Empowering Moms to Code: Erica Peterson‘s Mission to Diversify Tech
As a biology researcher turned tech entrepreneur and founder of Moms Can Code, Erica Peterson is on a mission to empower mothers to launch fulfilling careers in technology and reshape the industry in the process. Through her coding education program and advocacy work, she‘s not only equipping moms with in-demand programming skills, but also creating a more inclusive future for the next generation in STEM.
Bridging the Gender Gap
Women currently make up only 28% of the tech workforce, according to the 2020 AnitaB.org Tech Equity Index. That figure hasn‘t budged in the past five years, despite increased awareness of the gender gap and diversity initiatives across the industry.
The disparities are even starker at the leadership level, with women holding just 3% of computing roles at the executive level. For women of color, the numbers are near vanishing points – less than 1% of leadership positions in tech are held by Black, Latinx and Native American women.
As a mom of two, Erica understands the unique challenges mothers face in breaking into the tech field and advancing their careers. "There‘s this pervasive myth that you can‘t be a good mom and succeed in a fast-paced industry like technology," Erica shares on the freeCodeCamp Podcast. "We‘re told that we have to choose between our careers and our families. But it doesn‘t have to be that way."
Learning to Code, One Mother at a Time
Erica founded Moms Can Code to shatter those misconceptions and empower mothers with the skills, community, and confidence to thrive in technical roles. The organization offers coding workshops, online courses, and bootcamp programs designed to fit the needs of busy moms juggling family responsibilities.
"Our goal is to make learning to code as accessible and approachable as possible for moms at any stage of their journey," says Erica. The curriculum covers front-end development fundamentals like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React, as well as server-side technologies, databases, version control with Git, and agile project management.
Beyond just coding chops, Moms Can Code aims to provide the full ecosystem of support moms need to successfully launch and grow their tech careers. Participants gain access to career coaching, interview prep, networking opportunities with tech employers, and a tight-knit community of alumni and mentors.
"One of the biggest advantages of our program is the built-in network," Erica explains. "You‘re learning alongside other moms who get it, cheering each other on, trading tips on balancing family and study time. Those connections last well beyond graduation and become an invaluable source of support and opportunity as you navigate your tech career."
To date, Moms Can Code has helped over 500 women land their first technical roles and level up their skills to take on more advanced engineering positions. Alums have gone on to work for major companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, as well as fast-growing startups.
Sparking the Next Generation
Erica‘s mission goes beyond just upskilling moms. She sees their potential to become powerful ambassadors for STEM and inspire more girls and underrepresented youth to pursue technology.
That‘s why she also founded Science Tots, a nonprofit introducing children as young as 18 months to coding and computational thinking. "Both as an entrepreneur and mother, I wanted to create the resources I wished existed when my kids were small," Erica says. "If we want to see real diversity and inclusion in tech, we have to spark that interest and build confidence from the earliest ages."
The benefits of parents and kids learning STEM skills together are manifold. A Google-Gallup study found that students who had a parent in a computer science-related career were much more likely to say they were "very interested" in learning CS (46%, versus 25% of students without a parent in the field).
Additionally, numerous studies have shown the power of adult role models and mentors in shaping girls‘ STEM identities and career aspirations. "When moms learn to code, they show their daughters what‘s possible," Erica explains. "They become living examples that women belong in tech and have so much to contribute."
Entrepreneurial Journey
Erica‘s own path into the startup world was an indirect one. After several years in biotech research, she taught herself to code in her spare time and fell in love with using technology to solve problems and create. "As I learned more about the vast opportunities in tech and the potential for impact, I knew I wanted to dive in fully and help other women, especially moms, break in," she recalls.
While building Moms Can Code, Erica has racked up her own impressive accomplishments as a founder. She was a finalist in the SXSW Accelerator Pitch and Project Entrepreneur competitions, and a semifinalist for Startup of the Year.
For other founders looking to hone their pitching skills, Erica breaks down her process:
- Nail the narrative. "Start with the problem you‘re solving and why it matters. Paint a vivid picture of the pain point and opportunity."
- Distill the differentiators. "Clearly explain your unique solution and competitive advantages. What sets you apart in the market?"
- Show the traction. "Share key milestones, partnerships, and proof points demonstrating your momentum and validation so far."
- Cast the vision. "Where is this going? Get investors excited about your big vision and the potential scale of impact."
- Keep refining. "Pitch to anyone who will listen and iterate based on the feedback. The pitch gets sharper every time you share it."
Beyond formulating the pitch, Erica credits much of her success to the support of her own communities and networks. "Building a startup is a rollercoaster," she reflects. "You need mentors, advisors, peers in the trenches with you to keep you grounded and moving forward."
Coding a More Inclusive Future
The tech industry has a long way to go to achieve true diversity, equity, and inclusion. But with tireless leaders like Erica at the forefront, change is accelerating.
"My hope is that Moms Can Code and Science Tots won‘t need to exist in 10 years," Erica shares. "That we‘ll reach a point where women and moms in tech are the norm, not the exception. Where all kids have the opportunity and encouragement to pursue STEM without bias or barriers."
Until then, Erica and her team at Moms Can Code will keep expanding their programs, resources, and reach to empower as many moms as possible with coding superpowers. Erica envisions the Moms Can Code community growing into the millions worldwide. She‘s exploring ways to partner with employers to provide upskilling opportunities and create more family-friendly tech workplaces.
There‘s also huge potential for moms who code to drive entrepreneurship and innovation. "I‘m excited to see the products, platforms and companies our moms go on to build," says Erica. "They‘re going to shape the future of tech in profound ways."
Armed with new technical chops and a fiercely supportive community, moms are poised to disrupt the tech industry for the better and pioneer a more inclusive digital world. As Erica puts it, "We‘re just getting started. Watch what moms can code."
