Thanks to hackathons and fellow hackers, Sashrika Kaur achieved phenomenal success. Her response was to come back and help the hacker community that taught her so much.

Sashrika had always been interested in technology since she played video games as a child and wondered how they worked, however her first coding experience was writing a Hello World program in her first year at university. There she used the resources available, took computer science classes, and saw the excitement and potential of technology.

Her first hackathon, Hack InOut 2019, opened the floodgates. Although she didn’t win, she had an incredible experience. The warmth and inclusivity of the hackathon participants made her feel at home. Feeling supported and confident, she applied her skills to win her second hackathon.

As Sashrika started hacking, she was worried, feeling unprepared and new to the coding world. She says, “I was scared to participate in a hackathon since I thought I didn't know anything. The competition was fierce, and I never felt prepared enough. It was scary and overwhelming.” Yet, she overcame her fear when a friend, who was experienced with hackathons, invited her to join their team and helped her look past her doubts.

When she first got to college, she wanted a coding culture; somewhere she could learn new skills and find insights into the tech industry. But she wasn’t sure how to get there until the hackathons. She was successful in them and, over time, she received scholarships and internships with groups like Google, Flipkart, and Goldman Sachs. Realizing she had a strong network, communicative colleagues, and the technical abilities for success, she moved from hacking into coaching. As an MLH Coach, she ensured “that hackers, organizers, and sponsors [had] an amazing experience…attending our events.” She credits Major League Hacking’s Coaches Program for her global opportunities, networking experiences, and friends she’s made along the way.

Sashrika has also been a technology evangelist at hackathons. Her pursuit to share tech with others has enhanced her experience as she has grown exponentially – personally and as an advocate. Sashrika helps hackers navigate digital and in-person hackathons, shares resources, speaks at various sessions, facilitates Q&A panels, and conducts 1:1 mentorships. Her primary focus is on helping those underrepresented in the field. She says, “The entry gate to tech shouldn't be this hard, and by sharing stories and experiences, the hope is to inspire more women in taking the leap of faith and exploring the tech career path for themselves.” Her mentorship and guidance have expanded to other organizations, like Wootech, where they pair women with mentors to help them in their tech journeys.

Since joining the hacker community, Sashrika has served as a judge, speaker, and mentor at many hackathons, including HackThisFall, HackOn, TechTogether Boston, Hack BMU, SheHacks, Bhilai Hacks, Hackulus, and SuperPOSITRON. She is also responsible for putting together each “Hosted by MLH” digital hackathon, creating the schedule and events for every one.

Her hackathon experience, networking, and upskilling led to a significant achievement – a full-time job as a software developer at Microsoft.