Vonage and Girls Who Code Train the Next Generation of Developers
Vonage and Girls Who Code will provide students with early exposure and hands-on experience in communications and network APIs.
Key Takeaways
Vonage is partnering with Girls Who Code to provide free virtual training, hands-on coding experience, and mentorship.
Women make up only 26.7% of the tech workforce, and 50% of women in tech leave the field by age 35.
Building a diverse, AI-literate workforce ensures technology reflects the full range of its users, producing safer and more inclusive products.
Dreams ignite imaginations, refute restrictions, and promote possibilities. Dreams also empower us with a simple and direct belief: You can do this. For girls whose dreams include careers in AI and technology, Vonage is taking action to help them succeed.
This summer, Vonage is partnering with Girls Who Code to offer free training and mentorship related to careers in technology. Vonage is bringing expertise in network-powered solutions and communications APIs to the Girls Who Code Pathways program, which helps students build skills and learn about tech careers directly from professionals. The sessions will arm students with early exposure and first-hand experience with the technologies of the future.
It started with a snack idea
Vonage UX designer Muskan Garg shared her story during one of the sessions. It started with an idea to make movie watching at home more like the theater — which meant having the right snacks on hand. She even shared her early thoughts, ideas, and renderings that were jotted on a piece of paper. Those soon gave rise to a live snack ordering-slash-snack delivery smartphone app.
Muskan was particularly drawn to the human side of technology, which launched her career in UX. Her virtual session with Girls Who Code — where she shared the Vonage workflow to empathize > define > wireframe > test and implement — showed the girls real proof of the power of imagination and possibility.
“That’s really what mentorship is all about. I get to take everything I’ve learned — the wins, the mistakes, the whole journey — and pass that context to them now.”
– Diana Pham, Vonage Developer Marketing Specialist
A different view on accessibility
Vonage Developer Marketing Specialist Diana Pham described a recent Girls Who Code session as “an absolute highlight” of her year. "Being in a room with that much energy and curiosity was just so inspiring,” she added.
In that session, a seemingly simple discussion on accessibility turned into a moment of inspiration. As is so often the case in dev work, the work began with a question. “I asked the room, 'How many of you are first-gen Americans?' — and a whole bunch of hands went up,” Pham said. “That opened up this incredible conversation about how accessibility is also about designing for second-language English speakers.”
It’s an experience that benefits the Girls Who Code attendees — and mentors, too. “That’s really what mentorship is all about,” Pham said. “I get to take everything I’ve learned — the wins, the mistakes, the whole journey — and pass that context to them now. It gives them a head start to enter the industry with a bigger perspective and really shape what inclusive tech looks like from day one.”
Preserving a critical talent pipeline
The partnership addresses a growing concern among young people entering the workforce. Powerful AI technologies can accelerate careers, yet studies show employment declines for entry-level workers in AI-exposed fields. The keys to overcoming that gap are training and early experience. Vonage wants to give the next generation the knowledge and the tools they need to understand AI, APIs, and other core technologies of today and the future — creating a critical talent pipeline.
Enabling access to advanced technology education programs for the workforce of the future through globally recognized organizations like Girls Who Code is key to equipping the next generation of developer talent. Vonage is interested in supporting programs that empower young builders with network APIs and communications APIs, and enabling a more connected, sustainable future.
“I loved the event,” said Chuck Reeves, a senior JavaScript developer advocate at Vonage who also participated in a session. “But most of the ‘aha’ moments were me realizing how old I am.”
The virtual summer experience equips students with critical computer science skills and exposure to real-world tech careers. The curriculum includes development, cybersecurity, AI, data science, and game design tracks. Students gain hands-on coding and development experience while learning directly from industry leaders and partners.
“Vonage's commitment to our students is a testament to their dedication to helping young people develop the skills they need to thrive in tech,” said Dr. Jackie Blizzard-Caron, vice president, education, for Girls Who Code. “We are grateful for their support and participation in our summer program by mentoring students and helping them learn what a career in tech can look like and the opportunities that are available to help them define their career paths.”
A future for women in technology
Statistics show a clear gender gap remains for women working in tech fields, according to WomenHack:
- 26.7% of the tech workforce are women
- 29% of the C-suite at tech companies are women
- 50% of women working in tech leave by age 35
- 21% of computer science bachelor's degrees are awarded to women (down from 37% in 1984)
- 36% of the enrollment in coding bootcamps is female
- 30% of AP computer science test-takers are female
Girls Who Code alumni are earning computer science and related degrees at five times the national average, according to the organization. It’s clear that championing programs that introduce technology at an early age is an investment in the human infrastructure required to build, govern, and make AI-enabled platforms trustworthy over the next decade.
Vonage and Girls Who Code are preparing the next wave of IT and AI talent. Girls in the summer Pathways program form diverse teams with differing approaches to spot edge cases, challenge assumptions, and design inclusive solutions. The idea is to secure vital AI, security, and data science experience early and gain the confidence to:
- Adapt to dynamic settings and make every moment a learning opportunity
- Strengthen customer experience from local shops to large enterprises — with personal communications that AI cannot match
- Use AI in whatever industry they choose
The girls will be ready to build and refresh human capability with AI. After all, they represent next-gen AI builders and are key to technology resembling the users it serves — and that means better and safer products.
“It’s more than just a feel-good initiative; it’s a blueprint for a sustainable AI talent pipeline,” said Zeus Kerravala, founder and principal analyst with ZK Research, in a LinkedIn post. “By providing students with hands-on experience in web development, cybersecurity, and Vonage’s own APIs, they aren't just teaching ‘coding’ — they are building the diverse, AI-literate workforce the industry desperately needs.”
There’s never been a better time to dream of what’s next. Learn more about Girls Who Code and help train the future leaders of tech.
Frequently asked questions about Girls Who Code Pathways
Students will gain hands-on experience across five tracks — web development, cybersecurity, AI, data science, and game design — while learning directly about network-powered solutions and communications APIs.
The data makes the case clearly: Women are severely underrepresented in tech and the gap is widening in some areas. At the same time, AI-exposed entry-level roles face employment risk, making early training even more urgent. Targeting this demographic builds a more equitable and resilient talent pipeline.
This initiative directly addresses a talent pipeline problem. As AI reshapes tech roles, the industry needs diverse builders who can spot edge cases, challenge assumptions, and design inclusive solutions. By introducing students to Vonage's own APIs early, Vonage is cultivating a future workforce already familiar with its technology ecosystem — a long-term strategic investment, not just a feel-good initiative.