First kood/Empower bootcamp: reflections from women trying out coding for the very first time
What does it feel like to step into the world of coding for the very first time? We sat down with six remarkable women — each from a different background, each with her own story — to hear why they chose to explore coding, what surprised them most, and what they would say to other women standing on the edge of curiosity.
🌟 Nadia
Nadia, 34, originally from Alaska and now living in Tallinn, works in marketing and email automation. Her interest in coding wasn’t sparked by a career need but by curiosity — she’s always felt her brain works in a very logical, systematic way. When she heard about coding, she thought, “Maybe this is something I’d be good at.”
She was surprised to discover just how naturally coding fit with her. “I didn’t expect how easily I could get into a ‘flow state’,” she shared. “Hours would fly by without me even noticing — and I loved that feeling of being completely absorbed in something new.”
When asked what she would say to other women who might be curious but unsure, Nadia had this to say: “Try it! It’s a small investment of time and resources, and you’ll quickly know if it’s for you. If you don’t try, you’ll never know — and that curiosity will always be there. Just give it a shot.”
🌟 Kristi
At 45, Kristi has spent her entire career in customer service and now works as Head of Customer Support at LHV Bank.
She’s no stranger to change, but the rise of AI and new technologies in her field made her curious: What’s really happening on the tech side?
Kristi signed up for the course to understand coding and AI better. She admitted it was intimidating at first. “I’ve never been in IT before, always in customer service,” she said. “But it’s been so exciting to learn something completely new. It’s also comforting to realize that everyone shares the same fears — we’re all in this together.”
For Kristi, every small win felt monumental. “When something finally works, that feeling of success — it’s like nothing else,” she smiled.
Her message to other women? “If you’re already thinking coding is cool, you should do it. If I can do it, then you can do it too.”
🌟 Maian:
Maian, almost 25, has a background in Spanish philology, pedagogy, she has worked in research and now lives in Spain. Her decision to join the course was driven by a simple realization: coding would have been incredibly useful in her university work. “I wanted to see what it’s all about,” she said.
She admitted she was worried she might get frustrated, but instead, she found herself enjoying it far more than she expected. “I thought I might feel stuck, but actually, I loved how coding challenged me to think differently.”
Her message to other women is powerful and encouraging: “Doubt is your biggest enemy. Of course you don’t know how to do it yet — that’s what learning is for! If you’re willing to explore and learn, there’s no obstacle you can’t overcome.”
🌟 Karmen
Karmen, 29, has a background that spans sales, leadership, and even animal science. Today, she’s a tech recruiter — a role that has her talking to engineers and tech professionals every day. Those conversations piqued her curiosity. “I thought, ‘I’m always working with engineers, but I don’t really understand what they do. I wanted to see what coding is actually like.”
She described her experience as a roller coaster of emotions. “The first day, I was excited and loved it. But by the second day, the tasks felt harder, and I thought, ‘Oh no, maybe I’m not meant for this.’” But she quickly realized she didn’t have to figure it all out on her own. “The program is designed so well — you feel supported the whole time. You can be vulnerable and ask for help. That made all the difference.”
Karmen’s advice to other women is deeply thoughtful: “Don’t get stuck on the question of whether you can do it — you can. It’s more about whether you’d enjoy it. Coding is about problem-solving and exploring how your mind works. But you’ll never know if it’s for you unless you try.”
🌟 Riita
Riita has spent almost half her life in banking and is currently leading a transformation project at LHV Bank. She joined the course driven by curiosity — and by a desire to truly understand the “hard-core” IT world she’s often worked alongside.
“I’ve always worked as a business stakeholder in IT projects, but I’ve never been on the other side,” she explained. “I’d ask simple questions and see developers roll their eyes, and I thought, ‘What’s so difficult about this?’ Now, after just four days here, I understand. And I have so much more appreciation for the complexity and logic behind their work.”
Riita doesn’t plan to become a coder herself, but she sees huge value in what she’s learned. “The line between business and IT is becoming more and more blurred. Knowing how to define needs clearly, structure problems logically, and execute a plan — those skills are universal, no matter what role you’re in.”
🌟 Violetta
Violetta, 31, has spent most of her career in sales and now works in the Segment and Sales Management Department at LHV Bank. At first, coding seemed like a world reserved for introverted guys who spend all day behind screens. But that changed when she met more and more interesting people in tech — including women who broke those old stereotypes. “That made me think, ‘Hey, maybe I can do this too!’”
“The biggest surprise was realizing that coding isn’t as scary as it seems. It’s actually very logical — like solving math puzzles. Once you calm down and build a plan, it’s totally doable. And honestly, it’s fun — even addictive!”
To other women who might be curious, Violetta says: “You’ll never know unless you try. You can try it and maybe regret it, or not try and still regret it — the risk is the same. But when you do try, there’s also the chance you might discover something you really enjoy. If you don’t try at all, you’re just left with the ‘what ifs.’ So go for it — you might surprise yourself!”
Final Reflections
These six women show that coding isn’t just about lines of code — it’s about curiosity, courage, and the willingness to dive into something unfamiliar. For some, it’s a potential career shift; for others, it’s a way to better collaborate with colleagues in tech. For all of them, it’s an empowering experience.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Could I do it?” — their stories prove the answer is: you’ll never know until you try.
Join us in the next bootcamp July 8-11