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2026 Registration Now Open!

First Gens in Tech

Created by first gens for first gens to break barriers entering the tech industry. Register now and save your seat for September 25, 2026.

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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 what it really means to work in tech.

Now in its eleventh year, First Gens in Tech is back in 2026 with a refreshed vision: "The First-Gen Edge: Making Your Story Your Superpower." The central idea is simple — your lived experience, perspective, and path aren't gaps to overcome. They're your edge.

During the event, you'll learn which jobs can help you break into the industry, how to ask your imposter syndrome to take the day off, and how to translate your unique story into real career opportunities in tech.

Join us this Fall

FGIT returns virtually on Friday, September 25, 2026.

0 Days, 12 Hours, 9 Minutes

Registration opens soon.

2026 Speakers & Agenda

  • Adham Eltarahoney

    Adham Eltarahoney is a software engineer at HubSpot and a Computer Science graduate from the University of South Florida. He works on bringing HubSpot's CRM into external AI clients like ChatGPT, …

  • Jade Walters

    Jade Walters is a Chicago and NYC-based marketer, speaker, and founder of The Ninth Semester, an award-winning platform guiding 300,000+ Gen Z professionals as they design their dream careers. …

Agenda

EVENT NAME DESCRIPTION

10:00AM ET
KICKOFF
—
10:10AM ET

Keynote: "The Edge You Don't Know You Have" with Jade Walters
—
11:15AM-12:15PM ET

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

  • Room A: AI From Job Hunt to Day One

  • Room B:  Behind the Hiring Curtain + AMA

  • Room C: Owning Your Story: Imposter Syndrome Workshop

  • Room D: Mastering Your Story: Personal Branding Workshop

A Speakers: Daphney (Tech Recruiter), Steph (Recruiter), Dela Acolatse (Lead TPM)
Moderator: Melanie
Part 1: Using AI to Land the Job | Part 2: Using AI Once You're In the Role

 

B Recruiter panel across Engineering, Marketing, Sales & CSATS myth-busting > Live Resume Lab > Recruiter Secrets Lightning Round > AMA > Final Checklist

 

C Speaker: Nicky Munnelly Identifying your imposter voice, the comparison trap, competence vs. confidence, and defining your superpower

 

D Speaker: Brian Fechter (Veris Insights)How to own and communicate your narrative as a first-gen professional. Interactive presentation format.
12:20-1:20PM ET

NETWORKING
—
1:25-2:25PM ET

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

  • Room A: Tech Sales: Breaking in Without Writing Code

  • Room B: Your Career Avengers: Mentors, Sponsors, & Superpowers

  • Room C: The Pivot Pro: Speak Tech
A Speakers: Amelia Blum (MM BDR Manager), Cam Cisenberger (MM BDR Manager), Nora Giannetti (BDR)BDR overview, transferable skills, how to break in, compensation, and real-life examples.

B Speakers: Angel Franklin, Priyma Chovam, Gabrielle Benson, Shane Tierney, Naw Fakhoury Interactive workshop + panel on mentorship, sponsorship, and building an advocate network.

C Speaker: Lauren Rygiel (HubSpot) + Career Coach/Recruiter TBDLive interview-style session: translating a nonlinear career into tech-adjacent language. Attendees follow along with a Career Translation Worksheet.
2:30-2:40PM ET

WRAP UP & CLOSING REMARKS
What's Next Pathways — LIVE from HubSpot Speakers: Risi Ademola, Katelynne Bazile, Jessica Smith and Sarah Boddy-Snee. Resource sharing, community next steps, and closing call-to-action.

Who is First Gens in Tech For?

This year's programming is designed around three first-gen personas, so you can find sessions that meet you where you are:

The New Grad — You have the degree, but you're still building the referral network and corporate polish. Your goal is landing that first full-time role, and we'll help you get there with resume reviews, ATS guidance, and practical job-search tools.

The Pivot Pro — You're coming from a non-tech background (retail, education, and beyond) and navigating imposter syndrome around technical skills versus the transferable ones you already have. We'll help you "speak tech" and map your experience to real opportunities.

The Next-Level Navigator — You've got 2–3 years in tech and you're ready to stop being overlooked. We'll cover negotiation, sponsorship versus mentorship, and how to advocate for your next promotion.

Who is "first-generation"?

For this event, we consider first-gens to be any person:

  • who was not born in their country of residence, OR
  • whose parents were not born in their country of residence, OR
  • who is the first in their family to attend college or university, OR
  • who is the first in their family to enter the tech or corporate world

What can you expect?

  • Expert sessions on how to position yourself for jobs across the tech industry — not just at HubSpot

  • Real-life insights and advice about the current tech job market

  • First-hand perspectives to help you navigate your job search

  • Space to connect and learn with fellow first-gens, especially with first-gen professionals already in the industry

Past Speakers

Meet a few of our inspirational past speakers. 

  • Kham Ward

    Founder & CEO

    BLK Men in Tech
    Kham Ward is the Founder and CEO of BLK Men in Tech, Incorporated. He is also a diversity executive in the tech space where he has designed and implemented comprehensive D&I strategies across the …

Watch Last Year's Event On-Demand

"Pioneers of Progress:" FGIT 10th Anniversary (2025)

2025 First-Gens in Tech 10 Year Anniversary: “Pioneers of Progress"

About HubSpot

HubSpot is an AI-powered customer platform with all the software, integrations, and resources customers need to connect marketing, sales, and service. HubSpot's connected platform enables businesses to grow faster by focusing on what matters most: customers.

At HubSpot, bold is our baseline. Our employees around the globe move fast, stay customer-obsessed, and win together. Our culture is grounded in four commitments: Solve for the Customer, Be Bold, Learn Fast, Align, Adapt & Go!, and Deliver with HEART. These commitments shape how we work, lead, and grow.

We’re building a company where people can do their best work. We focus on brilliant work, not badge swipes. By combining clarity, ownership, and trust, we create space for big thinking and meaningful progress. And we know that when our employees grow, our customers do too.

Recognized globally for our award-winning culture by Comparably, Glassdoor, Fortune, and more, HubSpot is headquartered in Cambridge, MA, with employees and offices around the world.

Start growing with HubSpot today

Browse our open positions, find a job you love, tell imposter syndrome to take the day off, and apply.

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