Tiffany Tate: The American offering life-changing careers to Jamaican women

From once being a passive user of technology and software to establishing her own company VAULT Technologies and developing an integrative educational system that has benefited users in developing nations as far away as Africa, Tate has generously been able to empower young people in one of the fastest growing fields internationally.

And she has done it as organically as possible, not on a macro level to become a cash cow to be utilized for selfish gain but rather in a format where she can personally witness the transformation that knowledge and skills have made in enhancing the lives of young people.

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Her initiative, the VAULT Scholars Software Developer Training Programme, offers much-needed diversity in the technological field and focuses on empowering young Jamaican women to have successful careers in software development, a niche that was previously seen as not only male-dominated but one that instilled fear in some who were resistant to technology.

With Tate’s PrepMod platform, the VAULT Software Developer Training has demystified and deconstructed the intricacies and complexities of technology so that more women not only gain knowledge and insight but also gain a meaningful career that enhances their marketability and ultimately their self-worth.

According to data from the World Bank, in Jamaica the labour force participation rate among females is 61.4% and among males is 75.8% for 2023. The labour force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active. Since 1990, the female labour force participation has decreased. With Tate’s initiative, this trend can have the positive impact of making more females employable for the job market and entrepreneurs in their own right.

Tate, who has been dubbed the ‘Tech Fairy Godmother’, said that she sought to bring her programme to the island when she realised upon her trips here that while Jamaicans are naturally gifted, the resources to have a life without the daily economic struggle are not an option for too many young people, especially women.

“I love Jamaica. I see so many young people here without enough opportunities to get ahead and have a career so I thought to invest and make it possible for young people to dream more. This programme is designed to train young women to have a job after nine months where they will be entry-level software engineers. They will also acquire soft skills to handle themselves in an office environment.”

Through the VAULT Scholars Software Developer Training Program, successful female applicants in Jamaica, between the ages of 17 to 23 will be taught software development. Applications are open now through October 25, 2024. Selected participants will be announced in December and the programme will commence on February 1, 2025, running through November 2025.  Those who are selected will be loaned a computer, given a monthly stipend and have the flexibility to study online from home, making it easier to balance their other responsibilities such as work and family.

Tate, who is currently on the island on business, stated that to date, over 182 applications have been received here in Jamaica.

“So far the response has been amazing and we see that there is definitely a growing interest in the industry ,” she tells Old Harbour News in an exclusive interview. “There will be a screening process for the scholarships done face-to-face on site at the Half Moon Hotel in Montego Bay where those shortlisted will be tested for their writing exercises, analytical and reasoning skills plus good verbal communication skills and then we will select the best 10 to 15 scholars.”

She added: “It is important to note that they do not need a computer or IT background; just be able to communicate and reason well and we will take it from there.”

Part of the process is to debunk the misconception that women shy away from technology because they find it scary or too complex. Tate shared that four years ago she knew nothing about software or technology but “Eventually I developed software that when covid came I was able to start selling it to people.”

“I realised that there were not a lot of women or people of colour in the industry,” she continued. “So we also have an internship programme that targets women and people of colour.”

Software and technology she contends, are the future and people with these skills can build and eventually move into leadership positions and later be qualified to do other work.
The initiative was first launched in Ghana in 2022 when she went on vacation and hired a young man to drive her around, she revealed.

“He was bright and witty but there wasn’t much opportunity for growth for him so I promised that I would do something to assist. I gave him money for a computer and promised to build a programme and on his end, he was to recruit his friends to be a part of the programme which he did. In four months they were almost ready to start building software and they did this practically on their own with the tools that they were given,” said Tate.

Tate further argues that though VAULT Technologies is based in Maryland in the USA, technology is such that geographical location is of little to no importance in sharing information and educating people.

“My goal is to refine this curriculum for free so they can roll it out and reach people anywhere how to become software engineers. My advice to young women is not to be intimidated by technology. Don’t focus on what society pushes but what you are passionate about. When there is diversity, programmes work better. We are just thrilled that we have had such a positive success with this programme,” said the VAULT Tech CEO.

“Also, because the information is free when we start the programme in February 2025, we will post the information so that people can go and download the programme and teach themselves. At the end of the programme our scholars will be certified but otherwise, anyone in Jamaica can have access to the curriculum free of cost so if you are highly motivated, you can teach yourself and be marketable in your own right.”