Angela Chen, 20
When Angela was in her sophomore year, she had no idea what she wanted to study in college. She tested the waters in different fields, but what stood out to her the most was her Intro to Computer Science course. Although her first programs were for basic calculations, like one which found the greatest common denominator between two numbers, Angela quickly realized that computer programs could be used to solve a whole host of problems. What appealed to Angela about a career in technology were the countless opportunities to learn new things and pivot to new projects. She says, “technology unlocked purpose and motivation for me—there is always something new to learn.”
During her junior year, when the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, Angela dedicated herself to learning coding online. Motivated by having something tangible to show for her efforts, she developed applications related to her own interests. Angela watched countless videos and read numerous articles, but struggled to stay motivated in her pursuit. When she attended her first hackathon, MasseyHacks VI, she discovered a new source of motivation. The format of hackathons made learning easier and gave her the direction she needed to advance her career.
Angela was one of two girls in her high school computer engineering class in Ottawa, and constantly felt underestimated by her peers due to her gender. As a result, Angela is passionate about increasing accessibility in tech. She joined Project Tech Careers (PTC) in 2020 and is currently PTC’s Chief People Officer. With PTC, she organized monthly events for middle and high school students, developing curriculum for everything from basic coding literacy to professional career development.
Angela strives to serve underrepresented communities and has helped drive engagement among female-identifying students.“There is a lack of representation in the technology field,” Angela says, adding, “I believe proper representation and a strong support system are critical to nurturing and encouraging anyone to take risks and pursue learning, regardless of the area.” In 2020, Angela competed in the Technovation Challenge, a global community for girls in tech. The mission resonated with her, and she subsequently joined as a student ambassador, hosting workshops, inviting students, and building an environment where aspiring hackers felt empowered to tackle real-world issues.
Angela has participated in numerous hackathons herself, most recently speaking at Hack the North, Canada’s largest hackathon, and hacking at ConUHacks VII. Through Major League Hacking, Angela was introduced to ETHGlobal. Angela’s team competed at ETHToronto and placed in the top 5, which eventually led to earning a full scholarship to attend ETHLisbon and world-renowned tech conference Web Summit in Portugal. Through her first hackathon, Angela was introduced to Shopify and later admitted to their selective Dev Degree program. She currently interns as a security engineer at Shopify while earning her bachelor’s degree in computer science from Carleton University.
Quick Facts
Angela Chen, 20
When Angela was in her sophomore year, she had no idea what she wanted to study in college. She tested the waters in different fields, but what stood out to her the most was her Intro to Computer Science course. Although her first programs were for basic calculations, like one which found the greatest common denominator between two numbers, Angela quickly realized that computer programs could be used to solve a whole host of problems. What appealed to Angela about a career in technology were the countless opportunities to learn new things and pivot to new projects. She says, “technology unlocked purpose and motivation for me—there is always something new to learn.”
During her junior year, when the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, Angela dedicated herself to learning coding online. Motivated by having something tangible to show for her efforts, she developed applications related to her own interests. Angela watched countless videos and read numerous articles, but struggled to stay motivated in her pursuit. When she attended her first hackathon, MasseyHacks VI, she discovered a new source of motivation. The format of hackathons made learning easier and gave her the direction she needed to advance her career.
Angela was one of two girls in her high school computer engineering class in Ottawa, and constantly felt underestimated by her peers due to her gender. As a result, Angela is passionate about increasing accessibility in tech. She joined Project Tech Careers (PTC) in 2020 and is currently PTC’s Chief People Officer. With PTC, she organized monthly events for middle and high school students, developing curriculum for everything from basic coding literacy to professional career development.
Angela strives to serve underrepresented communities and has helped drive engagement among female-identifying students.“There is a lack of representation in the technology field,” Angela says, adding, “I believe proper representation and a strong support system are critical to nurturing and encouraging anyone to take risks and pursue learning, regardless of the area.” In 2020, Angela competed in the Technovation Challenge, a global community for girls in tech. The mission resonated with her, and she subsequently joined as a student ambassador, hosting workshops, inviting students, and building an environment where aspiring hackers felt empowered to tackle real-world issues.
Angela has participated in numerous hackathons herself, most recently speaking at Hack the North, Canada’s largest hackathon, and hacking at ConUHacks VII. Through Major League Hacking, Angela was introduced to ETHGlobal. Angela’s team competed at ETHToronto and placed in the top 5, which eventually led to earning a full scholarship to attend ETHLisbon and world-renowned tech conference Web Summit in Portugal. Through her first hackathon, Angela was introduced to Shopify and later admitted to their selective Dev Degree program. She currently interns as a security engineer at Shopify while earning her bachelor’s degree in computer science from Carleton University.
Quick Facts
