Our Accomplished Alumni: Inspiring Success Stories
InceptionU’s Alumni are prepared for what’s next. See some learner spotlights below.
Mezeret Gebrezgi - Cohort 11
As a former teacher, Mezeret Gebrezgi knew it was time to follow her own advice. For years, she’d been the one to mentor and guide her beloved students to gain new knowledge. Now, it was her turn.
She began learning to code through books and self-guided online courses and found the world of software development fascinating. She thought to herself, “One day I’m going to do that!”
Through the Lumina and Lifepath programs led by Margo, she discovered her leadership capabilities. She enjoys leading a group, keeping people organized and on task. She says it’s a delicate balance between influencing a group with ideas and empowering them to do their best work. She is a problem solver and strong at building relationships.
Mezeret has accepted a position as a software developer with Calgary company Garden Loft. She and her team designed a TV/tablet application for seniors who are members of the Garden Loft community. The app is an easy-to-use application that helps seniors connect, belong, be entertained and be independent - all of the things that are important for healthy aging.
Mezeret’s advice for future learners:
One important thing she learned during her time at InceptionU is the importance of asking for help. She recalls struggling with one piece of code for an entire day. She asked a facilitator for help and and within ten minutes, the problem was solved. In that moment she learned asking for help isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength.
Youssef Triki - Cohort 10
A feeling of community and safety are two things Youssef Trikki valued the most about his time at InceptionU.
As a new immigrant to Canada, he had previous experience in the insurance and financial services industry in Morrocco. He already had attained a Master’s in Computer Science, but knew he needed to enhance his skills with practical Canadian experience.
“The skills and knowledge I acquired have significantly enhanced my abilities and confidence as a full-stack developer. The program's focus on practical projects and collaborative learning helped me build a strong portfolio and a network of like-minded professionals,” says Youssef.
After graduating, he landed a position with Punchcard Systems as a Full Stack Developer, where he’s tackling complex and meaningful projects every day. He says InceptionU prepared him to hit the ground running, well-versed in team collaboration and project work.
“The program's ROI has been tangible, as I've been able to secure a job at Punchcard Systems, a company that aligns with my values and goals.”
Youssef’s advice to future learners:
Have the determination and passion to become a full-stack developer - it's a challenging but rewarding journey!
Stay focused on the program and make the most of the resources available to you
Be prepared to work hard and put in the effort required to achieve your goals.
Don't wait until the end of the program to start building your network and exploring job opportunities - start early and be proactive!
“And finally, enjoy the journey! The six months will fly by quickly, so make the most of every moment and soak up as much knowledge and experience as possible,” he adds.
Maggie Chew - Cohort 9
Maggie Chew was a dedicated and diligent student who consistently worked hard and applied her knowledge to her projects.
And, it showed. She was the recipient of the InceptionU “Sharpen Your Pencil” Bursary Award. Today, she is currently employed at Adocera, where she uses her new skills on a daily basis to continue learning alongside an incredible team and make a difference in the community with the work she creates.
Before InceptionU, Maggie worked in the non-profit sector for 10 years and before that she was a professional musician. She enjoyed working alongside other cohort members and says she wouldn’t have been able to do it without the excellent facilitators and staff at InceptionU.
Maggie’s advice for future learners:
“Believe in yourself, and that you will learn it. Don't be shy about leaning heavily on the people around you and getting help as shamelessly and often as you can; it's part of the career, to embrace what you don't know and ask for help so you can help others too. Most of all, have fun and be excellent to each other!”
Jack Zeya Li - Cohort 6
Jack is one of those learners who was able to use his new software development skills to launch an international career.
Previously working as an Oilfield Engineer in Calgary, Jack took the leap and is now a software engineer at Google in California.
He greatly enjoyed working with cutting-edge technology and an expert facilitation team.
Jack’s advice to future learners:
“Instead of traditional lectures, they use a new way of learning. It felt like we all grew together with InceptionU as a family. Technical excellence, in a supportive and caring environment, is what I experienced. Enjoy your time with InceptionU!”
Ben Isenstein - Cohort 6
Ben Isenstein is a full-stack engineer at OMERS (Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement Service). What he loves most about his job is combining technical skills and creativity to solve brand new problems with brand new solutions.
He came to InceptionU after a varied employment history which involved tutoring various high schoo subjects and teaching piano.
While enrolled in the program, Ben benefitted from what he calls “solid technical mentorship, professional advice and overall encouragement.”
Ben’s advice to future learners:
“Know yourself. Stay humble and open to feedback. Dig in when things are tough. And get plenty of rest, your brain will thank you!”
Ifeoma Idoko - Cohort 5
Ifeoma brought her smile and energy to Cohort 5 of the Evolve program in 2020. She was previously employed as a Chartered Investment Manager.
Ifeoma enjoyed the Lifepath and Lumina Workshops which allowed her to learn more about her personality and how to collaborate effectively with others.
She is currently a Software Developer with OneVest Technologies. She continues to learn new tech languages and consistently applies the principles she learned in Lumina to help bridge the gap between finance and tech.
Ifeoma’s advice to future learners:
“Understanding your learning style is important, the tech is easier if you do.”
Blair Hone - Cohort 4
Blair was a wonderful addition to Cohort 4 of the Evolve program in early 2020. He enjoyed an 18-year career as a drafter/designer, followed by 4 years as a communications professional.
Today, he is a Software Developer at Shareworks by Morgan Stanley. He uses Java as the core language for his day-to-day role and continues to use Python in personal projects.
Blair’s advice for future learners:
“Follow your passion. Design projects that interest you, then deploy those projects to the web for recruiters and developers to see.”
You can connect with Blair here.
Eric Day - Cohort 1
Eric was part of our first Cohort back in 2018. He came to InceptionU with the right attitude and had a previous career as a bookstore owner and manager.
Eric worked hard and quickly got up to speed. During the program, he enjoyed the critical thinking and design thinking sessions with Greg Hart, working in teams with fellow learners and networking with potential employers.
Today, Eric is the Director of Software Engineering at Comet, an all-in-one college app companion that helps high school students choose majors, find the RIGHT college(s), and organize everything to submit college applications. Over the years, he’s held several different software development positions and continues to fine tune his coding skills and learn new languages and frameworks.
Eric’s advice for future learners:
“The learning really starts when the FSD program ends because you now have an 'mvp' of tools and you simply need to tailor them into 'professional' tools.”
Jeff Kwok - Cohort 1
Jeff is a lifelong learner who was looking to transition into a new career in 2019 when he joined Cohort 1. He had previously been a Piping Designer and really enjoyed stepping out of his comfort zone with the InceptionU Evolve program.
He most enjoyed learning new things about himself and the exciting field of technology and software development.
Today, Jeff is a Front End Developer for Decisive Farming, which is part of the Telus agriculture family.
Jeff has continued to develop his technical knowledge and has learned the valuable skill of knowing how to play to his strengths.
Jeff’s advice for future learners:
“Have a project in mind and use your learnings to create the project and refactor your code as you learn more.”
Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn.
Messele Ghebreslassie- Cohort 5
Messele spent much of his career as an automotive mechanic. Making the shift to software development was a big change for him.
While in the program, he loved learning new technologies and working collaboratively with fellow learners and facilitators.
Today, he is a software developer at Wink Technologies.
Messele has continued to hone his knowledge of various libraries and frameworks for Javascript, and has been most focused on React and Express.
Messele’s advice for future learners:
“Don't let self-doubt hold you back from reaching your goals. Work and study hard and graciously accept help from your peers and you'll be just fine.”
Connect with Messele on LinkedIn.