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Inclusive Tech: Mission Ready’s Impact on Diversity and Equality

In the dynamic world of technology, innovation thrives on diversity. A sector historically dominated by a narrow demographic is experiencing a seismic shift, and at the forefront of this transformation is Mission Ready. This blog delves into how Mission Ready is not just investing in local talent but reshaping the entire narrative by intentionally fostering diversity and inclusivity in the tech sector.

Breaking the Mold:

Traditionally, the tech industry has been synonymous with a lack of diversity. Mission Ready challenges this status quo, recognising that true innovation arises from diverse perspectives, experiences, and voices. By intentionally breaking away from the conventional mold, Mission Ready is pioneering a paradigm shift, acknowledging that inclusivity is not just a moral imperative but a strategic advantage.

Growing the Talent Pool:

Mission Ready understands that to meet the demands of an ever-evolving tech landscape, the talent pool must be vast and varied. While investing in local talent is crucial, the programme goes beyond geographical boundaries, actively seeking participants from underrepresented groups. By doing so, Mission Ready expands the talent pool, bringing in individuals with diverse backgrounds, skills, and viewpoints, enriching the entire tech ecosystem.

Fostering Inclusivity through Accessible Education:

Inclusivity begins with access. Mission Ready’s approach to tech education is inherently accessible, eliminating barriers that traditionally hindered entry into the industry. The programme is designed for non-tech individuals, providing a pathway for career changers, women, minorities, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter the tech sector. It’s not just about opening doors; it’s about dismantling the walls that have historically confined opportunities.

Creating a Supportive Community:

Tech can be daunting, especially for those entering unfamiliar territory. Mission Ready acknowledges the importance of a supportive community in nurturing diverse talent. The programme fosters an environment where participants, regardless of their background, feel included, supported, and encouraged. This sense of community extends beyond the programme, creating networks that persist throughout their tech careers.

Better Products through Diversity:

In the competitive tech landscape, diversity is not just a social goal; it’s a business imperative. Mission Ready believes that a diverse team leads to better products and outcomes. Different perspectives bring a breadth of ideas, creativity, and problem-solving approaches that are essential in an industry driven by innovation. By intentionally focusing on diverse talent, Mission Ready is contributing to the creation of cutting-edge technologies that address the needs of a diverse global audience.

Good for Community, Good for Business:

The impact of Mission Ready’s commitment to diversity extends beyond the realms of social responsibility. While the programme undeniably benefits the community by providing opportunities to underrepresented individuals, it is also good for business. A diverse workforce enhances innovation, creativity, and adaptability, translating into a competitive edge in the tech industry. Mission Ready recognises that doing good for the community aligns seamlessly with doing good for business.

In conclusion, Mission Ready’s impact on diversity and equality in the tech sector is both profound and purposeful. By intentionally focusing on inclusivity, the programme is not only investing in local talent but also catalysing a shift toward a more diverse and innovative tech industry. The result is not just a change in the composition of the workforce; it’s a transformation in the very nature of tech, where inclusivity becomes a driving force for progress and excellence. Mission Ready is not just shaping careers; it’s reshaping the future of tech.

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New Zealand’s Tech Skills Shortage Presents an Amazing Opportunity to Those Looking to Reskill or Upskill

As is well-reported, New Zealand is in the grips of a tech skills shortage, with many organisations expecting to feel its impact well into 2023. According to Hays, one of New Zealand’s leading recruitment firms, the situation is unparalleled in their 46 years in the business.

The emergence of COVID-19 sent the world into a flat spin and a global lockdown. Many opted to repatriate to their home country, taking their skills with them.  With international borders closed globally, countries had to settle for local talent. N.Z’s tech sector, primarily dominated by immigrant workers, were left fishing from a shallow pool.

Before COVID, immigrants filled as many as 4,500 high-paid tech roles in some 20,000 tech firms annually; in their absence, there was a significant disparity between supply and demand.

The good news is that our international borders are reopening to the world, and with that, will come a flood of skilled labour; this will boost N.Z’s economy and give the tech industry the wings it needs to achieve phenomenal growth.

However, plugging these gaps will take time, and there is concern that international competition will challenge N.Z’s allure, especially where salary, job prospects, and career mobility are concerned.

If you are a Kiwi, now is a great time to upskill or reskill – particularly if you already work in tech or have been considering redirecting your path.  Digitisation is rampant across all sectors and the tech industry is on a clear and rampant trajectory in a skyward direction globally. Now is the time to act.

According to the Hays  2022/23 Salary Guide, 88% of organisations surveyed said they have offered higher salaries than initially planned to find the right employees, while 66% of employees said they benefitted financially from changing jobs in the past year.

Furthermore, with the pressure to deliver firmly in the employee’s court, Hays recommend that any job offer be compelling. Along with a competitive salary, they suggest the promise of flexible work environments, professional development opportunities, and alignment between personal and professional purpose.

It’s an employee’s market!

With software engineers and cloud specialists named among the most in-demand tech jobs, Mission Ready’s Full Stack Developer Accelerator and Advanced Software Developer (AI and Cloud) Accelerator courses will prepare you to enter the workforce and hit the ground running.

Be ready to stake your claim in a thriving industry. Be ready to grow with an industry where the sky is the ceiling. Be Mission Ready.

Contact us now to learn more!

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From Global Brand Ambassador to Web Dev: A Successful Transition

Meet Raymond Letoa, Current Scholarship Recipient! 

It’s not every day that you hear of a Global Brand Ambassador who travels the world and gives it all up for a life in the fast-growing technology industry. Meet Raymond Letoa. Not only was Raymond a Global brand ambassador for The House of Angostura, but before joining Mission Ready, he was also Co-owner of Roxy Cinema in Miramar, Wellington.  

“Pre-Covid days, I was in the entertainment and hospitality industry a Global Brand Ambassador for ‘The House of Angostura’ who make great rum and bitters, showcasing their products to many groups and audiences from masterclasses to guest shifts and more.” 

Why I chose a career in Tech

This glam career came to a halt in 2020 when the world plummeted into Covid-19. However, due to the economic pressures on the hospitality industry, Raymond decided to take on take on a new career.   

“I returned to New Zealand with a desire to take up a career in technology, more specifically web development. Then, of course, with research, I discovered Mission Ready.” 

Through the various options of accelerators available with Mission Ready, Raymond signed up for the Level 4 Full Stack Web Development Accelerator, which covered the fundamentals of coding, industry best practices and new frameworks. 

“I progressed to undertake my Level 5 ADV Software Development Accelerator, which covered cloud technologies, collaboration exercises, working in and learning agile methodologies and more.”  

And then my Tech Internship… 

Raymond is currently enrolled in the Level 6 Accelerator program and is enjoying his industry placement that Mission Ready organised for him. 

“Currently I am working with Auckland Council as a Developer on a project called ’Technius’. This project is a web-based application in the form of a game intended for students from 9-14 years old. It helps students understand and clarify what their tech career path could look like.” 

Where to next? 

At Mission Ready, the opportunities are endless; Raymond has decided to put his best practices to the test. 

“Over the next couple of months, I want to create a few more projects with some amazing individuals I have met through Mission Ready. I’d like to build a portfolio to show potential future employers what I am capable of.” 

Considering tech? My advice to you! 

Raymond is a success story of the Full Stack Pathway offered by Mission Ready and a strong advocate for taking risks and pursuing new visions in a rapidly changing world. 

“The first step is always the scariest, the hardest, the most nerve-wracking and understandably so, but Mission Ready has many resources to guide you through the whole journey; no one gets left behind.” 

Raymond has also joined the Mission ready team as a support tutor. He is passionate about helping others to find their feet in tech and would love to see you succeed there too!

If you would like to have a no-obligation chat with one of our team you can contact us here. 

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Bushman to E-Learning Web Developer

Meet Cam Nepe

Hailing from Gizzy, the East Coast of New Zealand. Cam has been a Bushman and Lecturer in Forestry at the local Polytech, EIT. Cam moved to Hamilton, and he decided to take a positive step toward his future career in tech. “I had done an ICT Diploma through EIT, so I was lucky enough to cross-credit straight into the Mission Ready Level 6 Advanced Accelerator that got me an internship with KeteKai.”

My Tech Internship

“At KeteKai, I worked within a team of three other interns, one other developer, and a UX designer which was great. We were going to do a re-vamp of the site. The UX designer would help by consulting with their clients to find out the easiest and best way they would like to use the Ketekai website and us developers were going to build it.  We learned a lot of different things there including some coding languages like typescript which is another version of JavaScript.” Says Cam. 

Getting a Job In Tech

“Halfway through the internship, I started applying for jobs. I applied at Learning Works for a web developer role. Learning Works are a passionate and experienced team of learning designers trainers and learning technologists who collaborate with their clients to create engaging learner-focused resources. These resources can be print-based, blended, or eLearning based.” Cam missed out on the role but after the interview, the manager and CEO liked him so much that they tailor-made him a role on their Learning Tech team.  

Get comfortable with getting uncomfortable. There is always something to learn.” – Cam Nepe

What do you really do?

“My role as an e-learning web developer allows me to learn new things all the time and apply what I’ve learned to create innovative learning solutions that serve both stakeholders and end-users. I work with the support desk to help clients that are having problems with their platforms. I help by triaging issues that could be with their database or servers. I never stopped being a teacher! I also help with the online learning team as a trainer. I help new users navigate Moodle.” 

Advice for you!

We asked Cam what advice he would give anyone looking at a career in tech.

“Get comfortable with getting uncomfortable. There is always something to learn.” If you enjoy learning and being curious and enjoy learning new things and building things, Software development or UX design might be the answer for you too! Learn more about our programmes now! 

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Candidates taking the Construction Industry by Storm!

Meet Jade and Portia Ngaha, the father, daughter duo taking the construction industry by storm. 

Recently we got in touch with current students Jade and Portia to see what they had been up to lately. “Heaps!” – was the answer. They have been busy developing an app that encourages transparency and fairness in the construction industry. 

“I have been in construction a long time and noticed that fairness and transparency wasn’t always there. We had an idea for an app that could solve a lot of those problems so in 2014 we paid a developer over $100k to develop our idea and unfortunately it amounted to nothing usable. So, when covid hit, I thought, why not learn to develop myself. That’s when I started with Mission Ready HQ.” Jade said. 

Learning to Develop their App 

Jade started from scratch on our Full Stack Developer Accelerator and quickly moved to Advanced Software Developer Accelerator. Halfway through on the recommendation of Mission Director, Diana Sharma, he jumped ship and joined the Tech Founders Accelerator Program. Not long after, he encouraged his daughter Portia to join him. She completed her Full Stack Developer Accelerator and is currently helping her dad develop the app.   

“This process helped me not only learn how to develop and build what we wanted, but it helped us validate our idea and connect with so many people and experts. For example, Diana connected us up with Manaaki. Manaaki is a digital development company that aims to help Māori businesses to grow and thrive. They have been a great help.”  

Meet Jade!

Help to Develop their App 

Jade and Portia are working hard to try and have a fully functional app by the end of the year. They are putting in some serious Mahi and commitment to do so. They are in garage startup phase but loving it. You can see that they are super passionate about what they do. “Mission Ready was awesome because we had so much help. We had heaps of help from Youtube videos, classmates, and tutors. What was awesome is that you could tell that everyone really cared about us and what we were doing.” said Portia. 

“Yeah, the amount of information they squeezed into the time was amazing. I remember going to a 4th and 5th-year lecture at uni and listening to the languages that they were learning there. I remember thinking, that’s 5 or 6 years old. What we have learned is so relevant to where coding is at in the market now.” Said Jade. 

You can do it Too 

We asked the pair what they would say to that person who is scrolling through and reading this thinking, I’m not sure if I could do this, yeah that’s you! Portia was super supportive. “I’m really shy and don’t like to come out of my comfort zone much. I was nervous but I thought, just do it. Just give it a go. I remember our tutor saying, it’s not about the finished product, it’s about giving it a go and learning something along the way.” 

Meet Portia!

“Yeah, the amount of help is awesome. As a fella who has come from construction, I think coming from any background is going to help you.” – Jade. A lot of our business partners that help students to take on projects to stretch their dev, UX, or Salesforce skills, love having people from different backgrounds. Different backgrounds help to diversify the thought process. It brings in ideas and ways of solving problems that are beyond the norm of their day-to-day business.  

Jade and Portia, we here at Mission Ready HQ are already so proud of how far you have got. We look forward to checking in at the end of the year and seeing where your app is at!  

Feeling inspired? We are! If you are keen on a career in tech, have an idea, and would like to learn how to code we would be happy to have a friendly korero with you, just click the link here. 

Let’s Korero!