How HerFuture Opened Doors to Tech Careers and Opportunities: Leyli’s Story

Discovering HerFuture

I first learned about HerFuture through Minite! At the time, I had just moved to the Amsterdam area and was eager to find my first job. While I eventually landed a position at a local restaurant, I kept an eye on Minite’s offerings, always looking for ways to gain experience in my field of study. When I saw HerFuture launching, I was immediately drawn to its mission - and I’ve been engaged ever since.

Gaining Exposure Through Events

Since joining, I’ve attended nearly all of HerFuture’s events. I particularly enjoyed the CV review and Sip & Paint - I always love speaking to recruiters face-to-face. Additionally, it was really useful to see the standards Dutch recruiters follow, as opposed to those expected back home. Beyond that, I’ve gained immense value from the exposure to key industry names and sectors that HerFuture provides. As an international student, I was familiar with the multinational companies that have offices in the Randstad area. However, when I first moved here, I had much less knowledge about the variety of Dutch companies I could work for after graduation. I certainly did my best to research local companies on my own, but reading about a company on its website is very different from meeting its employees in person.

I’m truly grateful to HerFuture - not only for the networking opportunities but also for introducing me to so many more companies and career paths than I would have discovered on my own!

Supporting Women in Tech

As a HerFuture Ambassador, one of my key responsibilities is spreading the word about HerFuture on campus and beyond. I’ve joined fellow Ambassadors and HerFuture staff to hand out flyers and merch at VU, and I’m always happy to share more about the organization at career events I attend. In fact, at one event, I talked about HerFuture so much that two of the women I spoke to ended up joining as Ambassadors themselves! 

This aspect of the role is especially meaningful to me. When I first started studying Computer Science, it was a strong community of female students and mentors that gave me the confidence to excel. I’ve noticed that my female and nonbinary peers often hesitate to express their ideas or doubt their opinions - not because they lack expertise, but due to imposter syndrome or fear of making mistakes. I don’t see these challenges as frequently among my male peers. I’ve experienced these feelings myself and still struggle with them at times, but having a supportive community makes all the difference. 

By helping more women get involved with HerFuture, I hope to empower them to build confidence and self-assurance - both essential for success in tech.

A Community That Feels Like Home

HerFuture isn’t just about networking - it’s about belonging. I’ve met incredible students, recent graduates, job seekers, and recruiters through this community. Some of my fellow Ambassadors have even become great friends, and I love seeing familiar faces at every event.

Finding HerFuture has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey in tech, and I’m excited to continue growing alongside this amazing group of people.

Are you looking for a community that supports and empowers you in your career journey? Become a HerFuture member for free and benefit from great events, networking opportunities, access to dream job vacancies, and much more. We can’t wait to welcome you.