First-Gens in Tech
Created by first-gens for first-gens and designed to help break barriers entering the tech industry.
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About First-Gens in Tech
HubSpot's First-Gens in Tech event is a curated experience exclusively for first-generation individuals interested in learning more about what it really means to work in tech.
After attending our event (now in its ninth year in 2024), you'll not only learn which jobs will help you break into the industry, but also how to ask your imposter syndrome to take the day off (or several) and to gain tips for landing your first job in tech!
Who is considered “first-generation"?
For this event, we consider first-gens to be any person:
- who was not born in your country of residence OR
- whose parents were not born in your country of residence OR
- who is the first in their family to attend college/university OR
- who is the first in their family to enter the corporate world
WHAT'S NEW IN 2024?
We saw the job market in 2023 across many industries, including tech, impacted by global macroeconomic conditions that continue to persist today and also create additional barriers of entry for first-gens looking to break into tech.To address these ongoing conditions in our world, we are thrilled to introduce a new perspective and exciting updates for this year's event titled "Thriving in Tech: The Power of Adaptability and Resilience for First-Gen Trailblazers."
You can expect that we'll aim to do the following in this year's event:
- Continue to position attendees to land jobs in the tech industry generally and not just HubSpot itself
- Provide transparency and insights about recent developments in the tech industry job market
- Offer advice and perspective to help attendees navigate the job search process in today's market
- Create more space for first-gens to connect and network, especially with first-gens already in the industry
Featured Speakers
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Erin Reddick
Founder & CEO
ChatBlackGPTErin Reddick, AI Developer and Founder of ChatBlackGPT, has a notable career in tech with roles at Meta, Microsoft, and AWS. She created ChatBlackGPT to provide perspectives from Black and African American communities, reflecting her commitment to inclusivity and cultural sensitivity. As a certified ChatGPT Expert and Prompt Engineer, Reddick addresses racial biases in AI, aiming to offer a safe, inclusive space for exploring AI tailored to the Black American experience. Her work promotes diverse and equitable technology, inspiring advancements in the field. -
Kaitlyn Lange
Director of Account Management
RippleMatchKaitlyn is the Director of Account Management at RippleMatch, where she manages all Employer Partnerships to ensure their success with the platform. Based in NYC and with over three years at RippleMatch, Kaitlyn is passionate about helping employers develop inclusive, effective hiring strategies that build diverse and high-performing teams. -
Maigen Thomas
Founder
Level 11 TechnologyMaigen Thomas is the Founder of Level 11 Technology, an Apprenticeship Agency. She brings 10+ years of experience in enterprise software SaaS product design and a background in full-stack development to her UX and Gamification Design Consulting. Maigen taught 3 cohorts of the UX/UI Design Bootcamp at UC Berkeley and wrote the $1m flagship UX/UI Design curriculum.
Schedule
Start the day by listening to our leaders at HubSpot in this welcome video who are beyond excited you’re here!
Erin Riddick, Founder & CEO @ ChatBlackGPT
Join our Keynote Kickoff, where we will hear from Erin Riddick. This session promises to be an invaluable source of inspiration, motivation, and guidance for all aspiring First-Generation tech professionals. You won’t want to miss it!
Empowering First-Gen Innovators: Cultivating Talent in the Tech Industry
Maigen Thomas, Founder @ Level 11 Technology
From flight attendant to Agency Founder, with a sprinkle of Full-Stack and UX on top, Maigen Thomas has soared in her career path. Join us as we walk through how she innovated her own path to where she is today!
The Importance of Getting a Mentor and What to Do When You Have One
Dr. V Boykin, Senior Program Manager, Leadership Onboarding & Team Lead Programs @ HubSpot
Mentorship is vastly under-utilized. Join Dr. V. as she shares how important it is to build and cultivate the gift of a mentor.
First-Gen Trailblazers in Tech
Nadine Nieves, Account Executive - Mid-Market Sales @ HubSpot
Brenda Arraya-Franco, Marketing Technical Manager @ HubSpot
Camila Rodriguez Varela - Account Executive - Mid-Market Sales @ HubSpot
Being a BIPOC first-gen in tech can be isolating. In this panel, learn from a diverse group of individuals about the challenges and successes they’ve had being a minority and first-generation in tech.
Finding Your Next Opportunity in 2024 (Presented by RippleMatch)
Kaitlyn Lange, Director of Account Management @ RippleMatch
In this session, we'll dive into the latest market trends and insights with RippleMatch. You'll discover how to harness data and actionable insights to enhance your personal brand, and position yourself more confidently towards your future career goals.
Building Your Path: Professional Growth Tactics for First-Gen Tech Professionals
Josh Chang, Director of Marketing Strategy & Operations @ HubSpot
Being a First-Gen can be hard, but Josh Chang has forged a career path through marketing, data analytics, and now in a leadership role. Come and learn how his journey made him who he is today!
Viennie Chanthachack, Emerging Talent Recruiting Programs Lead & First-Gens in Tech Event Leader @ HubSpot
To end the day, we’ll hear from First-Gens in Tech volunteers about today’s recap, the experience behind-the-scenes, and more! You won’t want to miss it!
Registration has closed.
Check back here for the session recordings, and we hope to see you again for our 10th anniversary event in September 2025!
About HubSpot
HubSpot is a leading growth platform on a mission to help millions of organizations grow better. We build the software and systems that empower businesses to transform the way they attract, engage, and delight customers. We’re also building a company culture that empowers people to do their best work through our core values of flexibility, autonomy, transparency, and belonging. If that sounds like something you’d like to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.
You can find out more about our company culture in the HubSpot Culture Code, which has more than 5M views, and learn about our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, too. Thanks to the work of every HubSpotter globally who has helped build our remarkable culture, HubSpot has been named a top workplace by Glassdoor, Fortune, Entrepreneur, and more.
Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, HubSpot was founded in 2006. Today, thousands of employees work across the globe remotely and in our offices.
Start growing with HubSpot today
Browse our open positions, find a job you love, tell imposter syndrome to take the day off, and apply.
