Behind every great tech company are even greater women. At Yellow Tail Tech, we’re lucky to have a team of talented women who are changing the game. As we celebrate Women’s Month, we’re excited to share their stories and inspire the next generation of female leaders in tech.
Let’s get some wonderful insights from Paloma Vilceus (Yellow Tail Tech co-founder), Yana Capa-Pasco (marketing manager), Tyla Chevrier (partnership coordinator), Kim Mellana (enrollment adviser), and Kez Mopon (student success coach).
The Women Who Are Leading Change at Yellow Tail Tech
Although women comprise 47% of all employed adults in the U.S., they only hold 26% of computing roles as of 2020, according to the National Center for Women & Information Technology. Women also make up less than 25% of executive-level positions, said McKinsey & Company.
Yellow Tail Tech tries to change the numbers, starting with their own team.
Paloma Vilceus: Co-Founder, Curriculum Designer, and Inspiration
“I think it’s super powerful to convince women to stay focused on their career change while they question their place in this field because they didn’t grow up visualizing other women in this space.”
Paloma Vilceus is the brilliant mind behind the curriculum design at Yellow Tail Tech. Co-founding the company with her husband, Jubee Vilceus, in 2014, Paloma’s journey into tech was not without challenges. As a working mother, she had to overcome obstacles and prove herself in a male-dominated industry.
What Paloma has achieved with Yellow Tail Tech is remarkable – people from all walks of life can now jumpstart their tech careers confidently. Paired with high-caliber training, an environment of encouragement transforms the company into a paradigm of success. A true insider, Paloma’s industry knowledge is hard-won, coming from years of hard work.
With icons like Ada Lovelace leading the way, Paloma believes that anyone can break free from the chains of tradition and pave their path. With historic icons, she’s also fascinated by modern champions Kimberly Bryant, Arian Hamilton, and Susan Wojcicki, outstanding change-makers.
Women eager to join the tech revolution should take a page from Paloma’s playbook: don’t wait, start taking action, get that certification under your belt, and find your tribe – they’ll be your lifeline in the fast-paced world of tech. If you need convincing that determination can move mountains, just look at what she’s accomplished – it’s a shining testament to the power of never giving up.
With her laser-like determination and go-getter spirit, Paloma Vilceus shows us all what can be achieved when we put our minds to it and summon the will to push beyond our limits.
Yana Capa-Pasco: Master of Marketing Magic
“Don’t let intimidation or patriarchal advantages stop you from dreaming high. IT is for everyone. Embrace your womanhood and spread it around the tech industry. The industry needs more women’s perspectives; the industry needs you!”
Introducing Yana Capa-Pasco, the fierce marketing manager at Yellow Tail Tech. Yana’s years in marketing translation to a keen eye for the company’s standout employees – those who embody its corporate culture.
Working in an industry where men held the majority, Yana had to push past her doubts and emerge as a leader, every single day. With kids relying on her and a boss counting on her, she had to figure out how to juggle her dual roles without dropping the ball. What could have broken her only made Yana stronger, her powerful comeback stirring a ripple effect of empowerment among working mothers everywhere.
Yana firmly believes in the power of female representation in the workplace. For female students at Yellow Tail Tech, Paloma Vilceus is a shining star they can look up to. Prospective female students can’t help but feel drawn to Yana’s depictions of Kim and her colleagues – strong, ambitious women who break down barriers and challenge conventions.
For women starting in tech, Yana advises confidence and self-assurance. Imagine a tech world where everyone has a seat at the table – Yellow Tail Tech is working tirelessly to make that vision a reality, building a workplace that celebrates individuality and fosters true inclusivity.
With her tenacious spirit and enviable talent, Yana brings an unmistakable energy to the Yellow Tail Tech team, as accomplished as she is inspiring.
Tyla Chevrier: The Ultimate Matchmaker for Partnerships
“At 16, I realized that one challenge I will always face is that I have to stand up for myself and other women so that the next generation of women don’t have to face these same challenges in the workplace.”
Tyla Chevrier, Yellow Tail Tech’s partnership coordinator, is a passionate advocate for women in the workplace. Her journey began at age 16 when she discovered a male coworker was being paid $5000 more for the same job title and experience. Since then, Tyla has been dedicated to breaking down barriers and helping women succeed.
At Yellow Tail Tech, Tyla is proud to work with many women partners in tech and is inspired daily by her colleague Paloma. The company’s commitment to providing opportunities for women is a big reason why Tyla loves her job.
Tyla draws inspiration from her mother, who earned her master’s degree despite facing numerous challenges. She encourages all women to apply for jobs even if they don’t have all the required skills and to negotiate for themselves. Tyla believes imperfection is okay as long as students are committed to learning and growing.
As an inspiration to women in tech and beyond, Tyla Chevrier is a valuable Yellow Tail Tech team member.
Kim Mellana: The Enrollment Whisperer
“I believe here at Yellow Tail, we are teaching that whether you are a man or woman, your success in the tech industry is going to come down to the same factors: Are you good at what you do? Can you get the job done? That is what matters.”
Meet Kim Mellana, the dedicated enrollment advisor at Yellow Tail Tech. She was drawn to the company because of its impressive teaching programs and genuine concern for its students’ well-being. Kim struggles to balance her personal and professional lives as a working mother. However, she remains organized and focused, making tough decisions to manage her responsibilities.
Yellow Tail Tech is committed to equal opportunities for both women and men based on skills and qualifications. Kim sees the company as a trailblazer in breaking down stereotypes about IT workers and their careers. Her mother, who worked at IBM for over two decades while raising her family, inspires Kim to be a present and supportive mom. Kim believes that being a perfect mother is not necessary as long as moms are there for their children.
To women aspiring to work in tech, she encourages them to step out of their comfort zones and embrace new challenges. She firmly believes learning new things and succeeding outside one’s comfort zone is possible.
Kim is an outstanding example of a hardworking and dedicated woman in tech, and Yellow Tail Tech is fortunate to have her on its team.
Kez Mopon: Student Success? Yes!
“Getting into something new can be quite overwhelming, but when there’s a community you can run to and reflect with, it helps you navigate the hurdles and learn things you might find hard to learn by yourself.”
Kez Mopon, senior student success coach at Yellow Tail Tech, considers joining YTT one of the best decisions ever made. She stumbled upon YTT while contemplating a career change and joined to improve her communication skills. Kez values YTT’s focus on helping non-IT students gain the necessary training for high-paying jobs.
Kez has found her happy place at Yellow Tail, where she’s part of a team that shatters the dated idea that women need to put in twice the effort to be considered equal. Being just “good” isn’t cutting it for working women, according to her, and YTT is disrupting the status quo by fostering a workplace where everyone feels seen and heard. They recognize that a company is powered by the entire community behind it and that tech is for everyone.
Kez draws motivation from female trailblazers like Chloe Shih, a prominent YouTuber. Kez finds herself reflection-chasing in the mirror of Chloe’s journey, finding a sense of courage in the latter’s determined resilience.
Kez, a student success coach, knows that connection is everything – when students feel supported, they thrive. This champion of Yellow Tail has empowered a batch of students, and she’s firm that new arrivals find their tribe – virtual or in-person, it’s all about belonging.
Empowering Women in Tech and Beyond
By highlighting women’s stories and achievements, we hope to inspire the next generation of women in tech. At Yellow Tail Tech, we believe diversity and inclusion are essential to innovation, and we’re committed to supporting and empowering women in tech.
We’re proud to celebrate Women’s Month and thank Paloma Vilceus and all the incredible women who make Yellow Tail Tech a great place to work. And if we’ve inspired you to break into tech, you should book a 10-minute intro call with our Enrollment Advisor now!
