A personal and honest talk about what it means to build a career in tech when you do not fit the default template. Tessa shares real stories from her journey as one of the few women in her IT education and early career, including moments of bias, assumptions, and situations where she had to prove herself more than once. She also shares the unexpected positives, the people who made a difference, and the moments that shaped her confidence and direction.

With humor and clarity, she reflects on what helped her stay, grow, and thrive in the industry. From navigating stereotypes to finding allies, from dealing with self‑doubt to building resilience, and from early setbacks to discovering her own voice and leadership style. This session is not only about being a woman in tech. It is about the human side of becoming a developer, learning to trust your strengths, and finding your place in a world that is still evolving.

-Target audience: developers, tech leads, students, early‑career professionals, and anyone interested in the human side of engineering

- Session type: storytelling / inspirational / personal experience

Technical level: non‑technical (suitable for all audiences)

First public delivery: 13 May 2026 (4DotNet internal session)

Preferred duration: 45 minutes (flexible between 30–60 minutes)

Requirements: projector + audio (no special technical setup needed)