Building Opportunity Through Tech Mentorship and Financial Literacy
From mentoring future engineers to supporting financial literacy initiatives, DRW employees are finding meaningful ways to give back. For Sarah, a software engineer at DRW, that work focuses on expanding access to opportunity by helping students gain early exposure to tech, build career skills, and supporting women in building strong financial foundations.
As we wrap up volunteer month, here are four key takeaways from her experience.
Early access can shape career paths (Code2College)
Code2College, a DRW grant recipient, connects high school students with paid technical internships before they ever step foot on a college campus. Sarah was first introduced to the organization through DRW’s involvement, which led her to become a mentor. That kind of early exposure can be especially impactful for students who might not otherwise have access to these opportunities.
At DRW, teams also host in-office volunteer events with Code2College, giving students the chance to engage directly with professionals and explore careers in tech. Experiences like these help students not only build awareness of possible career paths, but also begin to see themselves in those roles earlier than they might have otherwise.
Mentorship helps students build real-world career skills
Outside of DRW, Sarah volunteers with Code2College as a mentor, supporting students one-on-one as they prepare for internships and early career opportunities.
“I work one-on-one with students on topics like resume review and interview skill building, and it’s been really cool to see some of the students I’ve worked with go from high school off to their first and second year of college and to see how much they’ve grown.”
Through this work, she has seen how personalized support can make a meaningful difference as students take their first steps.
Access to financial knowledge empowers better decision-making (Women’s Money Matters)
DRW encourages employees to volunteer and give to causes they care most about. Inspired to volunteer with an organization focused on financial literacy, Sarah connected with Woman’s Money Matters, a Boston-based organization that works with women from a wide range of backgrounds to build financial literacy and establish strong financial habits. From budgeting for everyday needs to planning for long-term goals like retirement, the organization helps women take control of their financial futures.
“Right now, the causes that are important to me are related to financial literacy and computer science education,” Sarah said. “I’ve seen how much of a difference access to this kind of knowledge can make in helping people build confidence and create more opportunities for themselves.”
Through this work, Sarah has seen how access to practical financial knowledge can create greater stability and open up new opportunities over time
Confidence grows with access and opportunity drives success
“What stands out to me most is how much of a difference early access and support can make,” Sarah said. “When students are given the opportunity and the right guidance, they can gain confidence and start to see themselves in these careers. When students are given the chance to learn and grow, they rise to the occasion every time.”
“Building confidence over time, even through small conversations, can really change how someone approaches their future,” she added. “I hope to pass on some of the knowledge I’ve gained, along with a sense of empowerment, so students feel confident continuing to learn and grow on their own and can look back and see how far they’ve come.”
Learn more about how our employees give back at drw.com/work-at-drw/who-we-are/community-investment.