Ladybugs Aachen

One of the most rewarding parts of my tech journey has been co-organizing Ladybugs Aachen, an all-female community for software engineers and women interested in technical topics. Today, I want to share what this community means to me and how we're creating a supportive space for women in software development.

What We Do Together

Ladybugs Aachen was launched in December 2023 with a simple but important goal: create a space where women in tech can connect, learn, and support each other.

Our community meets once a month in different locations in Aachen, and we organize various types of events:

Technical Talks: We invite speakers to share their expertise on current technologies, best practices, and industry trends.

Practical Workshops: Hands-on learning sessions where we dive deep into specific technologies or tools.

Hack Evenings: Collaborative coding sessions where we work on personal projects, experiment with new technologies, or tackle interesting technical challenges together.

Get-Togethers: More relaxed social events where we can network, share experiences, and build connections.

Soft Skills Workshops: While we focus primarily on technical topics, we also recognize the importance of communication and other professional soft skills that help us advance in our careers.

Talk about Freelancing with Hannah Rost @ OecherLab in Aachen

Who Can Join?

Ladybugs Aachen is open to women who work as software engineers and/or are interested in technical topics. We welcome women at all stages of their careers, from students just starting out to senior engineers with years of experience.

Why Our Community Matters

Being a woman in tech can sometimes feel isolating. We are still underrepresented in many areas of the software industry, and it's not always easy to find female colleagues who understand the unique challenges we might face. Many women stay in the tech industry but leave technical roles, we want to change that!

Creating connections with other women in the industry: There's something special about being in a room full of women who share similar experiences, challenges, and passions for technology.

Building confidence: is another important aspect of our community. For many of us, Ladybugs provides a safe space to practice public speaking, ask questions without fear of judgment, and share our knowledge with others.

A Safe Space to Grow

What makes Ladybugs Aachen special is that it serves as a safe space where members can:

• Practice public speaking in a supportive environment before presenting at larger conferences or meetings

• Learn new tech topics without worrying about asking "basic" questions

• Seek help with personal projects and get honest, constructive feedback

• Ask for career advice from women who have navigated similar paths

• Share experiences and learn from each other's successes and challenges