From Coffees to Coding
When Ania Rosianowska moved to Canada from Poland in 2015 on a one-year visa, a career in tech wasn’t on her mind. Back home she was the manager of a coffee shop and dreamed of opening her own café to pursue her love of baked goods and artisanal coffee.
“I love baking, and at the beginning [of my life in Canada], that was my main focus but a few years in, I started looking towards careers with more opportunities for growth. I began to feel that the leap from working in a coffee shop to owning a bakery was too big,” explains Ania. “Tech was an interest as it is a growing industry and I saw a lot of potential there. I was on shift at the coffee shop I worked at in Winnipeg when I began chatting with a customer, sharing that I was looking at opportunities to move into a tech or software developer role. The customer connected me with Pablo and my future began there.”
In 2018, Ania was accepted into ComIT’s intensive three-month, part-time training program. Like all programs at ComIT, this program was 100% scholarship-based and free for applicants who qualify. Students are required to attend eight hours of classes per week, complete homework, and create a piece of software as a final project to demonstrate the skills they have learned.
As the course progressed, Ania’s dreams evolved from scones to software development as she became aware of the possibilities that a career in tech offered across industries like education, finance, and healthcare. As she continued her work at the coffee shop while completing the program, she looked forward to a stable tech role that offered consistent weekday hours.
The ComIT training program was demanding, but Ania enjoyed its all-encompassing approach. She connected with the teacher and other students and quickly found herself in a community of friendship and support.
“We got together during the weekends, on Sundays, in the coffee shop,” Ania says. “A group of students and our teacher were all there working together on our projects. The dedication of our teacher and the connection with other students helped us all stay motivated when we felt challenged by the work.”
To complete the program, each student presented their project. Ania presented a cooking blog she had created, fusing her two passions. After her presentation, she was offered an interview and subsequently secured a six-month internship in software development at SkiptheDishes, a Canadian online food delivery platform serving millions of customers nationwide.
“I was so proud of myself at that time,” shares Ania. “I had gone from zero to 100 in my understanding of the possibilities of tech. I gained solid knowledge of JavaScript and modern development frameworks. I also learned about networking and how important it is to learn from people about their careers. In addition to technical knowledge, I developed an understanding of project management and product design.”
During her internship with SkiptheDishes, Ania continued to meet other tech professionals and expand her understanding of the industry. The company’s open-office concept allowed her to learn from other tech teams and see the possibilities her ComIT education had set her up for.
“I became very interested in the product team that sat a few desks away,” explains Ania. “I was very curious about the work they were doing and I decided that maybe product development is something that would be better suited for my future career. I started slowly moving into product, learning more, and doing some courses online. I kept myself motivated, seeing the possibilities the product team could develop while working with the developers.”
The experience with ComIT gave Ania the confidence she needed to pivot in her new career and pursue product development, which eventually led her to a role as a Product Manager.
Ania was especially grateful for her transition into tech when the pandemic closed coffee shops and hospitality venues around the world. She was able to work from home and even move her life to Calgary while keeping her role at SkiptheDishes on the Product Team, successfully transitioning to remote work. After four years with the company, she left in 2022 to broaden her Canadian experience and continue advancing her career.
“In the work I’m doing now with a technology consulting agency, I'm applying and expanding my product management skills. I work with a variety of clients on different products, uncovering pain points and delivering solutions. There’s never a dull moment as there’s always a new client with a new challenge. I really enjoy the work, as well as the consistent hours and stability,” shares Ania.
“ComIT has given me so many opportunities for growth in my career. The experience changed my life completely. In six months, I went from working in a coffee shop to working in an office environment filled with opportunities across software development, project management, and product development. The experience boosted my confidence and gave me technical knowledge that I still use today.”
Eight years after she graduated from ComIT, Ania is still grateful for the education and opportunities she received through the program.
“I would recommend ComIT to anyone who would like to experience a major career change. The program definitely changed my life and set me up for success in the tech job market,” she says.
The tech industry and the skills Ania developed have provided her with job security and confidence that her career and income potential will continue to grow. This stability offers the freedom to make plans for other aspects of life and has given her control over her future.
Throughout her work in tech, Ania remains well caffeinated.
“I have every bit of coffee equipment you can imagine at home,” she laughs. “I like to make a fancy cup of coffee once in a while. I also still bake all different types of cakes in my time off — and of course sourdough bread, it's my favorite. I haven’t lost my passion for baking!”
ComIT is a Canadian charitable organization that provides free, industry-aligned technology training programs to help individuals overcome employment barriers and launch sustainable careers in tech. Learn more at https://www.comit.org/
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