Member Highlight: Gabriela Moraes

Our next highlighted member is someone we truly admire! Gabriela has made significant contributions to the tech community, including helping run the PyLadies booth at this year’s WIT Conference. More recently, she caught our attention again when she hosted a Robotics and AI coding camp in collaboration with our friends at Pink Programming.

Throughout this interview, Gabriela’s passion for teaching, sharing knowledge, and connecting with people truly stands out—talk about inspiring! Her journey into tech also highlights the critical role that role models and support systems play when choosing a career path.

Without further delay, dive into Gabriela’s inspiring journey:

What do you do as a Woman in Tech (work/study)?
I’m currently a Recruiter and Technical Educator! I spent many years as a software engineer, which I really enjoyed, but I’m happy to have found what I love even more—a mix of working with people, project management, and technical skills. I enjoy being a “bridge” between different groups and combining my skills in both work and hobbies.

This passion led me to Pink Programming and PyLadies. I volunteer as a mentor/organiser at Pink Programming’s summer and winter camps (which I highly recommend—it’s so much fun and full of unforgettable experiences!). I also help organise PyLadies events in Sweden and mentor during Python workshops. Additionally, I love contributing to open-source projects in the Python community, helping to create and improve essential tools!

What made you choose tech?
I’ve been fortunate to have a family, especially the women, who work in highly technical and scientific fields. They’ve always supported and encouraged me to follow my passion for mathematics and hardware development. Growing up, seeing their dedication to their work was key to helping me start—and most importantly—stick with this field.

That’s why I’m so passionate about building community and supporting the ambitions of women, non-binary people, and other minorities in tech!

What does the Women in Tech community mean to you? 
For me, the community represents friendship and happiness! It’s where I found my closest friends and strongest support. When I first started my career, I struggled with self-confidence, but the friends and mentors I met along the way were key to my growth and helped me discover what I really wanted to do in life. Since I’ve spent so much time working in tech, both professionally and as a hobby, the community has naturally become an extension of my life.

If you could give one advice to an aspiring woman in tech, what would that be?
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, even if you make mistakes along the way. Be patient with yourself as you work toward your goals. Starting something new is always tough and takes time—it’s not easy, but it’s part of the process. Joining a group of people with similar goals can make the journey a lot easier in the long run. Taking breaks is really important! When I first started, I didn’t realise this (or didn’t pay attention) and would burn out after spending long hours obsessively trying to fix bugs or learn new tools and concepts. So, remember to take breaks and give yourself time to truly relax!

Gabriela’s Fun Facts:
– What’s a hobby or interest you’re passionate about outside of work?
I love experimenting with gadgets and creating unique projects. I’m very active in various open-source communities and contribute regularly to projects in the Django, Python, and Arduino
communities.

I’m also passionate about beekeeping and have a deep love for insects, especially bees! Right now, I’m studying to become a part-time beekeeper in the near future.

And lastly, rugby! I enjoy playing sports in general and am always open to trying something new, but rugby is my favourite. I played for many years and now focus on supporting my local team—Go Berserkers!

– Can you share a book, movie, or TV show that has had a significant impact on you?
Skate Kitchen (2018) and the series Betty really stand out to me. If you think tech has issues with sexism, skate culture makes tech seem like an Oprah episode in comparison! These shows feature a cool group of women challenging the patriarchy in a male-dominated world. I love how they show friendships growing, with all the ups and downs as the characters learn about each other’s boundaries and needs. They’re great examples of the journey from girlhood to womanhood!