- It shouldn't matter where you're from,
what your background
is, in this day and age
everyone should be able
to access technology.
Computer science is dominated by males.
There's not enough females.
I've spent a lot of my
life at this university.
I've done a degree in psychology.
I was actually offered a job
as an education welfare officer
and while I was working with them,
I did question if this
is where I wanted to be.
I've always been very
ambitious and career driven.
My husband and I have developed quite
a successful little coffee shop business.
I designed the colour scheme.
I designed the logos, the
brand and used my knowledge
from my occupational masters,
but again there was something missing.
I did feel I need to up skill myself.
As I thought this business
could really do with
the recommender system or a chat bot.
Northumbria uni started the
artificial intelligence masters.
They provided us with the
opportunity to use Microsoft Learn
and acquire accreditations
in cloud computing
and digital capabilities.
The AI certification in
particular taught me a lot about
how to use artificial
intelligence within the workplace.
How to develop chat bots,
recommender systems,
speech synthesis and
speech recognition systems.
My tutor suggested that
I put an entry in for
the Microsoft UK Azure championships.
And at first I thought I
can't compete against other
students who've got a CS background.
I didn't fancy my chances.
I did produce my own chat
bot and I put my entry in
and then I got an email saying,
congratulations, you've won.
Didn't believe it.
It took a few days for it to sink in.
I applied for a job at Microsoft.
It's something I've always wanted to do
for the role of future ready skills lead.
They were very impressed
with what I achieved
with the Microsoft accreditations.
Very exciting, my life's
completely changed.
With the right support
and the right learning
there's no reason why you
can't access technology
and learn and up skill.
I feel now that this
is where I want to be.
Everyone deserves to be
able to access the skills
and knowledge, particularly
digital capabilities
to be able to keep up with the world.
And hopefully my story will
inspire other females to follow
and to do what I've done.