(Nov 28 – Dec 7), aims to answer the most compelling questions beginners have about Vancouver’s tech industry. Beers, snacks and meeting awesome people are all included. No experience necessary.
Kurtis Young, was an accountant before he studied UX Design at RED Academy. He’s now a Lead Front End Web Developer at BAM Communications. "I was really unhappy with what I was doing beforeâ€, says Kurtis, “I have an accounting degree and I saw this and thought, ‘kay, this is something I’d really love to do.'â€
If you’re thinking about transitioning to a career in technology, you can have all your questions and concerns answered at RED Academy’s That Was Then: Tech is Now Speaker Series.
Featuring a panel of industry experts, the majority of each event will be an open mic for the audience to ask questions, mix, mingle, share and learn. Think of it as a “choose your own adventureâ€Â panel where you can finally get all your burning questions answered.
No experience is necessary; in fact, ‘no experience’ is the point! Ultimately, the speaker series aims to answer the most common questions beginners have about Vancouver’s tech industry. Each event will be structured around a frequently asked question such as, “can I work in tech without a technical background?â€
View the full speaker series schedule below. Follow the links to RSVP. Admission is only $5.
1. - November 28, 2017
The Change Careers Success Stories edition will focus on "I don't have a technical background or experience, is it possible for me to work in tech?"
2. - November 30, 2017
The Transition From Graphic To Digital Designer edition will focus on "How do I make the transition from print based Graphic Designer to designing for mobile apps and websites?"
3.Ìý - December 2, 2017
Debating a new tech career but not sure what it should be? Try design, coding and digital marketing over three sample lessons. It'll be an awesome day full of learning and holiday fun!
4. - December 7, 2017
The Badass Coders Owning The Field edition will focus on this question: "What does it take to excel in the development field with starting with no prior experience or knowledge?"
Speakers and panelists were selected from a wide range of tech experts, including:
Jill Greenwood – career change from Public Affairs to UX Design
Nav Uppal – career change from Makeup Artistry to Digital Marketing
Kurtis Young – career change from Accounting to Web Development
Lawrence Chung – career change from Operations Management to Digital Marketing
Rowena Ren – career change from Real Estate to UX Design
Admission to each event is $5 and will be donated to support The School Fund, a charitable organization that gives scholarships to children in developing countries.
That Was Then: Tech is Now runs from November 28 – December 7, 2017. To learn more, visit