To celebrate RoboGarden’s FIVE-year anniversary offering AI-driven Digital WorkForce Upskilling and Re-Skilling opportunities, we’re presenting an ongoing series of “Where are they now?” features focused on those who have successfully completed a RoboGarden-powered Digital Career Transition program. Each individual has an inspiring and important story to share in an era when career transitions and pivots are the norm. We’re delighted to present the next feature in this series with a member of the September 2023 RoboGarden-powered Part-Time Full Stack Developer bootcamp presented by University of Calgary Continuing Education. Let us introduce you to Mahdis Masoumi!
The Participant
Mahdis Masoumi is a highly skilled professional who has successfully transitioned from a career in Electrical Engineering focused on Electrical Panel Design in her home country of Iran to a Software Development career working remotely from Calgary, AB on a full-time basis with a Toronto Digital Creative services firm. Mahdis is concurrently seeking full-time employment in-office employment with a based-in Alberta organization. This inspirational digital career pivot includes impressively completing the RoboGarden powered Full Stack Developer bootcamp presented by University of Calgary Continuing Education.
The Background
Mahdis worked in Iran as an Electrical Engineer as she ignited her passion for Software Development by taking courses before she immigrated with her spouse to Canada, settling in RoboGarden’s home city of Calgary. Mahdis knew she could be a successful Electrical Engineer, but the career path did not inspire her or allow her to express her artistic and creative sides which had become very important to her.
“Software and Web Development is a great field for artistic people to express themselves,” said Mahdis as she described her perspective related to her career-pivot. “I am a detail-oriented person which software development allows me to take advantage of, but I am also a painter and a creator. With graphics and art being so important in successful software and web development, it is the right path for me to pursue all my interests.”
While completing the Full Stack Developer Bootcamp presented by University of Calgary Continuing Education, Mahdis earned income by working remotely as a Junior Full Stack Developer with companies based in Eastern Canada, thus providing her opportunities to apply her new skills as she acquired them.
The Search for the Right Bootcamp
Mahdis knew that her progressing Full Stack Developer skills would benefit from a formalized learning program including access to instructors and awareness of tools with which she was not yet working. Such a program would be a huge asset to her growth as a Full Stack Developer. The Senior Software Developers she was working with suggested a Full Stack Developer Bootcamp for Mahdis to rapidly upskill in a program focused on the skills she wanted to add or improve in.
“I was looking for an intensive program under 6 months that was associated with a major University. This helped me find the University of Calgary Continuing Education program when I searched on Google,” Mahdis explained. “I noticed other programs up to 2 years in length didn’t include key technologies and tools I was looking for that were included in the 22-week RoboGarden powered Bootcamp. I asked multiple Software Developers I was working with who said the content of this Bootcamp was outstanding and with a registration fee less than half that of other programs I looked at, I knew registering with University of Calgary Continuing Education was the right choice for me!”
As the program launched and Mahdis began attending the scheduled live Instructor sessions and tutorials with industry experts she noticed that the teaching team was a major asset as she progressed through the learning modules. “I had been a self-learner taking courses on the MOOC platforms, but I quickly realized none were as good as the Bootcamp instructors.” When asked which of the instructor teams she most connected with Mahdis couldn’t choose only one. “(Lead Instructors) Emmanuel and Jordan are AWESOME!” she exclaimed, “Same with (Tutorial leads and Industry experts) Moustafa and Salah, they helped me so much.”
Another feature of the Full Stack Developer Bootcamp that stood out to Mahdis was the proprietary RoboGarden online learning platform on which all program content is delivered and learning assessment occurs. Designed in Calgary, Alberta for adult learners developing digital skills, game-based and practice-based elements are critical aspects of RoboGarden’s philosophy for success. “The RoboGarden platform design helped me progress in the course,” Mahdis commented.
As a program delivered online that develops skills in a career path where workplace acumen, inter-personal communications and teamwork experience are highly valued, Mahdis recognized that despite the remote nature of the learning experience she remained highly engaged with other program participants and practiced some important career traits. “Assignments are highly valuable,” Mahdis mentioned when asked about her interactions with her peers in her cohort, “submitting assignments every week, then presenting each week helped me be more outgoing and confident.”
Mahdis completed her Full Stack Developer Bootcamp by submitting a Capstone project consisting of a Mobile Application (“App”) called “MindfulRainbow.” Designed to offer users a user-friendly platform for tracking and enhancing their mental well-being, Mahdis aims to enhance user interaction and experience.
The primary goal of MindfulRainbow is to empower users in tracking and enhancing their mental well-being. By offering features such as mood tracking, journaling with rainbow rays, goal setting, and therapy tracking, the app addresses the diverse aspects of mental health. That's why I named it MindfulRainbow!” Mahdis told us. With her digital creation, Mahdis clearly demonstrated the progress she made from day 1 of the program to the day she posted her project to GitHub and submitted the link to the instructor team for evaluation.
After the Bootcamp
Since completing the Bootcamp Mahdis has continued to leverage her digital skills for income-generation by working full-time remotely as a Junior Full Stack Developer for a Toronto-based digital creative services firm to which she was referred by pre-bootcamp co-workers who knew she had expanded her abilities in the UCalgary CE Full Stack Developer program.
Mahdis mentioned that a manager she works with now who reviewed her pre-bootcamp work noticed her improvement. “My manager said my coding has really improved, it’s much more organized, clearly the Bootcamp has helped me a lot.”
Going forward Mahdis is hoping to secure Full-Time employment as a Junior or Intermediate Software Developer with a company based in Alberta Canada. Mahdis enjoys the work with her remote collaborators, but she sees her future in an onsite environment, with teammates she can interact with each day in a common setting, in the province she and her spouse hope to make their permanent home.
The staff at UCalgary Continuing Education and RoboGarden are delighted to congratulate Mahdis on successfully completing the Full Stack Developer Bootcamp.
Mahdis’s path is an inspiration to others who are considering a career change or seeking to enhance their skills in the field of Software Development. Take a chance, be prepared and commit to the evolution of your career. The outcome can be the one you seek!
Are You Interested?
RoboGarden Digital Skills career bootcamps are turning 5!! With our 5th year anniversary of helping adult learners successfully Upskill and Re-skill for the digital workforce approaching we are celebrating with testimonials and events that demonstrate our commitment, along with our Canadian Post-Secondary Institution delivery partners, to ensuring those who pivot with us realize their desired outcomes.
For more information, please visit the UCalgary CE Full Stack Developer program page!