Meet Rediet Woldesenbet, 2022 Africode Mentee of The Year!
Rediet is a student at Drexel University and currently a Business Analyst Intern at Macquarie Investment Management. She is from Ethiopia and has interest in finance, tech innovation, commerce, and travel.
About Rediet:
Rediet is a raising fourth-year student at Drexel University with a major in Finance and Economics and minor in Computer Science. She was born and raised in Ethiopia, and currently doing her second co-op (internship) with Macquarie Investment Management as an Agile Business Analyst. Prior to that, she worked as a Business Management Associate at Publicis Health Media. Outside of school, she enjoys dancing, reading, and drawing.
How did you get started in tech?
My brother actually got me interested in tech. He taught me how to code. We used to work on projects together and learn different coding languages from online resources. During my time in college, I recognized how popular and applicable tech skills are. I also wanted to incorporate my passion for tech with my finance background. This led me to take coding classes, and attend tech boot camps to develop my skills.
How did you find out about Africode and why did you choose to become a mentee?
I found out about Africode through Salamata, a friend of mine who was the 2021 Africode Mentee of the Year. I had reached out to her to discuss our passion for tech and also get an insight into her experience. She had recommended I apply to Africode, as it had been a great resource for her. I applied to become a mentee to develop a network with Africans with similar interests. I also wanted to improve my technical and soft skills.
What did you enjoy about being an Africode mentee this year?
I really enjoyed the support system that I have through this program. It is very important to have a network of people you can rely on that will help guide you. As a young student, I have a lot to learn and I am very grateful to have been surrounded by inspirational people who motivate me. I am grateful for this mentorship program that not only pushes me to be my best but also thinks outside the box. I am also thankful to my mentor who has taught me patience and perseverance.
What is something you have learned from being a mentee that you can take back to your academic life?
As a mentee, I have learned that being specific and intentional about your goals is very important. Being clear about your goals and visualizing what you are trying to achieve helps tremendously. Having clarity with your goals allows you to allocate the proper resources to achieve them. It helps you work smarter and more effectively. This has tremendously changed my outlook on things. It has also helped me accomplish my goals.
What are your academic or professional ambitions?
My goal is to obtain my Bachelor’s at Drexel University while working on Macroeconomic research. I am passionate about financial literacy, policy-making, and data analytics. I want to strengthen my skills and hope to work in policy making where I can make a positive impact in underprivileged communities.
What is something in the African tech space that currently interests you?
Currently, there has been an increase in telemedicine in Africa. The pandemic really shaped the way medical professionals work as a result of the strain COVID-19 had on medical institutions. Social distancing has forced a lot of medical institutions to transition to telemedicine. Additionally, the exponential increase in internet usage in Africa has also contributed to the way businesses conduct themselves. Businesses have now adopted a mobile approach as the internet sector thrives.
How has COVID affected your work and learning in the tech space?
At the beginning of the pandemic transitioning to online school was a little difficult. However, after some trial and error, I identified what learning strategy worked for me. My first coop was also fully online. Although my work was not really affected, I missed out on the human interaction component of the job. After that experience, I learned to appreciate connecting with others and utilizing opportunities that come your way.
If you’d like to connect with Rediet, you can find her on LinkedIn.
Africode congratulates Rediet and all of the 2022 mentees on their achievements over the course of the year!