Governess Simpson calls her path to computer science success “unorthodox,” and that experience helped her excel. She’s paying it forward to others in similar situations and inspiring many along the way. Her journey is one of breaking barriers, to “demonstrate to other hackers (particularly women and women of color) that despite their background or rough starts, they, too, can reach their goals.”

Up until her senior year of high school, Governess wanted to be a vocal performer. In 12th grade, a teacher inspired her to pursue a STEM major instead of Vocal Performance in college, telling her that she showed potential to be a great engineer. She reflected and committed to a future in computer science, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing; she felt a connection with coding but struggled in introductory classes. However, she hit the real obstacle in her sophomore year, when she was rejected from the Computer Science major at her university. Many people would have given up at that point, but not Governess. She says, “Despite my initial setback, I was still motivated to succeed in this field and carve a path for myself and others in a similar situation.”

She fostered connections, creating a social network of like-minded people interested in technology. Her “aha” moment came in 2018, when she participated in her first hackathon, MinneHack. She fondly recalls, “I was nervous about competing and that I’d be a fish-out-of-water, but everyone was incredibly welcoming, and the energy in the space was electrifying.” Her first Major League Hacking member event was a resounding success, and she hasn’t looked back, participating in and hosting many hackathons since.

She blossomed into a natural leader and role model. After her rejection from Computer Science, she found solace and comfort in her hacking family, and that feeling continued in hackathons and her role as an MLH Localhost Organizer. Her talents have truly shined since she became a student leader in Black Wings, which supports black women studying technology and engineering in college. Organizing Black Wings Hacks, which gives women of color access to unique networking opportunities, has helped drive her enthusiasm and compassion.

To Governess, community is everything. She recalls being doubted by some when she tried to break into Computer Science, but also the overwhelming reassurance and guidance she received from her various communities. Feeling the support and encouragement she did when she was down on her luck was not enough: she wanted to give others the same confidence. Her work with Black Wings and her participation in MLH hackathons are focused on helping others and nurturing relationships.

She says, “The hacker community (and hackathons in general) gave me direction and guidance […] I found confidence, reassurance, and belonging. Now I want to create those spaces for others in technology. That’s my calling.”