Bella Minds, 2013

It started with trips home

Jenn Shaw left Nebraska for New York City in 2007. She built a career in tech and founded NYTechWomen. But every trip home was a reminder of how few paths existed for the brilliant women who stayed: friends and family making real choices about raising kids and staying close to home, with little access to the skills that could open new doors.

NYTechWomen had asked where all the women in technology were. Bella Minds was the answer: high-impact education for women in places without tech resources, events, or communities, pairing city-based mentors and educators with hosts on the ground across the country.

The work was funded in part by a crowdfunding campaign with Plum Alley, the women-focused platform of that era, which has since closed.

For so many people who leave, trips home come with the words "this is exactly why I left." Bella Minds changed the conversation to "this is exactly why I need to give back."

The digital divide has five parts

Bella Minds saw the problem as more than access to a coding class. Five barriers kept women out of technology careers:

Barriers to entryTech careers can feel closed before you start.

Learning environmentsEffective, accessible places to learn are scarce.

AgeWhat if an employee's age were never viewed as a liability?

GenderWomen deserve rooms where they can learn with each other.

LocationWhat if geography weren't a limiting factor in professional success?

Rural America has a reputation for hard work, honesty, and make-it-happen grit. Bella Minds believed technology's biggest step forward would be bridging those strengths with the resources of tech cities.

Learning and leading, both centered on creating

Technology is a path, not just a destination. Bella Minds built three ways in, for women anywhere between completely offline and technical practitioner, around a 50-item checklist that ran from communication and self-worth to building a website and a prototype.

Masterminds

A cross between a networking event and a class, for women who wanted more than a handshake and a business card.

Workshops

Scalable, practical sessions in the middle, a home for whatever stage of growth you were in.

Immersives

Deep, hands-on programs that brought women from curious to confident creators.

Graduates were invited to lead, too: as a Connector for their hometown, a Host for their city, or a Boss starting something of their own.

The Mastermind program

4 weeks × 8 bold women × 2 hours a week = best coffee date ever

All about the benjamins

Business finances, negotiating salary, personal accounting, and managing multiple streams of income.

Welcoming transition

Changing careers, stepping into leadership, starting or ending a chapter, even moving from the City to Brooklyn.

Stoking your inner fire

Nurturing self-worth, and boosting appreciation for ourselves and one another.

Finishing the unfinished

Bring the nagging projects and straggling to-do lists, and get them done together.

The side hustle

Finding the time, discipline, and motivation to keep going, and the good, bad, and ugly of working one.

From the blog

February 18, 2015

Let the celebrations begin!

What was once a small idea, turned great side project, is now a national movement and we're ecstatic you have been a part of that. Truly, thank you!

March 15, 2015

Finding the right balance

We started NYTechWomen as the go-to place where women in NYC could meet other women in technology. We started Bella Minds as the exact opposite: a space where women outside of NYC would learn about technology. One very event-based organization, one very education-based company.

Two names, two overlapping missions, one dedicated team and ultimately, one path forward. We started with a mission to "Bring tech education to ALL women," and we still mean that very line.

June 18, 2015

Stepping back and leaping forward

I needed to be inspired. And inspired I was. The bus put me in contact with cities, companies, and entrepreneurs in 10 states, and there is something really special about watching perfect strangers become #RideOrDie best-of-friends.

The ride reinforced my vision for a nationwide community of opportunity for women. A community that understands that real life needs to prevail, and that sometimes inspiration, encouragement, and opportunity need to be delivered to our front door, likely by someone who lives down the street.

Everyone has a beautiful mind.