Everyone Belongs in Tech
This is a guest blog post from HR Tech Group’s CEO, Stephanie Hollingshead. HR Tech Group recently engaged with the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training to do a Sector Labour Market Partnership project, which produced a video series about diversity in tech careers.
Harley graciously shared his story with HR Tech Group’s Diversity and Inclusion Tech Project.
Meet Harley.
Harley was born in Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation in Saskatchewan's Treaty 6 territory. His Cree name is Good Morning Rising Sun.
Harley is a senior animator at Yeti Farm, a Kelowna-based animation studio providing animation services and creating original content for broadcast and digital platforms.
“I make cartoons for a living!”
As a child, Harley moved around a lot and bounced around between foster homes. Although many things in his life were unstable, he found stability, consistency and comfort in watching cartoons. Years later, when a teacher started a 2d animation class, Harley first learned that making cartoons could be a job. Growing up, he didn’t know anyone working in tech, so this was a defining moment – discovering that with education, training and hard work, his love for cartoons could translate into a career.
Harley moved away from home to apply for digital arts schools and he was accepted into the Centre for Arts and Technology in Kelowna, where he enrolled in an animation program. During his time in the program, Harley suffered several challenges, setbacks and the tragic deaths of a brother and sister, but with an intense focus on his career goals, he kept pushing forward, determined to graduate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The purpose of HR Tech’s Diversity and Inclusion Tech Project is to increase the attraction, retention and advancement of women, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, people of colour, newcomers to Canada, and individuals who identify as LGBTQ2S+ in addition to all under-represented groups in skilled occupations in B.C.’s technology sector.
A key initiative within this project, which is funded through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement, is to produce videos showcasing inspiring and diverse people who love their tech jobs. We want to diversify the available career stories in tech!
Stories can shape and define our careers. Think about it... what stories have shaped who you are? What stories have influenced what you do?
In addition to Harley’s story, watch other diverse career journeys below.
Sarah’s career path has taken her from teacher to travel agent to technology, where she is now an intermediate software engineer at Thinkific.
Patrick is originally from Lebanon and he grew up surrounded by war and political unrest. A lover of mathematics from an early age, Patrick focused his education on engineering. Today, Patrick is a Pipeline Technical Director at Cinesite, an award-winning animation studio working in film, TV and streaming productions.
Humaira is the founder & CEO of Locelle, a Victoria-based enterprise networking platform to connect and engage women in the workplaces for support and mentorship.
Katherine was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in High School and came to realize and be appreciated for her unique perspective with her work in technology.
In partnership with True Calling Media, we are producing six inspiring and diverse career stories. Stories like Harley’s, Sarah’s, Patrick’s, Humaira's, and Katherine’s.
Want to inspire more diversity in tech?
Share these inspiring stories.
Everyone belongs in tech.