call for companies to realize that there is this need for digital transformation to occur right now," Peterson said. "And everything you were doing in person now needs to be translated online."

Across the region, companies are quickly adapting to a work-from-home environment. Law firm Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, for example, was one of many companies that put out a notice that employees are working from home, with CEO and managing director Joseph Dougherty noting that, "Our firm is operating normally and seamlessly. While we won't be working from our office locations for a temporary period, all of our systems and processes remain in place that allow us to meet all of your needs while working remotely. You can continue to reach our attorneys and government relations professionals through usual channels - office telephone, cell phone and email."

About 90 percent of the staff at Pittsburgh robotics firm RE2 Robotics has started working from home, according to President and CEO Jorgen Pedersen. The employees who work with small hardware to build RE2's robotic arms were encouraged to take parts home.

While RE2 did have remote work and flexible hours policies in place already, Pedersen said employees were strongly encouraged to come into the office during business hours. However, Pedersen said the transition to a remote office has gone more smoothly than anticipated.

With the exception of a few small snags with the company's VPN access, RE2 has found its stride using digital tools like Google Hangouts, which Pedersen called "a savior" during this time.

"Communication is the determining factor of how well projects perform and how well the company does," Pedersen said. "If everyone is communicating well, then the company does well, and it is more effective to be face to face. But in times like this, I'm just happy we have the ability to remain somewhat effective, even though we are all remote."

For Pedersen, it's not just about making contingency plans for his current employees, but also for his potential future ones.

"We still need to increase our staff by 50 percent this year," Pedersen said. "We still have like 20 more people to hire and so we have actually now transitioned our interviews from on-site to also be virtual, and that seems to be working okay as well."

Peterson said the shift is not always quick and easy. As offices accustomed to meeting in person Monday through Friday during typical business hours shift toward working from home and managing school closures, success could depend upon the infrastructure put in place before coronavirus hit the city.

Working online is not the same as working face to face, Peterson said. Employees need to be educated on best practices, trained in the digital tools and able to set professional expectations.

Several companies are stepping up to assist local business with these rapid operational changes.

Pittsburgh-based Studio ME said it will offer educators free access to livestream classes and in a studio with high-quality lighting and audio for the next four weeks. During that time, Studio ME will also offer businesses and organizations one free livestream to make company announcements or other presentations.

"This is a way to make that leap into the digital world," Keith Parish, owner of Studio ME, said.

And Expedient, which offers cloud, data storage and VPN services, has seen an increase in client inquiries to ensure enough VPN capacity as well as to extend access to clients or employees not typically connected to the service.

"We had a spike this morning [Monday] in requests to increase the capacity of certain VPN capabilities for clients, but that has already been addressed," Jon Rosenson, COO of Expedient, said.

Segra, a fiber bandwidth company that also operates in Pittsburgh, also saw an increase in demand for VPN access.

Comcast offered its Internet Essentials package to low-income individuals and families for free through April 30 to ensure that all people in Pittsburgh have the technology needed if they face needing to work from home. PC Matic, a cybersecurity firm based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, announced Tuesday plans to offer its remote management tools for free to Pennsylvania businesses with ten or more people working from home through June 30.

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Coronavirus pushed Pittsburgh companies toward a "bittersweet" shift to digital - Pittsburgh Business Times

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Erica Peterson, CEO of Digital Project Masters, has championed remote work policies in Pittsburgh for years, and she said the scenario set forth by the COVID-19 pandemic may have significant impact on the way Pittsburgh companies do work even once the pandemic is over. "This has been a bittersweet thing," Peterson said.

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More and more people are working from home; one in 20 Americans worked remotely in 2018. Developing the skills, however, to find a remote career can be tricky, especially when you have children. This problem is what local company Moms Can & Co. aims to solve.

Two years ago, Robinson-based Erica Peterson wanted to learn how to code to help her two young sons with homework, but she had a hard time finding resources that fit her busy schedule as a parent and an entrepreneur. She had previously founded a nonprofit called Science Tots that connects parents to STEM learning tools. Using her STEM education background, Peterson founded Moms Can & Co. to help other women like her.

"They're not returning to their previous career," Peterson said. "They're completely reinventing themselves, or looking to leverage past experience ... and show that they can work remotely and gain new employment."

Moms Can & Co. offers a few different learning programs, including an eight-week introductory course that teaches participants the basics of coding and what jobs are available with the skills learned.

The company's signature program is the Moms Can Code School, which is currently recruiting for its fifth cohort. Participants spend 12 weeks creating a web developer portfolio, which Peterson said is essential for finding coding work.

"You're working in two-week sprints with a team, learning how to work remotely," Peterson said. "And learning all the different tech and tools that are required to make that happen."

Petersen said the coursework is flexible enough to fit around parents' busy schedules. For group projects, the participants need to work amongst themselves to find time to get together online and work.

"Just like if you were working remotely and you needed to do something with a teammate, you too would figure it out," Peterson said.

Moms Can & Co. is running its first ever in-person summit this January in Pittsburgh. Fittingly, it also offers participants the option to watch from home.

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Remote Coding Curriculum Aims To Help Busy Moms Pivot In Their Careers

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More and more people are working from home; one in 20 Americans worked remotely in 2018. Developing the skills, however, to find a remote career can be tricky, especially when you have children. This problem is what local company Moms Can & Co. aims to solve.

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New movement to build community of mom coders

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(Photo Courtesy Moms Can Code Facebook)

Over the past couple of months, Alloy 26 has had the pleasure of hosting events with Moms Can Code, an organization founded by Erica Peterson. These events included their MomsCanCode.com Launch Party & Info Session and their CSS Workshop. Moms Can Code has also attracted attention from the media and Erica was interviewed on Pittsburgh's local Fox News station. Check out the video here!

Most recently, Moms Can Code participated in the 2017 Invest in Her Pitch Competition, and along with another female-run startup FizzPop, earned an investment and countless perks for their early stage business. Read more about the Pitch Competition here!

What's most exciting to us about Mom's Can Code's win at the Invest in Her Pitch Competition, is that Erica will now be setting up shop at Alloy 26 to work out of our co-working space. We sat down with Erica to learn a little more about her company and what she has going on!

Check out our interview below with Erica Peterson.
Where did the idea for Moms Can Code come from?
I just wanted to learn how to code again, and when I didn't know where to begin, I thought I'd ask another mom. The problem? I couldn't figure out how to connect with other moms learning how to code. There are support groups for everything, why not this?
How was your experience with the Invest in Her Pitch Competition and how has it helped you grow?
It was such an honor just to be recognized as a finalist amongst such accomplished business women in Pittsburgh. Winning the competition will allow the team to really focus on offering more value to our members.
What's next for Moms Can Code?
Over the next few weeks, the focus will really be on growing the Moms Can Code team and we'll finally share all of the events we've been planning across the United States.
Do you have events coming up?
Yes! We have an event coming up in Pittsburgh at Threadbare Cider on November 15th. Moms Can Code will receive 12% of all food and drink sales that evening and we will use the money to offer childcare at our upcoming Pittsburgh workshops and meet-ups. Companies interested in becoming an Internship Partner and learning more should join us!

To RSVP, go to https://www.momscancode.com/events1
Member Mondays:
Do you and your company want to be featured on our Member Mondays? Let us know! Shoot an email to rnagy@farosproperties.com to set up an interview!

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(Photo Courtesy Moms Can Code Facebook) Over the past couple of months, Alloy 26 has had the pleasure of hosting events with Moms Can Code, an organization founded by Erica Peterson. These events included their MomsCanCode.com Launch Party & Info Session and their CSS Workshop.

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As a kid, maybe you skipped class for Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.

Fast forward to 2018.

Erica Peterson, founder of Moms Can: Code and a Who's Next honoree, created "Bring in Your Mom to Work Day" to fight agism and sexism in the tech industry.

The Pittsburgh-created event, set for March 8, is an opportunity to show mom what you do all day, while bolstering her tech skills. March 8, of course, is also International Women's Day.

When Peterson tells people her company is named Moms Can: Code, the response is sometimes a laugh and "that's cute." But it's not about being cute, she said. The membership-based network is about giving moms the resources they need to learn to code, and its newest initiative, Bring in Your Mom to Work Day, is all about women learning about technology.

The day is not just for tech companies and startups, Peterson said, adding that she hopes businesses and co-working spaces across Pittsburgh and around the world participate.

So how canyour company host a Bring in Your Mom to Work Day?

A toolkit launched Tuesday and outlines event plans for participants. Moms Can: Code created printable promotional posters, email invite templates, a schedule for the day and a "Becoming Tech Savvy workshop." Its suggested schedule includes breakfast, a welcome from the CEO or department leader, the workshop, games, a tour, networking and lunch.

Peterson hopes that moms who attend will get involved by bringing pictures for a wall of employee baby photos and making name tags that have embarrassing childhood nicknames. (Oh, great.)

To participate, companies are asked to sponsor the Moms Can: Code membership for at least 10 women. Currently, annual membership is $50, so that's $500 per company.

For companies, the event can show prospective and current employees that they value family, Peterson said. For moms, it's a way to learn about their adult child's workday, and an empowering way to learn about technology. Peterson added that it's not just moms who can attend - aunts, grandmas and wives are all welcome.

Since launching this summer, the Moms Can: Code community is international and largely made up of moms ages 25 to 45, Peterson said.

And those moms tell her all the time that their moms love Moms Can: Code and the TedxPittsburgh Women talk that Peterson did about why moms should quit apologizing.

But older moms have yet to make the jump to coding and might still be overwhelmed by technology-focused careers, Peterson said. So she's hoping Bring in Your Mom to Work Day can help.

"We want them to be more comfortable," Peterson said.

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This Pittsburgh entrepreneur wants you to 'Bring in Your Mom to Work' on March 8

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As a kid, maybe you skipped class for Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. Fast forward to 2018. Erica Peterson, founder of Moms Can: Code and a Who's Next honoree, created "Bring in Your Mom to Work Day" to fight agism and sexism in the tech industry.

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Erica Peterson is the founder of Moms Can: Code, a program that teaches mothers how to code online. She also founded Science Tots, which is designed to get children involved in STEM education at a very early age. She talks about how she has built a global community, how important it is for young children to be exposed to the sciences and the travails of getting a new venture off the ground. What prompted you to start your companies?
After I had graduated from cytotechnology (training at UPMC), I had been offered a position here in Pittsburgh and decided not to take it because the hiring person, my supervisor, and I did not see eye-to-eye on family leave policies and things that related to motherhood. I had brought up that I was nearing 30. I was 28. ...I had not had good experiences in the workplace before or in academic settings with being pregnant or having children. That is when I started Science Tots and began thinking of what to do next, so I enrolled in a master's of STEM education program because I love science and technology, and I had this really big passion for teaching young ones these concepts around STEM and working with other parents to do that together. In 2016, I had my second son.
How did you go about creating interest in Science Tots?
When I started Science Tots, I was in Washington County, and the very first class I ever taught at one of the community centers, one parent showed up, but that was better than nothing. I thought, it's still a following. It'll be okay. For Science Tots what I realized is that especially in the early childhood arena, there had not been conversations on the impact of STEM and STEAM education, so I saw that as a problem we could solve. But a lot of the parents didn't realize it was a problem. I was very grassroots, in people's faces at different community events, anywhere that would allow me to have a table.
How have you seen STEM education impact your own children?
In 2017, my oldest was starting kindergarten and I realized at his school how important coding was going to be a part of it. I had seen that coming but did not realize how it was going to be part of the curriculum and also how unprepared he was for using the computer. So I started talking to more and more moms about tech and coding and a lot of them were like "what is that?" And I started going online, of course, in mom groups and forums, and I started asking around and women from all over the world responded by emailing and saying "hey, me too."
Where do you hope to see Moms Can: Code five years from now?
Year to year it is so wildly different. That is my honest answer. At this point I can't even envision two years from now. ... I feel like if I set goals, it's like am I selling myself short? Just being able to have all these opportunities come up and, okay, I'm going to do this even though some of the opportunities were not at all in the plans. Last year we were finalists at the SXSW Pitch competition, which was amazing, and that was not at all in the plans.
How did you get into coding?
Technically I'm a millennial. I'm 32, and I think that a lot (of us) in this age group and even later 20s we had exposure to having to use layouts on our Myspace pages or platforms that were available back then for self-expression. That was my earliest exposure to coding and using technology as a platform to communicate with other people. Then in college with the animal science program I used animal research statistics to write articles and make sense of what I was doing, and through those programs I was introduced to different software.
How did you end up in Pittsburgh?
I'm originally from New York City. My husband and I met in West Virginia and he's from Beaver County. We lived in Morgantown and then moved to the Washington, (Pa.) area in 2013 and then up here around 2017.
What is the best advice you have ever received and where was it from?
It's from my therapist. I think the best advice I've gotten is that if you make time for self-love and growth, nothing can get you. When you are insecure in your personal or professional life, everything seems to be magnified.
What have you read lately you would encourage others to read?
I'm a huge poetry person. I'm loving "The Sun and Her Flowers" by Rupi Kaur. And I think a lot of people love this book, "You Are A Badass" by Jen Sincero.
Who, dead or alive, would you want to have a conversation with?
Mileva Maric-Einstein. I want to know if she helped in the Theory of Relativity and writing the papers. And Lillian Moller Gilbreth, the woman behind the "Cheaper By The Dozen" movie, who also maybe wrote her husband's papers. All the forgotten women who have not received their proper acknowledgment of their work or been recognized, but these two in particular were wives and moms.

Age: 32

Title: Founder and CEO of Moms Can: Code, and founder of Science Tots

Residence: Robinson

Family: Sons Hesher, 6, and Halford, 3, and husband, Christopher

First job: Internship at record label

Education: High school drop-out; bachelor's degree in animal science and nutrition, West Virginia University, 2011; completed cytotechnology training at UPMC; started a master's in STEM education at California University of Pennsylvania, but left the program early to start her first business.

Causes she supports: Helping women gain experience and education in STEM and other fields and find financial independence.

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Personalities of Pittsburgh: Erica Peterson - Pittsburgh Business Times

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Erica Peterson is the founder of Moms Can: Code, a program that teaches mothers how to code online. She also founded Science Tots, which is designed to get children involved in STEM education at a very early age.

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Erica Peterson is the founder of Moms Can: Code, a program that teaches mothers how to code online. She also founded Science Tots, which is designed to get children involved in STEM education at a very early age. She talks about how she has built a global community, how important it is for young children to be exposed to the sciences and the travails of getting a new venture off the ground.
What prompted you to start your companies?
After I had graduated from cytotechnology (training at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center), I had been offered a position here in Pittsburgh and decided not to take it because the hiring person, my supervisor, and I did not see eye-to-eye on family leave policies and things that related to motherhood. I had brought up that I was nearing 30. I was 28. ...I had not had good experiences in the workplace before or in academic settings with being pregnant or having children. That is when I started Science Tots and began thinking of what to do next, so I enrolled in a master's of STEM education program because I love science and technology, and I had this really big passion for teaching young ones these concepts around STEM and working with other parents to do that together. In 2016, I had my second son.
How did you go about creating interest in Science Tots?
When I started Science Tots, I was in Washington County, and the very first class I ever taught at one of the community centers, one parent showed up, but that was better than nothing. I thought, it's still a following. It'll be okay. For Science Tots what I realized is that especially in the early childhood arena, there had not been conversations on the impact of STEM and STEAM education, so I saw that as a problem we could solve. But a lot of the parents didn't realize it was a problem. I was very grassroots, in people's faces at different community events, anywhere that would allow me to have a table.

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Why Erica Peterson founded a path for moms to learn coding with Moms Can: Code - Bizwomen

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Erica Peterson is the founder of Moms Can: Code, a program that teaches mothers how to code online. She also founded Science Tots, which is designed to get children involved in STEM education at a very early age.

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Pittsburgh mothers connect through coding. With just an idea, Erica Peterson brought them together

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Erica Peterson had over 700 email subscribers for her support group, Moms Can Code, before she even developed her website.

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One mom's desire to learn how to code has led to a worldwide community of moms with the same passion.

Moms Can Code founder Erica Peterson, who has two children, started the initiative after she wanted to teach her inquisitive 5-year-old son about coding, the process of creating commands for computers to perform.

"I saw that my son was taking an interest in coding and we were downloading all these apps where you play games to learn how to code," Peterson said. "I wanted to refresh those HTML/CSS skills and then also be able to talk to my son about coding."
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For many moms who participate in the program, it's one more activity to do as part of their hectic schedules.

"It's so hard to explain to other people the difficulties that moms face," Peterson said, adding that many moms often have to choose between working to pay for childcare or staying at home.

She told Fox News soon after she created her website to encourage moms to share learning resources, she started having a world-wide following.

MomsCanCode.com has had more 12,000 page visits since its launch in August. Visitors include those from countries such as Argentina, Canada, China, France, Germany and Peru, among others.

Peterson has met with moms in Pittsburgh to offer a free in-person introductory coding course.

Jill Jayne, who has her online business that promotes healthy lifestyles for children, was one of the attendees.
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"I'm coming back from maternity leave, so I was looking for ways to sort of reintegrate myself into society," Jayne said.

Peterson says she wants to debunk any stereotypes there may be of working moms reaching their career goals.

"The impression for most women, most moms, is that it's out of reach," she told Fox News.

But moms like Jayne say they're ready to confront the challenges.

"It's a juggling act that no one sees," Jayne told Fox News. "The more opportunities that I can use to grow myself makes me a better leader, a better boss and frankly a better mother."

Moms Can Code is planning more in-person sessions across the country, including events in California and New York. The organization also hopes to eventually provide coding resources for a Spanish-speaking audience.

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Initiative wants to show world 'Moms Can Code'

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One mom's desire to learn how to code has led to a worldwide community of moms with the same passion. Moms Can Code founder Erica Peterson, who has two children, started the initiative after she wanted to teach her inquisitive 5-year-old son about coding, the process of creating commands for computers to perform.

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Seed funding. Accelerator program. Venture Capital.

All those terms are familiar to Kit Mueller, who has worked with startups for decades. But for someone just trying to break into the startup world, they can be intimidating, he said.

That's why Startup Boost Pittsburgh doesn't use them.

While local programs like Founder Institute Pittsburgh and Idea Foundry also help early stage companies, new Startup Boost wants to fill a niche for software companies that have a product but are still trying to figure out how to make money.

Each time a program like this launches, it's a sign of a growing ecosystem and the community's expanding entrepreneurship literacy, local startup experts told The Incline. But there are somethings - resources, funding and customer testing - that new entrepreneurs will always need.

There's no one path to launching a startup, said Audrey Russo, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Technology Council, but programs like Startup Boost help invigorate the ecosystem and provide opportunities to new groups of people.

Figuring out that path often comes down to what founders want to do with their company, said Erica Peterson, founder of Moms Can Code. That's the first question she asks people who come to her for advice.

Often, early-stage founders also need an education about the different types of funding, which can impact the types of incubators, pre-accelerators and accelerators they can turn to. For example, it's important to know that if they go with venture capital, they are building a company to be acquired, Peterson said.

William Parker, founder of VendSpin, wanted to have a "homegrown startup story," so finding local venture capitalists who focus on the city was one of the first things he did after launching his app.

But at New Sun Rising, startups aren't typically tech companies, looking for an exit, but small companies looking to grow, said Scott Wolovich, executive director of the nonprofit focused on neighborhood-scale innovation.

And whatever the funding route - the fledgling company needs to start proving its product. Quick.

The sooner a company can test out its product with real customers, the better, said Terri Glueck, director of community development and communications at Innovation Works. "It cannot start too early."

Peterson said the No. 1 way that founders can raise money is to sell their product, so they shouldn't let a fear of launching get in their way. It's no good to spend nine months on an app only to learn that it has no customers, she said.

Mueller noticed a need at the end of Pittsburgh's annual Startup Weekend, where after 54 hours together, local teams had a new business, but little else. They were asking themselves, "Now what?"

Startup Boost, started in Dublin, is in more than a dozen cities and was brought to Pittsburgh this year by Mueller, Jim Gibbs, CEO and founder of Meter Feeder, and Mitch Turk, a consultant for autonomous technology.

The goal for the first cohort is to have six to eight businesses that are a mix of community, corporate and university companies with products determine their best financial paths, Mueller said. Organizers will host info sessions across the region to reach underrepresented groups, including its next session Wednesday at the Braddock Carnegie Library.

Applications are due March 15, with a start date of April 2.

Startup Boost, which will create a support system and build connections, will meet on Tuesday evenings for six weeks at Beauty Shoppe in East Liberty, allowing participants to fit the program in with their day jobs. The program is free to participants, but the pre-accelerator doesn't invest in the companies.

It can be tricky to try to find the right participants because it takes time to communicate and people can't quit their day job for full-time training programs, Russo said, adding that no one program is a silver bullet.

Jenny Sharpe, program director at Ascender, said that while they offer multiple ways to help entrepreneurs, sometimes Ascender sends people to other organizations in the city. And that's OK.

"That's all a win for us," she said. "We look at it as an ecosystem, it's not a competition."

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Have a software company that's not making money yet? Startup Boost Pittsburgh wants to help

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Seed funding. Accelerator program. Venture Capital. All those terms are familiar to Kit Mueller, who has worked with startups for decades. But for someone just trying to break into the startup world, they can be intimidating, he said. That's why Startup Boost Pittsburgh doesn't use them.

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Between circle and snack time, Erica Peterson knew she couldn't fit in a few minutes to have kids learn about science and math in preschool.

Frustrated with her own experiences as a parent and educator, the Washington resident started Science Tots, an education nonprofit aimed at engaging parents and toddlers in problem-solving classes that focus on the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

And the California University of Pennsylvania graduate student and mother of a preschooler makes it fun, with classes that seem more like play.

"As I'm going through my grad-level education classes at California University, I keep hearing how teachers complain that parents aren't engaged, or don't care," she said. "But I know that I care. I have a 4-year-old son and I want to be engaged, (so) that can't be true.

"Parents are teachers, too. They've been with the child the most. They just need empowered on the topics their kids are learning about so they can feel confident as an educator at home continuing those lessons," Peterson said.

Belinda Anthony of Canonsburg said she will continue to sign up for the classes with her 3-year-old daughter, Rylynn.

"We did the 'Messy Math' lesson, and we're going to do 'Squishy Circuits' next. The trials they figure out on their own - you can help a little bit, but it's so amazing to watch your kid figure out these experiments without a parent or teacher. It's a great way for them to learn the basics of science, like the interaction of solids and liquids," Anthony said.

For the "Messy Math" class, Peterson said parents are told to hold back and only observe and take notes.

"The kids have to figure how to make the mystery substance 'Ooblek.' I tell them it has two ingredients, but I forgot the recipe. So they take beakers, starch and water and make a mess figuring out how many cups of each are needed to make it," Peterson said.

Peterson said it's feedback like that she appreciates and encourages from parents.

"Outside communication - texting and Facebook with parents - that's something parents appreciate in these classes. It's something traditional educators can't do in school, but it's crucial for parents to give feedback on how they're coming along on projects," Peterson said.

Those projects are often taken home and continually worked upon, Peterson said, as kids develop and refine prototypes.

"Children need time to think, explore and wander away if they need. Kids can't be innovative thinkers under a time constraint. They need time to explore and ask questions. And we need to hear those questions so that we can address any misconceptions the child might have," said Peterson. "It leads into how we function as problem-solving adults: An idea doesn't come to us while we're under pressure to perform. We're not going to come up with something great in 40 minutes. The creative moments come when we step away from the desk."

Through the mess of it all, Peterson said the overarching goal is to turn the tide of how parents expect kids to learn about science and math in early education. The classes are announced on the Science Tots Facebook page and held at community centers and parks around the area.

Peterson said she'll be announcing scholarship programs soon through www.sciencetots.org, where parents can register for upcoming classes. The typical two-hour classes are $12 for an adult and a child ages 3-5. A sibling 3 or younger is admitted free. Classes are being offered in Washington and Beaver counties; Pittsburgh, Wheeling and Morgantown, West Virginia.

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Science Tots nonprofit gets kids messy with math

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Between circle and snack time, Erica Peterson knew she couldn't fit in a few minutes to have kids learn about science and math in preschool. Frustrated with her own experiences as a parent and educator, the Washington resident started Science Tots, an education nonprofit aimed at engaging parents and toddlers in problem-solving classes that focus on the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

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Erica Peterson, founder of Moms Can Code. Photo by Ryan Rydzewski.

Motherhood, says Erica Peterson, requires a certain set of traits: Persistence. Comfort with trial and error. The ability to multitask.

And, perhaps most importantly, patience.

"Only another mom can understand the frustration of opening your laptop to do something, only to have your toddler walk up and slam it shut," she says, laughing. "Being a mom is the best thing, but sometimes it's hard when you're trying to learn something new."

It's a challenge that led her to start Moms Can Code, a new online community for mothers who, like Peterson, want to learn how to code. "I wanted to create a place where we could share resources, tips and success stories," she says. "We're not teaching coding ourselves-we're identifying role models and all the ways moms are learning, so that members can figure out what's best for them individually."

The community was born of necessity, says Peterson. After looking into coding bootcamps-many of which require a large financial investment and a 50- to 60-hour a week workload-she found herself frustrated. Between motherhood and running Science Tots, a nonprofit that connects families to STEM learning opportunities, "[bootcamps] didn't fit my mom lifestyle," she says. "I'm not seeking full-time employment-at least not right now. I just wanted to learn coding so I could be an example for my son. I knew there had to be other moms in my position."

She was right: In just over a month, hundreds of moms from around the world have signed up to join. Some are learning to code because they're staying at home or taking a career break, says Peterson. Others are seeking to switch careers. One described how coding helped her through postpartum depression; another shared how coding helped her through a divorce.

"Coding and motherhood are a natural fit," says Peterson. "They require similar strengths. Being a woman and a mother in the STEM field, you face certain challenges. Coding teaches you how to persevere and persist. My inbox is full of inspiring stories."

As Peterson publishes these stories via Moms Can Code's newsletter and social media accounts, "More and more moms are joining and cheering each other on," she says. "Ultimately, our community is about more than just learning how to code-its about moms forming tech startups, hiring other women and bringing new perspectives to the tech field."

Moms Can Code's official launch party will be held August 3, but that's just the beginning, says Peterson. She's also exploring partnerships with local organizations to offer introductory coding workshops with moms in mind. Naturally, child care will be provided.

What would Peterson tell Pittsburgh's interested moms? "Try it! Come on out to our launch party. Coding is such an integral part of our lives now-it's is all around us. Our kids are programming robots in schools. They're taking courses in computer science. There are so many great reasons to learn, and for moms, there are plenty of ways to try it before jumping into a program or bootcamp."

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She got pregnant while pursuing her PhD and was asked to leave the program...what did she do next? Erica Peterson's journey motivated her to start Moms Can Code, an online community for moms who code, as well as Moms Can & Co., a support system for work-from-home moms. We discuss why does diversity in the workplace actually matters, why moms need to quit apologizing, how to maintain your sanity working from home, and how men can be allies to women in the workplace.
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LINKS TO WHAT WE DISCUSSED The Secret History of Women in Coding, New York Times The Computer girls: 1967 Cosmo article highlights women in technology, Silicon Republic Moms Can Code (and Quit Apologizing) TedX Talk with Erica Peterson Milk and Honey, Rupi Kaur RATE & REVIEW
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QUOTES FROM THE EPISODE
"There's so much tech being created and we're consuming it...we should have a say in how it's built."

"Science and research have shown that when a parent doesn't like math and they outwardly express that attitude, that will negatively effect their child's grades."

"Parent involvement is the key to academic success in children."

Music by: Taste the Vibe - "Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine? (Mungø Remix)" unedited, via Creative Commons

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-What was the start of her journey like
-Why Erica choose to code, or did it choose her?
-How she has managed in this more male-dominated area of business
-What are her advise for you if you are looking to start your own business

You can find the Instagram account we talked about, plus other socials below for you to get to know Erica further.

Website: https://www.momscancode.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momscancode/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momscancode/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/momscancodePGH/

You can connect with me on the following social platforms.

Facebook: @NordicMumSusanna
Instagram: @thenordicmum
Pinterest:@thenordicmum

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Episode 40 Coding For Moms As A Career By Erica Peterson

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What was the start of her journey like -Why Erica choose to code, or did it choose her? -How she has managed in this more male-dominated area of business -What are her advise for you if you are looking to start your own business You can find the Instagram account we talked about, plus other socials below for you to get to know Erica further.

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Erica Peterson is the founder and CEO of Moms Can & Co (@momscanco; @momscancode) and helping moms everywhere find jobs that allow them to be the best mom they can be while providing for their family.

This episode is for the mom who is looking to expand her career, jump back into the career world or elevate her current career. Erica provides programs and resources to moms to help them land the job they have always dreamed to have.

Connect with Erica on social media @momscancode and @momscanco and online at www.momscan.co
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More than 12,000 women registered to participate in the Moms Can Online Summit this week, revealing a community of mothers flocking toward technology careers as a way to support a flexible, parenting lifestyle.

Erica Peterson, founder and CEO of Pittsburgh-based Moms Can, hosted the summit. Peterson's organization includes both the Moms Can & Co. daily newsletter, which features parenting-friendly and remote technology job openings, and the Moms Can Code online training program.

The summit, hosted entirely online during school day hours from April 8 to April 10, features 21 female speakers on the intersection of motherhood and tech careers. It's mean to accommodate the busy schedules of parenting, accessible via headphones in the carpool lane, if necessary.

Peterson said working remotely is a dream for many mothers, including herself. She said many women who join the Moms Can online community are looking for positions that will allow them the flexibility to take their kids to the park in the middle of the day and then finish up work in the evening when their kids are in bed.

"These women learned to code because they were looking for remote work," said Peterson.

Peterson's newsletter offers women in the Moms Can community compiled lists of remote tech positions accepting applications.

"In 2019 this is the future of work," said Peterson. "And it is for you, and if you had not thought of it being a possibility for you, it is. We wanted to share the stories of women who dared to think bigger and think outside what they had been told or what they had known to be true for women and mothers."

Claudia Reuter, managing director of the additive manufacturing accelerator at Techstars, spoke on the first day of the Moms Can Online Summit. Reuter dropped out of the workforce in 2003, leaving behind her role as an investment banker in an IT division when she had her first baby.

Reuter said when her maternity leave ended she was unable to return to work for various reasons, among them the long commute and cost of childcare. Through staying home with her children, Reuter eventually got into entrepreneurship, using her tech background to create a business she had control over. It allowed her to structure her own schedule and establish her own teams.

"We have an opportunity with women to really think about what structures we are currently trying to fit into to make our decisions as parents work, and what structures we have the power to change," said Reuter, during the summit.

The draw to entrepreneurship was similar for Amy Nelson, founder and CEO of The Riveter, the first woman-founded network for coworking spaces. Nelson previously worked in law and finance, spending time on Wall Street in an environment she described as "built by and for men." She spoke as part of the summit.

Nelson, who is pregnant with her fourth child, said she created The Riveter to see what those female-centric designs could look like. Her company, which recently closed a $15 million series A funding round, only has company meetings between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to accommodate parents who want to spend time with their children in the morning or evening. She keeps a strong focus on leave for new parents and flexible working hours.

Nelson said the future of work has to change to better accommodate mothers, and many women are already seeking out technology careers that can provide them schedules that align with parenting.

"We still lose almost half of women in corporate America after they have kids, which is just stunning to me," said Nelson, during the summit. "If we could change that we could change the American economy."

Jessica Naziri, founder of TechSesh, also spoke as part of the summit. She said it's no secret that women are still not where they need to be in the workforce, but technology stereotypes are starting to shift. She sees more and more mothers taking on new skills, like cybersecurity, to create remote work niches for themselves.

"I really wanted to dare moms to think of bigger opportunities than they thought were possible," said Peterson.

The free conference will continue through Wednesday.

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Moms Can Online Summit attracts 12,000 mothers in tech - Pittsburgh Business Times

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More than 12,000 women registered to participate in the Moms Can Online Summit this week, revealing a community of mothers flocking toward technology careers as a way to support a flexible, parenting lifestyle. Erica Peterson, founder and CEO of Pittsburgh-based Moms Can, hosted the summit. Peterson's organization includes both the Moms Can & Co.

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"If I ever need to google 'how to stay passionate in your career,' it's time to stop whatever I'm doing."
Tell us a little bit about what a typical day looks like for you.
I have 2 young boys that wake up around 6:30 am so I start my days early. I answer emails and prepare myself for any upcoming classes after coffee. It's summer break so my mornings are typically spent getting my sons dressed, packing snacks, and getting out the door for an activity at the local library, a museum, or to visit friends. After lunch, I'm always hopeful my toddler will nap but sometimes he needs some encouragement in the form of a long car ride. This is the time where I take phone calls or schedule videoconferences. In the afternoons, I'm typically coworking online with our members, teaching our next cohort of online instructors, or preparing for the upcoming Virtual Summit and Hackathon. It's not long before I have to make dinner, prepare for another activity with the boys, and get them ready for bed. I'll often stay up late after they go to bed and continue to work on items I didn't have the opportunity to cross off my to-do list earlier in the day.
How do you stay passionate in your career?
I don't believe in doing anything you're not passionate about. If I ever need to google "how to stay passionate in your career", it's time to stop whatever I'm doing.
Did you have a traditional path into tech (i.e.: CS/IT degree transitioned into tech job)?
Absolutely not. I've never taken the traditional path. I didn't even graduate from high school. When I finally got my act together in college, I studied animal science. After that, I trained to become a cytotechnologist (cytology is the study of cells). I've also studied Infant/Toddler Education and before I started my first startup, I was working towards a Masters in STEM Education. It's my passion for encouraging women and children to pursue STEM careers that's gotten me to where I am today.
Are there any apps, software, or tools you cannot live without?
My must-haves are the Spotify, Amazon Prime Video, and Audible apps. Music, movies, and literature.
It's common knowledge that women often face obstacles in the tech industry based on their gender. Have you ever had to deal with this type of experience and if so how did you handle it?
There's a Rupi Kaur poem: "What's the greatest lesson a woman should learn? that since day one. she's already had everything she needs within herself. it's the world that convinced her she does not." I remind myself that I've already got everything I need. Fuck them.
What's your favorite thing about being a woman in tech? If applicable, how have you given back to the WIT community?
I'd like to believe I've inspired women of all ages and backgrounds to believe in themselves.
What is a piece of advice you would give to others wanting to or currently pursuing a career in tech?
Tech is a tool to be used for a specific purpose. You and your experience whether it's traditional or not, can influence how this tool is used. Don't shy away from helping make the world a better place.
Tell us about a time you felt extremely accomplished in the past year.
Just one time? It's been a pretty great year. Being a TEDxPittsburgh Women speaker, being interviewed by Fox News, winning first place in my category at the Invest in Her Pitch Competition, being a finalist at the SXSW Pitch competition, being a Project Entrepreneur finalist, and being a Founder Gym alum were some pretty great moments. But my biggest accomplishment this year has been creating flexible and remote jobs for moms!

"And then the day came,
when the risk
to remain tight
in a bud
was more painful
than the risk
it took
to Blossom"

-Risk by Anais Nin

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92. Erica Peterson- Founder & CEO of Moms Can: CODE & Science Tots - Women In Technology Pittsburgh

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Tell us a little bit about what a typical day looks like for you. I have 2 young boys that wake up around 6:30 am so I start my days early. I answer emails and prepare myself for any upcoming classes after coffee.

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Erica Peterson has seen the ads and said you likely have, too: "Work from home. Make a lot of money. Learn to code while your kids are sleeping."

But the 30-year-old Robinson woman, nonprofit founder and Who's Next: Education honoree knows the realities of life while working and having two kids. Those advertised timelines are difficult to meet and the salaries of $60,000 or $70,000 don't always happen right away, she said.

For Peterson, who had some experience with coding (thanks to editing her MySpace page), she wanted to brush up on her HTML and CSS skills.

At Science Tots, the nonprofit she founded to help families and educators with resources for early childhood learning in STEAM, Peterson said she tells parents about games where they can learn to code with their children. She wanted to be able to play the games, too, with sons Hesher, 5, and Halford, 1.

So she looked online and the results - workshops, boot campus, college courses - were overwhelming. Next, she tried searching for support groups for moms who are learning to code or wanted to learn to code.

"There are support groups for moms for everything," she laughed. "I couldn't find one, so decided to make it."

Moms Can Code is a new membership-based network that connects moms who are learning to code or who are thinking about learning to code both online and through in-person meet ups across the country. The official launch is next week.

The network will give moms the needed support to find the coding education that's best for them, Peterson said. In Pittsburgh, she also hopes to partner with local tech companies for various resources such as in-person intro to coding classes.

Moms Can Code also has a newsletter that profiles women working in tech or who've started tech companies. Their stories can help others decide what path they want to use to learn to code and get a sense of the job opportunities, Peterson said.

"I want women to be able to decide what works for them," she said. For some moms, she said, they can learn to code on a smartphone app during a commute or their child's nap. For others, their kids go to bed early enough that a nighttime online degree is realistic. Some programs are based on an hour per day, but for Peterson, she said it's more like 15 minutes at a time before her toddler shuts her laptop.

One of the biggest barriers to learning to code is finding the time to dedicate to it, said Josh Lucas, an organizer of Academy Pittsburgh, which offers a 12-week coding bootcamp that's about 50 hours a week and focuses on helping those who are underrepresented in tech. There, each bootcamp gets applicants that range from people with related skills to complete novices. Job placement is the only metric of success that matters, Lucas said, and from the first cohort, about 85 percent are employed.

While learning to code is an opportunity for economic advancement, it's also a skill that women can add for multiple reasons, Peterson said, adding that she credits the current political climate as the reason more women are becoming active in and speaking up about the issues in the industry.

Personally, Peterson said she wants to learn to code to set an example for her sons. And she's planning to tweet her journey, both in coding - and motherhood.

Hopefully the journey will be less isolating with women around who understand the day-to-day, Peterson said.

Moms are just "under a different constraint," she said. "We're not incapable of doing great things, it's just not going to happen on your timeline."

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If you're a Pittsburgh mom who wants to learn to code, this group is for you

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Erica Peterson has seen the ads and said you likely have, too: "Work from home. Make a lot of money. Learn to code while your kids are sleeping." But the 30-year-old Robinson woman, nonprofit founder and Who's Next: Education honoree knows the realities of life while working and having two kids.

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"The path to success is never a straight line," Erica Peterson says. This Fairygodboss of the Week sampled several different career paths before finding her calling; then, the mother of two launched Moms Can: Code to support moms who want to learn how to code by providing opportunities for moms to connect, learning resources, and real-life inspiration. Fairygodboss of the Week: Erica Peterson
Founder & CEO, Moms Can: Code

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tell us a little about your career. How did you get to where you are now?
It's been quite an incredible journey. There have been many ups and downs! When I went to WVU, I discovered I loved molecular biology. When I was 22, my biggest goal in life was to get my doctorate in Reproductive Physiology. That didn't work out the way I had planned!

I'm also a trained and certified Cytotechnologist (Cytology is the study of cells). I also studied Infant & Toddler Education after I had my oldest son. Before Moms Can: Code, I started a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization called Science Tots, was pursuing a Master's in STEM Education, and thought I would be teaching high school biology this year. The path to success is never a straight line!
What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?
I'm really proud of myself for being selected as a finalist for the 2018 SXSW Accelerator Pitch competition. I have been working extremely hard for the past six months, and I am just so honored to be a finalist.
Who is YOUR Fairygodboss? and Why?
I have so many! I've been really fortunate to know and learn from so many talented women I admire.
What do you do when you're not working?
When I'm not working I am spending time with my two sons, ages two and five. They love to ride their BMX bikes and it's impossible to run after them while answering emails or talking on the phone. We also like to have "Family Movie Nights" fairly often.
If you could have dinner with one famous person-dead or alive-who would it be?
I would have dinner with Mileva Marić. From what I've read, she was very smart. She was Albert Einstein's first wife, and I'd love to know if she coauthored his papers.
Lightning Round: What is your favorite movie?
My favorite movie is Whiplash. Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) is my modern-day Rocky.
What is your shopping vice? What would you buy if you won the lottery?
I would invest in other female-led startups!
What is the #1 career tip you'd like to share with other women who want to have successful careers like you?
If you feel like giving up, just keep going. Are things going to be easy? Don't count it. Take a minute or a day if you need to "reset" but it's your ability to persevere that sets you apart. You can do this!
Why do you love where you work?
I really love the #MomsCanCode community members. When I wake up, i look forward to posting and hearing from the other moms!
Fairygodboss is all about women helping other women - so each week, we celebrate a woman who made a difference in another woman's career. Is there a woman who has made a difference in your career? Celebrate her and thank her by nominating her here

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Fairygodboss of the Week: Erica Peterson

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"The path to success is never a straight line," Erica Peterson says. This Fairygodboss of the Week sampled several different career paths before finding her calling; then, the mother of two launched Moms Can: Code to support moms who want to learn how to code by providing opportunities for moms to connect, learning resources, and real-life inspiration.

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Moms Figuring It Out takes a look at women whose lives change - in outlook or evolving career paths or new directions - when they become mothers. For many moms, there's a moment when it hits you that things aren't working and you've got to make a move. In the first in this series, read about one mother, a high school dropout who went on to college and became a scientist, and her breakthrough moment and where it led her.

Erica Peterson was in her first semester of a Ph.D. program at West Virginia University when she became pregnant. It had been a long road to graduate student. Despite early difficulties - she had dropped out of high school and didn't go to college until the age of 21 - she earned degrees from West Virginia University and California University of Pennsylvania, a certificate in Infant & Toddler Education and board certification in cytotechnology.

Finding herself pregnant so early in grad school, she sought advice. "I went to the one female professor in the biology department who had children, and she said, 'You should leave and come back later.' "

And she did. Peterson left the program and applied for a job at the university's cancer center and went back to work when her newborn son was six weeks old.

" It was very hard. Sometimes, to do experiments, I'd have to bring in my son because I had to pick him up (from daycare) at 6 o'clock, but the cells don't wait for you," she says. Sometimes other graduate students would play with the baby while she worked.

"Then my husband got promoted, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to stay at home with my son," says Peterson.

She took a year off, then found a job with the cytotechnology program at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, followed by the Hillman Cancer Center. "I said, 'OK, I am going to do this," she says.

Then she became pregnant with her second baby.

"I decided to leave because I didn't want to go back to work after six weeks again," she says.

It was ultimately her children who helped her decide her next move. Through observing them at play and playing with them, she developed an interest in the "science of babies." She's a scientist, after all, so she led them to activities that weren't readily available to others their age.

"I noticed that there wasn't much science exploration in the infant-toddler rooms (at daycare). I just kept thinking there has to be a better way to instill that scientific curiosity while they're babies."

She decided to foster that curiosity and as a result founded Science Tots. The nonprofit organization promotes adult participation in the early childhood development of STEM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) and STEAM (add art to the mix) skills.

As a one-woman force, she began offering community classes for kids and their parents that involved fun science experiments and activities. Science Tots programming includes parent and child pop-up workshops and activities - like "Messy Science" and "Squishy Circuits."

She traveled to daycares, festivals and community days throughout Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia to spread the word. The idea? To present families with simple activities they can do at home to promote STEM/Steam learning.

She points to coding as an example of a hot topic.

"What do kids need to know, what are the activities for kids to be good at it later?" Peterson asks. "They all involve patterns, sequencing, these abstract math concepts. So, if you're working with babies, how might you teach that?

"To me, what comes to mind is you have two sets of blocks, red and blue. Just play with the blocks and arrange them red, blue, red, blue, and see what they do next. You're teaching them about patterns, but they're still playing, they're still having fun. They're not sitting at a computer coding, but they're learning these concepts so they can be successful later."

The organization she founded is still growing and finding its way. Recently Peterson formed a board so she is now board president with five other board members. And Science Tots is seeking volunteers to help with their mission. (Interested? Contact her.)

But despite all the work, Peterson is encouraged by the feedback.

"I've just always had to work very hard," Peterson says. "My husband works long hours, I have two kids, and I'm trying to run an organization. If my husband gets home at 10 p.m., I'm up until 3 a.m. making sure that emails get answered, that we're getting the word out there."

Her goal is to share resources with parents, and then work together with school systems to ensure children's later success.

"I want children to be independent thinkers," Peterson says. "I want them to be problem solvers. I want them to be innovative. And when they're down I want them to get back up again."

Just like she has done.
Science Tots will be the beneficiary of an "Eat Franks for Tots" event at Franktuary's in Lawrenceville on March 8. Ten percent from tabs opened between 5 and 7 p.m. will be donated to Science Tots. Visit the Science Tots Facebook page for upcoming events for kids - and teachers. Got an interesting change of life story since becoming a mom? We'd love to hear it.

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Moms Figuring It Out: Erica Peterson of Science Tots | Pittsburgh is Kidsburgh

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Moms Figuring It Out takes a look at women whose lives change - in outlook or evolving career paths or new directions - when they become mothers. For many moms, there's a moment when it hits you that things aren't working and you've got to make a move.

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Fifty startups have been chosen for the A finalist in the You can also connect with Moms Can: Code and the other 50 finalists on Monday, March 12, at the SXSW Accelerator Demo Day, at the Hilton Austin, Salon C. Social and Culture Technology category, Moms Can: Code is a membership-based community for moms learning how to code. It provides opportunities to connect, learning resources created by moms for moms, real-life inspiration and peer-based accountability coaching. Founder and CEO Erica Peterson (pictured above) took time from her home base in Pittsburgh, Penn., to talk about her new venture. See Moms Can: Code in action at 11 am Saturday, March 10, in the Hilton Austin, Salon AB. Or, Hugh Forrest serves as Chief Programming Officer at , the world's most unique gathering of creative professionals. He also tries to write at least four paragraphs per day on Medium. These posts often cover tech-related trends; other times they focus on books, pop culture, sports and other current events. to browse the full lineup of startups for SXSW Accelerator 2018. 2018 SXSW Accelerator Pitch Event and will show off their skills on March 10 and 11. Winners in each of 10 categories will be honored at the Accelerator Award Ceremony at 7 pm Sunday, March 11, at the Hilton Austin, Salon AB. The SXSW Accelerator Pitch Event takes place within the Startup & Tech Sectors track of programming.
What has the startup experience taught you about life?
That anything can happen. Look at us: Moms Can: Code was just an idea less than a year ago. In under a year, we have connected with so many amazing women and now have the chance to pitch at the largest music and innovation festival in the U.S.

What inspired you to apply for SXSW Accelerator?
It really came down to one question: Why not? My husband and I were sitting on the couch one evening wrapping up some local applications in Pittsburgh when I stumbled across SXSW. I'm so honored to be one of the finalists.

Since you've never been to SXSW before, what is the most intriguing thing that you heard about the event?
What I've heard is that most startups develop relationships that ultimately lead to funding at SXSW. I read that 63% of companies that have participated at the SXSW Accelerator Pitch Event have received over $2.6 billion worth of funding since the start of this event many years ago. That's amazing!

Has Moms Can: Code been involved with other pitch events before?
I was one of the winners of Pittsburgh's Invest In Her pitch competition at the end of 2017. The most important lesson that I learned from that event is that you can never prepare enough for the types of questions that judges may ask. There is always going to be a zinger in there!

How long has the Moms Can: Code team been together?
Moms Can: Code is an extremely young company. We went from concept to launch in under two months and officially launched MomsCanCode.com in August 2017. Our longest standing contractor began with us in August as we prepared for the launch, but our current team has been working together since the end of November.

If you weren't involved in building Moms Can: Code, what would you be doing?
In 2016, I started Science Tots, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects families with the tools to power early STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) learning. I'm President of the Board of Directors and still very much involved. If I wasn't involved in building Moms Can: Code, I would be organizing Science Tots events around the country and teaching high school biology.

For what you do on a day-to-day basis at Moms Can: Code, what does work-life balance look like?
I'm fortunate that I can afford childcare for my youngest who is a toddler. While he is at daycare, I try to get as much work as possible done. It's not easy! We have members all over the U.S. and around the world so the work doesn't always end at 5 pm. In the evenings, my focus is on my sons. Around bedtime, second shift begins. When you're an online startup, the conversations keep going at all hours and on the weekends. The nice thing is that it doesn't feel like work because I am doing something I genuinely love. I very much enjoy connecting with the other moms! In fact, I've made it my goal to personally connect with each and every single mom who is a member while we're still small. It's important to me to learn what their needs are and how Moms Can: Code has impacted their lives.

What inspires you to work harder?
The badass moms in our community inspire me to work harder every single day. I am so proud of what they've accomplished. My sons also inspire me to work harder. My oldest son, who is 5, tells everyone about Moms Can: Code. He is our biggest supporter!

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Fifty startups have been chosen for the A finalist in the You can also connect with Moms Can: Code and the other 50 finalists on Monday, March 12, at the SXSW Accelerator Demo Day , at the Hilton Austin, Salon C. Social and Culture Technology category, Moms Can: Code is a membership-based community for moms learning how to code.

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Unfortunately, the flippant use of the word "diversity" has caused it to lose potency in important hiring conversations when speaking with high-level managers like owners, CEOs, and board members. We have done the industry a great disservice by diminishing the power of the word diversity.

Diverse teams are proven to be more creative than teams that are filled with individuals who come from similar backgrounds and life experiences. If each team member is of a different age, socioeconomic, or ethnic background, they are very likely to see problems differently. This diversity of experience will lead to a diversity of thought and more comprehensive solutions. In addition, diverse companies are better at serving a diverse user base. When managers represent their desired users or consumers, it is much more likely that the products they build will perform more effectively for the market groups they desire to serve.

Why Women Need a Helping Hand and Industry Needs Women

Creating a better environment for gender diversity is easier said than done in most industries and individual businesses. The tech industry is a great example. There are many reasons why ladies may have a hard time breaking into the tech industry. For example, a lack of role models, mentors, and female leadership visibility has been cited as an issue for many aspiring female tech professionals. Additional barriers to entry are the potential for discrimination both intentional and unintentional, lack of educational opportunities for overloaded ladies, and more.

Proper representation is essential in the tech industry especially when it comes to women. It is often reported that women are particularly underrepresented in the tech industry. In fact, a recent study found that as little as 26 percent of computing jobs were held by women. Tech companies often have a difficult time building products that can properly serve a diverse population of tech users. However, if the tech industry puts a focus on increasing diversity particularly in gender, we can create better products suited for multiple gendered perspectives and better cater to a 50 percent larger market. This same logic can be applied to many different industries, not just tech.

As I have consulted with startups across the globe in my career, and one of the most common questions that I get asked is, "How can we bring more women into the organization?"

Check out these five groups to learn how to recruit more quality ladies to your organization.

1. Moms Can: CODE: Founded by Erica Peterson in August of 2017, it's open to everyone willing to learn, and was established as a peer learning group for women looking to enter in technology. Its mission is to teach moms how to code and deliver programs in their local community or online so that they can earn money, add to their resume, network, and build their personal brands. The group is quickly growing and is a non profit that accepts donations. Organizations can promote job postings within the group.

2. Tech Ladies: With over 25,000 members, it is dedicated to connecting women with jobs and a community support system. Offline, it has events in which organizations and can sponsor to get their brand out there as well as a sponsored job board. Tech Ladies provides educational webinars to women on a variety of topics to help them become better business people and tech experts.

3. InHerSight: Similar to Glassdoor, InHerSight has the specific mission of helping women find female-friendly places to work. There is a job board and a place to post questions about organizations. The blog also has a lot of interesting articles on the latest in diversity news.

4. Fairygodboss: A job review site for women by women, it has become increasingly popular over the last few years. Users can view jobs on Fairygodboss's job board section. Organizations can get feedback from posts on the site made by users and make changes to their organization to help attract more female candidates.

5. PowerToFly: Offering women education such as webinars, events, and mentoring support, the organization's goal is to empower women to find better jobs in the tech industry. Employers can post jobs and also use the diversity platform to help boost their search by using its database of over a million different candidates.

The Future of Women in Tech

Unfortunately, the rate of women graduating with STEM degrees has slightly declined in recent years. In addition, there has been a bit of an epidemic of women turning their backs on tech careers in favor of traditionally more female friendly industries or activities. This is a real shame. Losing our ladies in tech can lead to a decline in diversity, which is a slippery slope into a loss of creativity and productivity. Increasing diversity in your organization should be a top priority for most HR professionals in the tech industry, and recruiting top female candidates should be at the top of your list. If you're having trouble finding quality diverse candidates for your hiring program, try one of these five groups.

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Why Recruiting Professionals Should Care About These 5 Groups That Are Revolutionizing Diversity Recruiting

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Unfortunately, the flippant use of the word 'diversity' has caused it to lose potency in important hiring conversations when speaking with high-level managers like owners, CEOs, and board members. We have done the industry a great disservice by diminishing the power of the word diversity.

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South by Southwest announced its 50 finalists for its 2018 Accelerator Pitch Event and Pittsburgh-based company Moms Can Code made the cut.

The startup is a membership-based community for moms who are learning how to code.

CEO Erica Peterson said this is a great accomplishment, especially given how young her company is.

"The really remarkable thing is that we're not even six months old yet," she said.

The SXSW Accelerator selected the 50 finalists from the more than 600 companies that applied. Five finalists were selected from 10 categories: augmented and virtual reality, enterprise and smart data, entertainment and content, health and wearables, hyper-connected communities, payment and fintech, security and privacy, social and culture, sports and performance data and transportation.

Moms Can Code will compete in the social and culture category, presenting on March 11. Later that day, the ceremony will honor the winners from each category and a "Best in Show" winner.

Of the past companies who presented as part of the pitch competition, over 70 percent went on to get funding totaling nearly $4.63 billion, according to a news release. About 16 percent of the companies went on to be acquired.

"We look forward to once again being a launching pad for startups to achieve some of their greatest successes," said Chris Valentine, the accelerator's event producer, in a news release. "All of us with SXSW Accelerator are proud and impressed by the companies who are truly changing industries and changing the world."

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Pittsburgh startup to pitch at SXSW Accelerator event - Pittsburgh Business Times

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South by Southwest announced its 50 finalists for its 2018 Accelerator Pitch Event and Pittsburgh-based company Moms Can Code made the cut. The startup is a membership-based community for moms who are learning how to code. CEO Erica Peterson said this is a great accomplishment, especially given how young her company is.

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Erica Peterson is a mother of 2, entrepreneur, and TEDx speaker living in Pittsburgh, PA. She is the Founder & CEO of Moms Can: Code, a membership-based community for moms learning to code. Erica is very passionate about exposing women and children to STEM. This past summer, Erica was selected as a member of The Incline's Who's Next: Education class for her work as Founder & Board President of Science Tots, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that connects families with the tools and instruction to power early childhood STEAM learning. Most recently, Erica won first prize at the 2017 Pittsburgh Invest in Her Pitch Competition and was selected as a 2018 SXSW Accelerator Pitch finalist for Moms Can: Code. Erica holds a bachelor's degree in Animal Science & Nutrition from West Virginia University. How did you get to where you are today?
It's been quite an incredible journey. There have been many ups and downs! Over the past 6 months, I have worked harder than I ever have in my entire life. I feel more driven than ever.
What was your toughest obstacle and how did you overcome it?
I think my toughest obstacle thus far has been overcoming self-doubt and insecurity. When I was 16, I wasn't doing well in high school due to personal reasons and an eating disorder. I asked my Assistant Principal if I could take the GED. For a long time, I felt ashamed that I didn't finish high school. My friends all went on to graduate and attended really good colleges and universities and I felt like this one decision would negatively impact me for the rest of my life. Now I know that it's not true but at the time, I felt it was. It took more than a few years for me to regain the confidence I had in my early teens. I took classes at a community college and online. It wasn't until I was 21 that I transferred as a nontraditional student to West Virginia University. It was there that I really grew and found myself again.
What's the key to staying focused & motivated?
For me, it's my children. I want them to know what a being a successful mother and businesswoman looks like. It looks like hard work and sleepless nights sometimes.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
I remember in 6th grade I was beginning to become really concerned with what the boys thought of my appearance and I started getting manicures like the other girls. One day my teacher who was a powerhouse of a woman, by the way, came over to me, leaned over and whispered, "Keep your nails short and get to work."

I will never forget that moment. I was in the middle of writing an essay and instead of focusing on my essay, I was looking around the room to see if a boy I liked would make eye contact with me. She was telling me to quit caring about my appearance and get back to my essay.

Years later, in my teens, I had a serious eating disorder. I didn't finish high school because I was so consumed by Anorexia and Bulimia. I regret the years I spent inside because I felt I didn't look thin enough or pretty enough to go to class.

Whenever I start feeling those old negative feelings, I just think back to that moment in 6th grade and get back to work.
What advice do you have for someone who is looking to start a new venture?
Don't be afraid to share your idea with others. Perfect it. Fine tune it as you go. As long as it's only an idea inside of your head, it has no chance of succeeding. You need feedback from your audience and users to grow.
How do we get more women leaders?
We get more women leaders by educating women about what the possibilities are. It starts in the home when a parent suggests their daughter can be a President or CEO. It starts in schools when students start to explore different careers. Teachers and counselors should discuss paths to leadership, not just the entry-level positions one can obtain if you go to college.

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"We get more women leaders by educating women about what the possibilities are. It starts in the home when a parent suggests their daughter can be a President or CEO." - DOER Society

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Erica Peterson is a mother of 2, entrepreneur, and TEDx speaker living in Pittsburgh, PA. She is the Founder & CEO of Moms Can: Code , a membership-based community for moms learning to code. Erica is very passionate about exposing women and children to STEM. This past summer, Eric

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Erica Peterson is many things, among which are a graduate in animal science and nutrition, a mother of two, and an entrepreneur. For her work as founder and CEO of Moms Can Code, a membership-based community dedicated to providing learning resources and connection opportunities to mothers making their mark on the world of STEM, Erica won first prize at the 2017 "Invest in Her Pitch" competition - and with the drive with which she continues to advocate for women's education in coding, it seems that such recognition is just the beginning.

Speaking at a TedxPittsburghWomen event in late 2017, Erica broke down the genesis of Moms Can Code. It began, she explained, with addressing an issue that lay broadly across the spectrum of motherhood: the impulse to apologize. Erica apologized for being late due to ultrasound appointments; she apologized for her house being a mess when her pregnancy left her too exhausted to clean; she apologized to her husband when her hormones made her sex drive take a dip.

With self-awareness and a piqued interest, Erica turned to the mothers of the internet to ask what they'd most like to be able to stop apologizing for. The answers came in their hundreds - everything from "my body" to "enjoying my work" to "breastfeeding" to "being 'just a mom.'" Some women beat around the bush even less, and simply said "everything." Erica wanted to encourage moms to show themselves compassion by quitting their apology habit - and to help them kick it, she decided to teach them how to code.

"I personally know what it's like to not get anything accomplished with two children lying across my lap," Erica says. "Whether it's daytime or nighttime, it is hard. But the truth is, we need to. Because moms who can code don't just have better jobs. Moms who can code don't just have more flexible schedules. Moms who can code are special. We need moms not just to be the consumers, but the inventors of new technology."

In 2016, only 26 percent of the computing workforce was made up of women. Only a tiny percentage of those were mothers. Moms Can Code is on a mission to change those figures forever by providing a space where stay-at-home and working mothers alike can hone their skills in the industry that's shaping the future their children will one day operate in. The website makes a point of featuring mothers who have founded tech companies and are otherwise inspiring others with their technological prowess and leadership skills.

One of these beneficiaries is Georgene Huang, a co-founder of Fairygodboss, a marketplace where professional women on the hunt for jobs, advice, and insider information on companies can connect with employers who believe in gender equality. When asked by the Moms Can Code team about her favorite "founding mom" moment, she noted, "My four-year-old recently taped one of my business cards to the kitchen trash can and called it 'the Fairygodboss trash can.' I loved that."

The vibrant Moms Can Code network is teeming with women of all backgrounds and motivations, from picking up coding as a fun hobby to career aspirations. This means that insider advice for just about any situation is never far. When asked about how she balances her education in coding, a full-time job, and her role as a mother, Moms Can Code member Marjean Mayo-Baker highlighted the importance of a support system - and allowing her kids to get involved in her projects. "What worked for me was to include my sons," she said. "It opened a way for me to teach to reinforce the skills that I am learning myself."

It's this kind of give-and-take approach that's key to the central philosophy of Moms Can Code: the act of helping can itself be helpful, and the importance of Erica's work to create a space in which women assist other women in taking a running jump at STEM projects has proven itself time and time again.

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Even in the World of Coding, Mother Knows Best - FYXES

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Erica Peterson is many things, among which are a graduate in animal science and nutrition, a mother of two, and an entrepreneur. For her work as founder and CEO of Moms Can Code, a membership-based community dedicated to providing learning resources and connection opportunities to mothers making their mark on the world of STEM, Erica ...

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And people are fed up.

There's conferences about it.

There's articles about it.

There's definitely tweetstorms about it.

In general, there's a lot of talking about it.

So in January 2018, we launched the inaugural Founder Gym Cohort, training 26 underrepresented founders across 4 continents in just 4 weeks on how to raise venture capital.

During those 4-weeks, members of Founder Gym cumulatively raised over $1MM and soon after, several founders, like Amy Nelson, went on raise to significantly more.

Now, four months later, we've graduated our second class of underrepesented founders - nearly double the original cohort size at 43 - and today, we're excited to announce who they are. But before we do...

Gender

Race

Age

Parenting Status

With children: 50%

Without children: 50%

Geography

Immigrant Status

Native to the country they reside in: 83%

Immigrated to the country they reside in: 17%

Employment Status

Full-time founder: 57%

Part-time founder and full-time employee: 29%

Part-time founder and part-time employee: 14%

Product Stage

Product in the market: 69%

Product in private beta: 21%

Product in development: 10%

Technical Ability

Engineer: 21%

Designer: 12%

Other type of technical ability: 14%

Non-technical: 52%

Previous Fundraising Experience

No previous fundraising experience: 41%

Family and/or friends: 38%

Incubator and/or accelerator: 7%

Venture capitalists: 7%

Angel investors: 5%

Pitch competition: 2%

Company: Agbara Life, a wearable tech benefits corporation that creates designer powered accessories and apparel with the mission to bridge the technology gap in under-resourced areas.

Location: Oakland, CA

Get connected: LinkedIn

Company: Saddle Shoppe, an e-commerce startup that features luxury equestrian brands that suit both style and technical advancements for the modern rider.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Get connected: LinkedIn

Company: Mother Squad,a video chat support group platform that gives new moms a space to connect from the comfort of home - via computer, tablet, and/or smartphone.

Location: Los Angeles, CA

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Meet the Graduating Class of Founder Gym Cohort 2: The Fundraising Basics

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And people are fed up. There's conferences about it. There's articles about it. There's definitely tweetstorms about it. In general, there's a lot of talking about it. So in January 2018, we launched the inaugural Founder Gym Cohort , training 26 underrepresented founders across 4 continents in just 4 weeks on how to raise venture capital.

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In the four years since she founded the educational organization Science Tots, former Washington resident Erica Peterson has learned a lot about leading that type of endeavor.

"There's a huge misconception that as a nonprofit, it's all charity-based, that you say, 'I need this,' and all of a sudden it appears on pallets at your door," she said. "But in order to be a sustainable nonprofit, it is a business. It's just a different type of business."

To help share her insight, Peterson is serving as event producer for a New York City gathering that basically is for founders of nonprofits, presented by founders of nonprofits.

The inaugural Find Your Pajamas Nonprofit Business Intensive and Pitch Contest, scheduled for Sept. 14, features a series of guest speakers - Peterson is among them - and workshop sessions addressing effective strategies for the likes of raising funds, engaging volunteers and storytelling to creating social impact.

The name relates to the event's host, Genevieve Piturro, and the nonprofit she founded: For nearly two decades, Pajama Program has delivered nighttime clothing and books to children who otherwise wouldn't have them.

Prior to Peterson starting her nonprofit, she served in a volunteer capacity as Pajama Program chapter president for Western Pennsylvania.

"My job with them was to collect pajamas from local drives," she recalled. "It was my job to go pick up the pajamas and then go distribute them to all of their partners across this half of the state."

During her travels, she had the idea of providing an extra educational component to youngsters in need. The result was Science Tots, which provides tools for early learning in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

"I definitely was inspired by Pajama Program," Peterson said. "It was really impactful to see that you can grow something into a national program, where people volunteer, where people are calling and saying, 'Hey, can I help you?'"

This year, she contacted Piturro about being a guest speaker at an event Peterson was organizing. Their conversation helped inspire Piturro to organize the Find Your Pajamas event, and she asked Peterson to serve as its producer.

"It took me probably about 30 minutes to come up with: Here's the agenda. Here are the workshops. Here are the potential speakers we can invite," she said.

She also thought to include the pitch contest for founders of nonprofits.

"This part of the event is a great experience for them to vocalize and put together their materials so that they, themselves, are clear on the hows and whys," Peterson explained. "We're using it as a really good educational tool."

One of the judges for the contest is Bethel Park native Megs Yunn, founder of Beverly's Birthdays, which has a mission similar to that of Pajama Program: providing parties for children whose circumstances precluded such celebrations.

"I had suggested Megs because of her great success with Beverly's Birthdays," Peterson said. "She's been able to touch on all the different pieces of the event that day: building an effective board, building a solid volunteer network and building a following."

A New York City native and West Virginia University graduate who now lives in Robinson Township, Allegheny County, Peterson also is founder of Moms Can & Co., an online career accelerator for mothers and others who want to switch careers and work exclusively remotely. One component is sharing information about the growing number of opportunities in that regard.

"These aren't freelance gigs," Peterson explained. "These are full-time jobs with benefits."

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Entrepreneur helps provide guidance for founders of nonprofits

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In the four years since she founded the educational organization Science Tots, former Washington resident Erica Peterson has learned a lot about leading that type of endeavor. "There's a huge misconception that as a nonprofit, it's all charity-based, that you say, 'I need this,' and all of a sudden it appears on pallets at your door," she said.

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Taylor Greene

If you're juggling working from home while the kids are out of school for the summer, you're not alone! As parents ourselves, we understand how difficult it can be to juggle the kids' schedule during the summer. We've loved connecting with many of you on social media who are using GoNoodle throughout the week as a way to keep your kids moving and having fun while giving you much needed time to get stuff done!

One of our favorite mom friends is Erica from Moms Can™ & Co. Moms Can™ & Co. is an online career accelerator for moms who want to switch careers and work exclusively remotely. Erica parents alone 95% of the time and is able to make it work by creating a schedule, researching free kid activities, and leaning on other parents!

Here are Erica's summer tips for working parents,

1. Make a schedule with free kid activities: Find out if a local community center (think YMCA, your township community center, or one that's affiliated with a religious center) has "Open Play" times where children can play for free in the Rec. areas. There's a local one I go to where my sons can run around on the turf or play basketball while I get work done for zero dollars. To support the center, I'll make a donation during the year and I'll order coffee from their cafe.

2. Find summer camps that also work with your schedule: Specialty summer camps don't have to take you away from your work. I met a mom who was taking paid time off so that her son could attend a camp this week. Don't do that! I look for camps where my oldest can advance his skills and I can work. If there's not a place where I can sit inside the facility or nearby, it's not an option. If you need longer hours, there are many that offer before and after-care.

3. Look for discounts at places where kids can play and eat: Two local arcades have deals where the kids have unlimited play and pizza on certain days they're not busy. They have WiFi and couches where I can work and still keep an eye on my boys.

4. See a drive-in movie: If there's a drive-in movie theater nearby, take advantage of this fun & more affordable option to see a movie. I took my boys to see Secret Life of Pets 2 a couple of weeks ago. My sons had a blast and I got to catch up on things I didn't get to do earlier that day from my phone. Pro tip: Put their PJs on before you leave. They're going to fall asleep on their way home.

5. Create a work play group: If you have other friends who are working from home in the summer, set up times where you all get together at someone's house or at the gazebo next to the playground. Sit down and work together. It will make an impression on the children to see you all pull out your laptops and declare that it's time to work. Take turns keeping an eye on the children. Pack snacks and sunscreen.

6. Download these apps: With free, kid-friendly apps like @GoNoodle, @ProdigyGame, and @readingeggs I don't feel guilty because I know my kids are learning!

We hope these tips help your family! Let us know how your summer is going with #GoNoodleGoSummer to be featured and earn prizes.

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5 Summer Tips for Working Parents - GoNoodle

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If you're juggling working from home while the kids are out of school for the summer, you're not alone! As parents ourselves, we understand how difficult it can be to juggle the kids' schedule during the summer. We hope these tips help your family!

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When Erica Peterson, a Robinson Township housewife and mother of twocouldn't answer the questions her 5-year-old son, Hesher, was asking about how his laptop worked, she introduced herself to the world of coding - the process of creating software that powers devices, apps and websites - so she could support his learning as he gets older. Peterson assumed that other parents had a similar knowledge void, so this past summer she established Moms Can Code (, momscancode.com), a virtual and traditional community of coders.

Since the site's launch party in early August, it has attracted interest from more than 200 users, 800 e-newsletter subscribers and well over 15,000 visitors from the United States, China, the United Kingdom and various countries in South America. For a modest monthly subscription fee, mothers (and fathers, alike) can access, online and through traditional workshops, content created by moms and guest experts. In fact, several fathers and husbands, one of whom has been a teaching assistant in computer science at a local university, are among the early subscribers to Moms Can Code. Although the company is mostly an online community, meetups have taken place locally, as well as in San Francisco and New York, and similar get-togethers in other cities are in the planning stages.

"Anybody has the ability to code if he or she wants to learn something new."

"Creating the company has been a great learning experience," said Peterson. "The most important thing I've learned is that anybody has the ability to code if he or she wants to learn something new. Although people come to our website with different levels of experience and different desires to learn, we already have content they can use, or we can put them in touch with people who have materials they can use to become more skilled at coding, regardless of whether someone wants to make a career or sideline out of it, or just increase their subject knowledge."

Content offered on the Moms Can Code website does not take the place of a "bootcamp" or a computer science degree, and most of the technical information on the website relates to beginner-level programming, such as changing colors when developing web pages.

To foster a sense of community, subscribers hold virtual chats to exchange information, offer support or let others know about new projects that require coding expertise. Although Moms Can Code does not make job placement a priority, Peterson sees it becoming an outgrowth of the chats, which occur twice a month.

"Sometimes, we have guest speakers who talk about various subjects related to coding, and at other times we have experts talk to us about other topics, such as creating a LinkedIn profile or using social media effectively for professional purposes," explained Peterson.

As for assistance from Pittsburgh's tech community, Peterson is grateful to numerous organizations, including Innovation Works, which invests capital, business expertise and other resources into high-potential companies with the greatest likelihood for regional economic impact; Work Hard Pittsburgh, a cooperatively owned-and-operated business incubator; and Alloy 26, a cutting edge co-working space in Nova Place (formerly Allegheny Center Mall) on Pittsburgh's North Side.

Besides providing Peterson with business advice, Innovation Works has sponsored child care at several of the company's meetup events.

"Organizations in the tech community have been so helpful in so many ways," said Peterson. "In addition to being knowledgeable, the people really care about helping the company succeed."

Others helping Peterson grow Moms Can Code include more than a half-dozen independent contractors, including website content managers and site designers, and an accounts manager.

Peterson considers the company a work in progress. "By piloting different meetups, I'm learning what works. My team and I are continually trying to improve members' experiences and expand the size of the group. By getting more people interested in coding, we're helping them find innovative ways to bond with their children while expanding their knowledge of a fascinating subject."
By Todd Miller

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Moms Can Code: Stay-at-Home Mom Establishes Network of Coders

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When Erica Peterson, a Robinson Township housewife and mother of twocouldn't answer the questions her 5-year-old son, Hesher, was asking about how his laptop worked, she introduced herself to the world of coding - the process of creating software that powers devices, apps and websites - so she could support his learning as he gets older.

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Did you know that research shows that children's curiosity makes them natural explorers of topics? It's true! While you're going throughout your day, playing blocks with your child, changing their pants after a roll in the dirt, or thinking that they couldn't possibly ask another question, you might not realize that you have a budding scientist on your hands.

Your best parental move? Encourage exploration and experimentation early and often while incorporating some fun science experiments for kids . "When you introduce scientific thinking to your child as a parent, you build a foundation for learning, the ability to think critically, and raise your child's confidence levels," says Erica Peterson, founder of Science Tots , an organization committed to early STEM education.

You don't have to set up a lab in the middle of your living room, though-because we have three easy (and fun) oil and water experiments, along with three mini-science lessons, that you can do in 30 minutes or less to inspire curiosity in your kids.

Kitchen Materials Needed for the Experiments:

Mini-Experiment #1: Teaching Basic Chemistry Through The Rules of Attraction

Many students find chemistry to be their most difficult subject , but if you instill basic concepts (like the rule of attraction) at a young age, your child can find it energizing instead of challenging. Plus, we love this easy kitchen science experiment because you likely have all the ingredients in your cabinet.

What to Do:

Fill the glass jar about halfway with water. Fill it the rest of the way with vegetable oil.

Ask your child(ren) what they see. Did the oil and water mix?

Now, shake up the water and oil mixture. Did it mix now?

The Basic Chemistry Experiment, Explained:

The water and oil don't mix because they are immiscible , meaning the water molecules are attracted to the water and the oil molecules are attracted to the oil. Even when you shake it up, as soon as the molecules settle they separate. And, the water is always on the bottom because it has a higher density than the oil. By seeing this firsthand, your children are getting a glimpse of what it means when the chemical compositions of liquids are different from one another. The sizes of oil and water molecules are different, and so are their forces of attraction .

Mini-Experiment #2: Good, Clean Fun to Understand Emulsion

Now, let's take the rules of attraction further by introducing emulsion. The simple definition? Emulsion is what happens when two liquids that don't normally mix, mix. It's a good way to explain what they just learned (and we're pretty sure any child will jump at the chance to use food coloring).

What to Do:

In a small bowl, combine a tablespoon or two of dish soap with a drop or two of food coloring. Mix to combine.

Using the dropper, put a few drops of the colored solution into the jar you just used, with the water and oil. You should see an effect similar to a lava lamp. Challenge your children to try to explain what happened (after all, you just taught them that oil and water don't mix).

The Emulsion Experiment, Explained:

So, what caused this? The dish soap is attracted to both water molecules and oil molecules, which is why it forces them to mix. The soap acts to dissolve the oil, allowing the oil and water to mix together. The oil molecules are suspended in the dish soap, which is suspended in the water. This demonstrates emulsion, and it's why dish soap cleans so well!

Mini-Experiment #3: Get Salty to Explore Density

Our last mini-lesson is in density (AKA mass per unit of volume or the amount of stuff in a given amount of space). If an object is heavy and compact, it has high density. If an object is light and takes up space, it has low density.

We also love this lesson because it's a fun way for your children to visualize what can feel like an abstract concept.

What to Do:

Pour a tablespoon or so of salt into the jar. Let your child experiment with starting with a pinch and gradually adding more. It's a great sensory experiment for children to watch the movement in the jar.

Again, you should get a lava lamp effect.

The Density Experiment, Explained:

In the beginning of the experiment, the oil settles above the water because it is less . Because the salt is heavier than the water, it floats straight to the bottom, bringing some of the oil with it since the oil is on top. But, as the salt starts to dissolve in the water, it releases the oil which floats back up to the top.

Ask your children what's more dense: oil, water, or salt? Then, encourage them to experiment with different jars, food colorings, food (will sugar do the same thing?), or anything else they want to test. It's sometimes about the scientific journey more than the result-and by encouraging them to experiment and research, you're encouraging their scientific development.

Ask your kids to write down what they learned (some definitions to keep handy: molecules, immiscible, emulsion) during these oil and water experiments for kids . Keep the conversation, curiosity, and kitchen science going with a science journal to document your findings. You might just find that you have the next Marie Curie on your hands!

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Kitchen Science for Kids: Why Oil and Water Don't Mix

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Did you know that research shows that children's curiosity makes them natural explorers of topics? It's true! While you're going throughout your day, playing blocks with your child, changing their pants after a roll in the dirt, or thinking that they couldn't possibly ask another question, you might not realize that you have a budding scientist on your hands.

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CCAC South Campus will hold a panel discussion with women leaders in STEM-science, technology, engineering and math-on March 14.

The event will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the campus theater, at 1750 Clairton Road, West Mifflin.

The panelists will give insight into their career paths, professional and personal development, work/life balance and gender equity in the workplace.

Featured panelists include:

* Chantelle Bellavance, asset integration specialist, Crown Castle

* Stephanie Conroy, project engineer-team leader, Elliot Group

* Dana DelDuca-Cindric, senior engineer-chemical, Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corporation;

* Haley McLaughlin, technical recruiter, Aerotek

* Monica McWilson, RN, Corporate Compliance, staff/educator, Infection Control, Oakmont Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation

* Erica Peterson, founder and CEO, Moms Can: Code, founder and president, Science Tots

A meet and greet with the panelists will be held before and after the program on the B4 mezzanine. The program is free and open to the public.

The discussion is presented by the CCAC Women's Empowerment Summit.

Women's Empowerment Summit events are being held at all CCAC campuses and will culminate in a free conference designed to enhance the leadership and personal and professional potential of women.

"What Does it Mean to 'Lean In?'" is the theme of this year's inaugural conference, which will be held at the Foerster Student Services Center on Allegheny Campus on April 6 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Charlene Newkirk, president, CCAC South Campus and Washington County Center at 412-469-6301 or [email protected] .

Emily Balser is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-226-4680, [email protected] or on Twitter @emilybalser.

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CCAC South to hold STEM panel with women leaders from local companies

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CCAC South Campus will hold a panel discussion with women leaders in STEM-science, technology, engineering and math-on March 14. The event will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the campus theater, at 1750 Clairton Road, West Mifflin. The panelists will give insight into their career paths, professional

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Improving the lives of children often starts by supporting measures that help their parents. Remote work is one such difference-maker for families.

Let's go over some of the many ways remote work aids in alleviating stress and enables working parents to better merge professional and personal obligations.

How Remote Work Can Help Stressed-Out Working Parents

It provides control over your schedule.

Findings from the American Psychological Association note that " employee control over work can reduce stress and enhance motivation and growth." Telework supports this idea in a big way by providing parents with greater say-so in when and where tasks get done.

"I'm less stressed when I have the opportunity to split my day up so I can pick my kids up from school and start homework," says Kelley Kitley, a psychotherapist and mother of four. Once they have a snack and get settled, she's able to return to certain items on her to-do list such as notes, scheduling, and responding to emails.

You can better integrate work and life.

Chores, doctor's appointments, sports practices, dance recitals, home maintenance...all of these things and more play a part in family life. Remote work helps different aspects of the day exist harmoniously instead of battling one another, which decreases stress. Run a load of laundry during a lunch break. Be around for the washing machine repairman. Enjoy peace of mind that you witnessed your six-year-old safely getting on the school bus in the morning.

You can gain back more time.

Ask working parents about their most precious commodities and "time" appears on most lists. Remote work offers a way to gain more of it.

"The time saved on commuting can be a real game changer," says Jenn Folsom, chief of corporate development at Summit Consulting and author of an upcoming book on working parenthood.

With a commute of about an hour door to door, Folsom appreciates the two hours she's "given back" on days she works remotely. An added bonus: "Target runs and dry cleaning pickup are all so much faster outside of the after-work rush," she says.

"Extra" time also provides greater opportunity for self-care, such as exercising and getting enough sleep. And whether it's scheduling regular date nights with your spouse, being around to listen to your teen's concerns, or playing board games together as a family, building relationships and memories beats an energy-zapping commute any day.

It can help in time of need.

All parents face daily challenges, but there's nothing like an out-of-the-ordinary event to send stress levels skyrocketing. Remote work aids in addressing the situation, from the unexpected snow day that closes school to the plumber that needs to come ASAP to stop a leak.

"Working remotely and flexibly has helped me not be a stressed-out working parent because I don't have to ask or receive permission to be at home with my child when they're sick or have a day off," says Erica Peterson, founder and CEO of Moms Can & Co.

You don't have to choose between career and parenthood.

Finally, nobody has to tell working moms and dads that subtle (and not-so-subtle) pressure exists to meet societal expectations both as an employee and as a parent. Women especially may feel that they must choose between focusing on one role or another, and this conflict can serve as a major source of stress.

Remote work provides opportunities to combine paid employment and family care in ways that don't disadvantage a person at work or at home. And every person who performs remote work progresses the conversation on how to continue finding ways to support parents in their effort to manage both arenas. Changing cultural outlooks and changing individual lives-remote work has power!

Are you looking for less stress and more flexibility in your career? FlexJobs offers jobs in more than 50 categories, all with flexibility that ranges from freelance, full-time, partially remote and fully remote.
Photo Credit: bigstockphoto.com

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How Remote Work Can Help Stressed-Out Working Parents

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Improving the lives of children often starts by supporting measures that help their parents. Remote work is one such difference-maker for families. Let's go over some of the many ways remote work aids in alleviating stress and enables working parents to better merge professional and personal obligations.

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Two things are crucial: the ability to craft and tell a compelling story, and the ability to self-identify good content. Someone who takes a brief, understands the client, and works their hardest to produce the best piece of content on that topic.

- Jordie Black, Content Marketer @ Copy and Check

I look for writers who can write expertly about a topic and in an engaging manner. I appreciate when writers have mastered "the hook" and can draw readers into a piece.

- Kate McDaniel, Product Marketing Content @ UiPath

You can't be a robot. This is hard because we're often not writing for ourselves, in our own voices. A lot of client projects require that we write in the 'company' voice, or the company owner's voice, etc. Even then, you have to be able to inject genuine emotion and passion.

- Nichole Elizabeth DeMeré, B2B SaaS Consultant

Write for humans, not search engines

For us, it would be subject-matter expertise and how well they can present a topic. I personally detest writers who write for search engines and not for humans. It may sound simple, but it's a rare quality.

- Taru Bhargava, Content Marketing & SEO Specialist @ Foundation Marketing

Human-to-human writing - someone who's able to translate corporate speak, industry jargon and tech-talk into words anyone can read, understand, and engage with. That's a gift.

- Nichole Elizabeth DeMeré, B2B SaaS Consultant

Subject matter expertise and passion

I look for a really good understanding of who our audience is whether that's shared in their pitch to me or in their past work. Also an understanding of SEO and what topics are trending for our audience.

- Erica Peterson, Founder & CEO @ Moms Can & Co.

I like when my writers are passionate about a topic. I don't settle on a topic until I can hear them light up and get excited. Nothing like when you can feel their gears turning. That's when I know it's going to be the best content for them to write and my readers to absorb.

- Melissa Goff, Senior Marketing Communications Manager @ Liveops

Professionalism and reliability

A great writing partner presents a high quality, well-researched first draft, and handles feedback professionally. If we are working on multiple projects together I appreciate if it's clear they are remembering and incorporating feedback from previous projects into new projects.

- Kate McDaniel, Product Marketing Content @ UiPath

Out of the ~20 freelance writers I've worked with, the ones that stood out catch on to best practices quickly. If I show them a client blog, they'll incorporate a few internal backlinks into the articles they send me, without me having to edit it in. The writers I work with long-term are great writers, but more importantly we work well together. They're rarely late on their deadlines, catch on to my project management system quickly, and very easy to assign pieces to. Basically, I don't have to worry about them. These are the rare unicorns.

- Rachel Go, Content Strategist and Inbound Marketer

They [good writing partners] are always curious about your target audience and ask a lot of questions. They try to get as close to your company as they can to make the content authentic to the brand. They ask for feedback, they inquire whether what they're delivering aligns to your goals.

- Juliana Casale, Head of Marketing @ Crazy Egg

"Good writers are good people."

As my friend and writing partner Lauren Van Mullem says, "Good writers are good people." She contends that you can't be a good writer unless you're a good person, because being a good writer means putting the needs of your readers first. Good writers want to know what their readers want in life and work, what jobs they need to do, and what's preventing them from reaching their goals. They're invested in the end-reader's success. The writing will always be better, as will the working relationship!

- Nichole Elizabeth DeMeré, B2B SaaS Consultant

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What Makes a Good Writing Partner? - Kiera Abbamonte - Copy for humans

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A great writing partner offers more than writing chops. That's part of what makes it so hard to find good freelance writers to work with. Here's what 8 content marketing pros say they look for in the freelance writers they work with.

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We are excited to announce RLD Champions in 2018. These people are instigators in the community who embrace the idea of "remake learning" for our future generations. Get to know our Champions, follow them on social media and learn which RLD events they recommend.

CEO, Ya Momz House, Inc.

Bio: Emmai Alaquiva,an Emmy Award-winning film director, composer and mentor is known for his impact across mixed-media art platforms. Once homeless and one who occupied the unforgiving streets of Pittsburgh Pa., Alaquiva shifted the trajectory of his life's path to become one of the most distinct trailblazers in thearena of creative arts. Multi-award decorated, Alaquiva is the CEO of an Ya Momz House, Inc, Founder of Hip-Hop On L.O.C.K. and Curator of OpticVoices. He most recentlyreceived a 2017 Emmy nomination his international directorial premiere of "Ghetto Steps ", selected by the City of Pittsburgh to spearhead the Amazon Pitch Video for their second Headquarters. Alaquiva is a national BMe Community Leader recognized by President Barack Obama and Pittsburgh Business Times, "Outstanding CEO of the Year" for 2018.

Director of Programming, Center of Life

Bio: Joy Cannon is Director of Programming at Center of Life and has been involved with the organization and Hazelwood community since 2013. She is a graduate of Duquesne University where she studied Sociology and Social Justice/Policy. Joy is dedicated to providing minority youth with the academic support, access to arts and technology, and cultural self-awareness necessary for individual and community success.

Event Recommendations: Read this blog about Joy Cannon and her recommendations for RLD events in Hazelwood.

Founder, Matt's Makerspace

Bio: Noelle Conover is the founder of Founded by the Conover family to honor the memory of their son, Matt, who had big ideas and loved to build and create, Read more about Matt's Maker Space Matt's Maker Space, Inc., an organization dedicated to inspiring a a new generation of creative, collaborative and experiential learners through STEAM focused programming. Matt's Maker Space began as a philanthropic gift to a public school system. Matt was only 12 when he passed away from cancer. Noelle looked for many ways to remember her son and over the years has been a dedicated supporter of Our Clubhouse (formerly known as Gilda's Club) , where is she is on their Executive Board and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, where she is not only a donor but an employee as well. Noelle coordinates the Survivorship program for survivors of pediatric cancer. here.

Follow Matt's Maker Space on their Facebook and Linked In pages.

https://www.facebook.com/mattsmakerspace/

Mayor of Wilkinsburg

Bio:

Recently, sworn in as the 10 th Mayor of Wilkinsburg, PA. Marita Garrett served on Wilkinsburg Borough Council from 2014-2018.

During her term on Council, Marita Garrett started "Wilkinsburg Community Conversations", an initiative to connect and empower residents to work together for neighborhood improvement, co-founded CIVICALLY, a non-profit that also houses the Free Store Wilkinsburg -where donations of new and slightly used material goods are available to residents and families; and was elected Vice-President of Council, where she served as Chair of the Borough's Social Media & Promotions Committee and sat on the Capital Planning & Public Safety Committees.

Ms. Garrett is the co-owner and managing partner of Admintrinsic, which provides a wide range of outreach and engagement services to small businesses, non-profits, and mid-level corporations. She has successfully coordinated small business educational events, 2016 Vacant Home Tour with the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation (WCDC), consulted on a research study at Carnegie Mellon University among other outreach programming. Currently, she also serves as the Program Trainer for Coro Pittsburgh's Women in Leadership, 2017-2018 Cohort.

Building on her mission of promoting women empowerment, Marita is also the co-host of Shattered Glass Podcast, where stories of extraordinary women shattering the glass ceiling are highlighted.

Filmmaker

Bio: Willy James creates Pittsburgh videos highlighting and documenting the city's culture. He's done work featuring The Mattress Factory, Children's Museum, mayor Bill Peduto, PWSA, and more. He recently finished up his fellowship with WQED in January of 2018 and plans to continue learning more about the city and make fun, collaborative video projects. Willy currently resides on the Northside.

Event Recommendations: Read this blog about Willy James and his recommendations for RLD events in the Northside.

Executive Director, West Virginia Public Education Collaborative

Bio: Donna Peduto currently serves as Executive Director of the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative. The WVPEC is a non-partisan collaborative of diverse state and national leaders championing awareness and support of public schools through outreach, innovation, and convening of stakeholders to foster productive dialogue and respond rapidly to emerging issues P-20 in West Virginia and beyond. Under Peduto's leadership, the WVPEC has convened the first and second annual Legislators' Forum on Education and the Economy, with plans for a third Forum, among other outreach events, in 2018.

Event Recommendations: Read this blog about Willy James and his recommendations for RLD events in the West Virgini

Founder & CEO, Moms Can: Code

Bio: Erica Peterson is a mother of 2, entrepreneur, and TEDx speaker living in Pittsburgh, PA. She is the Founder & CEO of Moms Can: Code, a co-learning community that empowers moms through code. Erica is very passionate about exposing women and children to STEM. This past summer, Erica was selected as a member of The Incline's Who's Next: Education class for her work as Founder & Board President of Science Tots, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that connects families with the tools and instruction to power early childhood STEAM learning. Last year, Erica won first prize at the 2017 Invest in Her Pitch Competition and was a 2018 SXSW Accelerator Pitch Finalist. Most recently, Erica graduated from Founder Gym's second cohort and was selected for the Project Entrepreneur Class of 2018 for a weekend intensive in NYC.

Founder, Never Fear Being Different

Bio: Jordon Rooney is the Founder/CEO of NFBD, which stands for Never Fear Being Different. Jordon is a social innovator, speaker, and content creator. He played professional american football in Poland, Serbia, and Brazil. He then created NFBD as a way to build excitement around positive messaging. In the past 2 years, Jordon has been the keynote speaker at over 100 schools in 10 states. This past summer, his videos reached 20 million video views with 250,000 shares. With over 160,000 followers on social media, you can see more about Jordon and NFBD by following @NFBDmovement.

Pittsburgh Police Officer

Bio: In November, 2015 Pittsburgh Police Officer David Shifren proposed teaching Hazelwood neighborhood pre-teens and teens the game ofchess. The 1,300 year-old board game from India offers lessons in problem-solving and critical thinking, but also good sportsmanship, patience, and the benefits of thinking ahead. Now, Pittsburgh Police Junior Chess Club meetings run weekly in other stressed neighborhoods, too, as devoted officers teach city kids lessons that apply both on the chessboard and in life.

President and CEO, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

Bio: Joining the Partnership in May 2011 as President and CEO, Mr. Waldrup is responsible for working with the Board of Directors, stakeholders and staff to create and implement a vision that ensures Downtown Pittsburgh remains a vibrant and innovative place to live, work and play.

Clinician, Summit Psychological Services

Bio: Wesley Waldrup is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a varied background in education, youth development and mental health. Wesley is a clinician with Summit Psychological Services. Wesley has served as a school leader and school counselor working with inner city youth in NYC. She has been an educational consultant on promoting social and emotional learning, including teaching yoga and mindfulness classes to elementary age students. As an advocate for infusing social and emotional learning into K-12 education, Wesley is a Co-founder of Project Playground, an Edtech company providing a platform for teachers to assess collaboration skills for K-2 students.

Owner, Tekstart

Bio: Shimira Williams, an authentic change agent, that builds digital citizens through play and productivity. Williams integrates digital media literacy, tools, and learning materials to harness the power of technology, extending learning opportunities and retooling business operations in early learning environments. Her vision for technology seeks to improve people's ability to communicate and collaborate and to allow people to focus on the human to human connection.

Event Recommendations: Read this blog about Shimira Williams and her recommendations for RLD events in Homewood.

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RLD Community Champions - Remake Learning Days

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We are excited to announce RLD Champions in 2018. These people are instigators in the community who embrace the idea of "remake learning" for our future generations. Get to know our Champions, follow them on social media and learn which RLD events they recommend.

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From classroom teachers and school principals to nonprofit leaders in tech education and teaching through international service, this Who's Next class has a love of learning.

We're honoring these 18 young Pittsburgh leaders in our Who's Next: Education class. From dozens of nominations, the editorial staff at The Incline selected these latest honorees for Who's Next. The series allows us to recognize under-40 leaders in the community and is presented by S&T Bank. (Nominate someone for Who's Next: Housing by 5 p.m. July 20.)

Want to meet these education superstars? Come to a happy hour in their honor later this month at Ascender in East Liberty.

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Who's Next: Education; Meet 18 Pittsburghers preparing for the future

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From classroom teachers and school principals to nonprofit leaders in tech education and teaching through international service, this Who's Next class has a love of learning. We're honoring these 18 young Pittsburgh leaders in our Who's Next: Education class. From dozens of nominations, the editorial staff at The Incline selected these latest honorees for Who's Next.

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(Last Updated On: February 6, 2019)

From the moment you open the doors to your new business, you're racing against the clock.

You've probably already spent a considerable amount of startup capital on rent for your store or office as well as payroll costs for your launch staff, and every day is a new battle to attract customers, manage your burn-rate, and point your business in the direction of profit. It can be exhausting, honestly. And not everybody makes it. Although half of businesses survive their first five years, 20% of startups go belly-up in year one . Often, those failures are simply a matter of underestimating the massive and unpredictable expenses of starting a business from scratch, and how long it generally takes to break even. One added financial challenge is that it's very difficult to secure business financing as a startup. Typically your business will need to be operating for at least six months to secure funding from an alternative lender, or a full two years before a bank will lend to you. So how do you survive in the meantime? We asked eight business founders for their best tips on how to remain on stable financial footing, attract your first customers, and maintain your sanity during your first six months as a business owner.

1) Before you go all in, do your research

They're the two most important words to a budding entrepreneur: market validation . That means doing sufficient research in advance to determine if there's a viable customer base for what you're offering, and learning what those customers actually want. "You might have a great business idea, but if no one else is interested then you've got a hobby," says Erica Peterson, Founder of "You can find potential customers before you build your business by joining Facebook groups where they might hang out, going to meetups, and seeing if anyone will sign up for your newsletter or email updates to learn when you launch." "Be certain that your product or service is something people don't just like the idea of, but will actually spend money on," adds Stephanie Bacak, a Certified Financial Planner who specializes in financial planning for parents. "Survey respondents lie to be kind, and trusting words over wallets will sink you."

2) Hire cheaply and fire quickly

"Hiring is the main reason of cash burnout for newer businesses," says Jitesh Keswani, CEO of e-Intelligence . "To keep your cash flow at a healthy level, pay employees with a balanced combination of money and equity, which will allow you to extend your runway. And always remember the golden rule: Only hire to cover the need."

Keswani also advises leaning on supportive family members as a source of cheap labor as well as honest feedback: "Give your family members simple tasks like spreading the word in public, or handling your bookkeeping. Welcome their objectivity, which you may lack in your euphoria."

Speaking of hiring, it's important to understand that your launch team won't necessarily be your team, and you can't be afraid to shed dead weight when you're trying to get off the ground. "The hardest lesson I learned when I started my company is not getting rid of weak people earlier," says Paige Arnof-Fenn, Founder & CEO of Mavens & Moguls . "I spent more time managing them than finding new customers. I knew in my gut they were not up to snuff but out of loyalty to them I let them hang around much longer than they should have." "As soon as I let them go, the culture got stronger and the bar was higher," Arnof-Fenn continues. "'A-team' people like to be surrounded by other stars. It's true that you should hire slowly and fire quickly. I didn't make that mistake again."

3) DIY your marketing and branding efforts

Over-spending on marketing is a common fatal error for startups. Of course you need to find paying customers as quickly as possible when you're just starting out, but it's more important to remain disciplined with your cash reserves and keep your burn rate low. For that reason, the more free sources of marketing you can rely on, the better. "During the initial phase of your business, pay-per-click ads may look tempting, as they have the potential to generate leads and direct customers to your front door," Keswani says. "However, unless you have a big dedicated marketing budget, avoid paid ads. Instead, start slowly by building a content marketing strategy. The best thing about content is that it positions you as an expert in your niche, it's free, and it sells. Start by writing blog posts, then create images, videos, and infographics as well if you can do so with free resources."

If you conduct business at your storefront, make sure that your is flawless. By optimizing your listings in relevant business directories, you can greatly increase foot traffic and inbound calls without investing a lot of time or money. You should also understand the difference between "need to have" and "nice to have" when it comes to branding. Yes, your business needs to have a website. No, your business doesn't need to have customized stationary.

"Until your business is financially sustainable, only put your budget into things that will help fill your pipeline with customers," Arnof-Fenn says. "I created online stationery for proposals and invoices, ordered my cards online, and made downloadable materials as leave-behinds for people looking for more information. I know other business owners who spent thousands of dollars on things like fancy brochures, letterhead, and business cards, and found it was a waste of money.

"You need to look professional and have a website to be taken seriously, but embossed paper with watermarks and heavy card stock is not going to accelerate your sales cycle," Arnof-Fenn continues. "Find your first customers quickly, and use them to get testimonials and referrals. There is plenty of time later to dress things up!"

4) Look beyond lenders

Time-in-business requirements for lenders tend to be non-negotiable. Even if you have a rock-solid business plan and a fast-growing customer base, securing business financing just won't be an option until you've hit the six-month mark. So where else can you find capital to sustain your operations?

"Outside the traditional banking system, a startup can secure capital by using unconventional methods like barter, community capital , and through online platforms like Kickstarter," says Emmanuel Eliason, a Certified Financial Educator® and President & CEO of the Eliason Consulting Group . "Another unique source of funds is the owner's cash-value life insurance policies, if the owner has enough equity in his or her policies, " Eliason continued. "Life insurance companies may offer loans against the cash values of a life insurance policy without it becoming a modified endowment contract . JCPenney and Walt Disney are known to have accessed their life insurance policies to keep their businesses afloat during hard times." You may also consider equity financing , in which you sell a percentage of your business to an investor in exchange for a significant injection of capital. (If you've ever watched , you know exactly what we're talking about.) But in a perfect world, you should have a plan in place to survive your first six months the need for additional outside capital. And that generally means spending like a pauper. Or, as Stephanie Bacak puts it, "Hold onto money as though you won't earn a dime for a year."

5) Build your network

Even if networking doesn't come naturally to you, it's critically important to get out in the world and meet as many new people as possible who could become business partners, advocates, or loyal customers down the road. " It helps if you think of networking as a way to give before you get," Arnof-Fenn says. "Once you make a good contact, follow up with a note and offer to buy them a cup of coffee, send them a link to an article or white paper related to your conversation, or just offer to make an introduction to someone who they might find interesting. Don't think of it as selling, just start listening and finding ways to be helpful."

When it comes to attending conferences and networking events, Arnof-Fenn suggests starting small-and bringing backup.

"Those big events in large hotel ballrooms can be overwhelming for seasoned networkers, too," she explains. "Attending small roundtable events or group lunches can be very effective ways to network. Focus on making a few good contacts at each event you attend, rather than leaving with lots of business cards from people you barely spoke with. Plus, you can always go with a friend or colleague and work the room together, which makes it much more comfortable and fun."

Finally, make a concerted effort to meet other business owners and entrepreneurs who can relate to what you're going through and offer actionable advice. " You'll have many ups and downs as a business owner, sometimes all in one day," says Erica Peterson. "You're going to need emotional support and no one quite gets it like another startup founder."

6) Make yourself a priority

The long hours and constant stress of getting a new business off the ground can wreak havoc on your health, both mental and physical. Prioritizing your business over yourself isn't sustainable. In order to stay effective as the leader of your business, you need to set rules to protect yourself. "Work like crazy but take one day off a week," advises John Crossman, CEO of Crossman & Company . "When I started my company, I worked totally insane hours Monday through Saturday, but always took Sunday completely off and didn't do any work." You should also resist the urge to do everything yourself . "As soon as you can, h ire someone who can take things off of your list," Crossman says. "As you learn to delegate, your world will improve."

With your growing business taking up such a large chunk of your attention and mental capacity, it takes real effort to keep your personal life from suffering. The solution is to schedule every personal obligation like it's any other important business meeting. " Make sure to not just fill your calendar with important work reminders but also list things like doctor's appointments and family events so that nothing falls through the cracks," says Nate Masterson, CEO of Maple Holistics .

"The key to surviving your first six months in business is to strike the right balance between staying productive and allowing yourself the time to recharge and reflect," says Dr. Toni Haley, a physician and the CEO and founder of Lifestyle Coaching with Dr. Toni . "Working more hours does not necessarily yield greater productivity. In fact, many times it can have the exact opposite effect." "You need to allow yourself the time to bond with your spouse, play with your kids, and simply be by yourself," Dr. Toni continues. "High achievers sometimes have trouble believing that they can both enjoy downtime and work hard. In fact, giving yourself the chance to breathe is part of working hard and responsibly. By planning some downtime into your schedule, you give yourself something to look forward to. And when you always have something to strive toward-rather than constantly feeling a sense of dread-you'll be much less susceptible to burnout."
This guest post was written by Ben Goldstein of Credibly.

Ben Goldstein is the Manager of Content Marketing for Credibly, a leading Fintech lending platform that provides affordable, right-sized capital to small and medium-sized businesses. Ben enjoys playing drums, kickboxing, and watching Jeopardy! Please connect with him on LinkedIn if you want to talk shop.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only, should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter and should not be relied upon as such. The author accepts no responsibility for any consequences whatsoever arising from the use of such information.

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Expert Advice: How to Survive Your First Six Months in Business | Become

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(Last Updated On: February 6, 2019) From the moment you open the doors to your new business, you're racing against the clock. You've probably already spent a considerable amount of startup capital on rent for your store or office as well as payroll costs for your launch staff, and every day is a new battle to attract customers, manage your burn-rate, and point your business in the direction of profit.

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Now in its third year, the Invest In Her Pitch Competition is switching it up.

Instead of awarding first, second and third prize, the contest will have two first-place winners- one in products and one in services. And instead of six finalists, there are eight this year.

It's a change that comes as the all-female business pitch contest evolves and responds to the needs of finalists, judges and community members, said Samantha Hartzman, president of Invest In Her and one of the seven female founders.

It's all about women in businesses helping other women build their businesses, said Hartzman, adding that she and the other founders take pride in the fact that the contest has been all women from the beginning, creating a comfortable and supportive environment for applicants.

The contest awards grant funds - this year they are $3,000 to each first-place winner. But it's also about building a network and community, Hartzman said.

"We're not giving away $10,000 or half a million dollars. What we're trying to do is build this community of support," she said, adding it's about participants saying "someone helped me, I'm going to help you."

The annual pitch contest is open to the public.

To be an Invest in Her finalist, entrepreneurs must have a business less than three years old. Most finalists are already doing their business in one way or another from having clients to building the needed funds, Hartzman said.

This year's finalists are:

Diane Danforth - Americat Company, specializing in safe and American made products for cats

Katherine Schuler - Rolling Pepperoni, selling pepperoni rolls at music and art festivals

Theresa Baughman - FizzPop, a pop culture accessory shop that promotes body positivity

Debbie Maier Jacknin - Songbird Artistry, a jewelry and accessory store in Lawrenceville

Mary Jane McCullough - Global Wordsmiths, a translation and interpretation service

Debralyn Woodberry-Shaw - ELIE Circle, training services to help young people who've experienced trauma

Erica Peterson - Moms Can: Code, an online community for moms learning to code (she's an Incline Who's Nexter, by the way)

Laura Totin Codori - Worm Return, specializing in vermicompost, worms and composting education

Pittsburgh is known as a tech town with plenty of millennial entrepreneurs, and when Invest In Her started in 2015, the applications were a lot of tech businesses from millennials, Hartzman said. But this year is more diverse, both in types of businesses and age of the women starting them.

That's part of the reason for the split into two tracks, she said, adding that judges and community members found it difficult to compare a bakery business with one that was more software-focused. The split levels the playing field so that companies are competing against like companies with similar business models.

There are still more ways that Invest In Her, founded by seven women who met through the Coro Pittsburgh's Women in Leadership program, is working to lower female entrepreneurs' barriers for entry.

There needs to be more access to funds and more minority representation, Hartzman said, adding there are plenty of minority-owned businesses that don't get the attention they deserve. Plus, she said there aren't enough female mentors who are ready and willing to support other women instead of telling them that their plans won't work.

Given the mentorship goals of Invest In Her, The Incline asked previous winners for their advice to this year's finalists. Here's what they had to say:

Lillian Rafson

Founder and CEO of Pack Up + Go, a travel agency that plans surprise 3-day vacations / First place in 2015

Advice: Think about the long-term goal and try to see the company from the user and investor standpoint to stress what's unique and relevant about it. And be as personal as possible.

Jessica Strong

Founder of Whetstone Workgroup, a co-working space that provides childcare (You might also know her as a co-founder of Flexable and an Incline Who's Next recipient.) / Second place in 2015

Advice: There's no such thing as practicing the pitch too much. It should be as natural as possible Remember that your talking about and sharing the thing that you love and are putting all your time and energy into.

Courtney Williamson

CEO and founder of AbiliLife, which created a brace for people with Parkinson's disease / First place in 2016

Advice: Stories are great, but the serious things need to be in a pitch too. Make sure to include the numbers like costs and market data, it makes the pitch stronger. And make sure to pitch it as a businesses, not a hobby.

Monica Yope

Owner and founder of Pop Craft, traveling crafting workshops / Third place in 2016

Advice: Focus on key points during the pitch, it doesn't matter if the words in between aren't exactly as planned. But "don't go light on the practicing." Pitch it over and over until its super comfortable, plus it's a great exercise in talking about the business to other people.

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With businesses from composting to coding to body positivity, Pittsburgh's Invest in Her expands in third year

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Now in its third year, the Invest In Her Pitch Competition is switching it up. Instead of awarding first, second and third prize, the contest will have two first-place winners- one in products and one in services. And instead of six finalists, there are eight this year.

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Download Now
In this episode, we are talking to a mom that wants to change the future of moms around the world. Coding is the universal language that we all should know. We aren't very far from the day when everything will be automated in some way or another. Erica Peterson is a mother of two, entrepreneur, and TEDx speaker living in Pittsburgh, PA. She is the Founder & CEO of Moms Can: Code and was recently chosen as the 1st place winner of the 2017 Invest in Her Pitch competition. Within six months of launching, Moms can code, Erica is selected to pitch at the South by Southwest's Accelerator Pitch Event in Austin. She's one of 50 finalists from around the country. She is very passionate about exposing women and children to STEM. Listen on to learn the struggles mom's face daily to start and run a successful business. Learn how being a mom doesn't change your opportunities to learn and contribute. Listen to this incredible story of perseverance, creativity and sheer hard work which will make you believe in the power of dreams and more!! Learn more about Erica and her company at the links below: Website: www.momscancode.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/momscancode Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/momscancode Instagram: www.instagram.com/momscancode Twitter: www.twitter.com/momscancodePGH Patreon: www.patreon.com/momscancode

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Download Now In this episode, we are talking to a mom that wants to change the future of moms around the world. Coding is the universal language that we all should know. We aren't very far from the day when everything will be automated in some way or another.

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Image courtesy of Prototype PGH.

When Erica Peterson launched Moms Can: Code last August, she wanted to reduce barriers for women in tech. But the startup quickly evolved into a thriving network of women seeking professional mentorship, advice - and even friendship.

With members spanning the globe, the Moms Can: Code community includes stay-at-home mothers and women charting new courses in their careers. Members bond over their shared experiences, from mastering a tricky line of code to striving for work-life balance.

That sense of connection - and the learning experiences that come with it - is the most important metric to Peterson.

"It started from me wanting to find and connect with other moms who are interested in the same thing," says Peterson, a mother of two, the founder of Science Tots and a former president of Pittsburgh's chapter of the Association for Women in Science.

Today, "moms are finishing projects and courses, updating their portfolios and resumes, teaching each other to code and creating study groups," she says. "For me, that means we've succeeded."

That success also impacts the children these women are raising. Peterson - who wanted to brush up on coding to keep pace with her kids' homework - believes moms can send a powerful message as STEM role models in their homes.

"Something like code isn't easy and that's OK - it requires you to try again and again," says Peterson. "Coming back to it? That's a huge example for your children."

Her persistence is already paying off.

Moms Can: Code was among 50 startups - out of 600 applicants - selected to participate in this year's Accelerator Pitch at South by Southwest. She competed, and was a finalist in the Social and Culture Technology category.
Erin Oldynski and E. Louise Larson of Prototype PGH

Peterson says she's inspired by other local organizations with women at the helm, like Prototype PGH, the feminist maker space that opened in the Bloomcraft building in North Oakland in January 2017.

"Women in Pittsburgh are extremely proactive about seeing a need and creating something to fill that need," she says. "It's exciting to see that kind of space open up and encourage women to use tools."

At Prototype, self-identified women and feminists - nicknamed "Protobabes" - can learn woodworking, programming, soldering, 3D modeling and a host of other maker skills.

"What we hope to do is create a place where women of all backgrounds primarily feel safe and supported in our environment and workshops," says Erin Oldynski, who co-founded Prototype with E. Louise Larson.

In just over a year, Prototype has become a destination for women to learn manufacturing, fabrication and tech skills, all while expanding their professional networks. According to Larson, "Protobabes" have hired each other for illustration and graphic design projects.

And then there's Anny Chen.

Years ago as a student, Chen left an architecture program feeling unsupported. Ten years later, she discovered Prototype. "It helped her reconnect with the parts of herself she left behind at architecture school," says Oldynski.
Rebecca Harris of Chatham University
That support for women is critical, something Chatham University recognized when it opened its Center for Women's Entrepreneurship (CWE) in 2005.

"Women need to be part of all strategic business decisions and investments - they can't be left on the sidelines," says Rebecca Harris, executive director of the CWE.

Two years ago, the CWE established the Women's Business Center through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, which recently named it the 2018 Women's Business Center of the Year. Last summer, the CWE expanded into a 3,000-square-foot Entrepreneurship Hub at Chatham's Eastside campus to support women and other underserved populations through accessible skill-building.

The Hub's Prototyping & Design Lab features state-of-the-art tools and equipment like a 3D printer, sewing machines and robotics kits. Beyond the Chatham community, they're available for any women entrepreneurs who are interested in fabricating physical products.

From its flagship six-week training program, Concept to Launch, to the new IncubateHER business incubation initiative, the CWE is contributing to what Harris calls Pittsburgh's "collaborative, dynamic and inclusive" entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Inclusion and representation are driving forces behind Moms Can: Code and Prototype, too. And these women-led initiatives are changing lives.

"It is important for people learning a new skill to see themselves in the instructor," says Oldynski. "If you can't see something then you can't become it."

Center for Women's Entrepreneurship Chatham University Moms Can: Code Prototype PGH

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Image courtesy of Prototype PGH. When Erica Peterson launched Moms Can: Code last August, she wanted to reduce barriers for women in tech. But the startup quickly evolved into a thriving network of women seeking professional mentorship, advice - and even friendship.