The tech industry is growing faster than ever, but for many women and learners from underrepresented communities, the path in remains uneven. Opportunities are scarce, mentorship is limited, and the barriers of confidence and access often feel insurmountable.
Marion Schleifer, co-founder of Code Blossom, is working to level the playing field. Through education, mentorship, and career guidance, she is helping women take meaningful steps into technology, and in this episode of Credo Voices, she shares her approach.
Marion’s journey into tech began with her own career transition. She studied communications and business before teaching herself programming and completing a master’s in software engineering. As she moved into the tech industry, she noticed that many talented women were leaving technical roles because of isolation, bias, or lack of support. Marion decided to change that for the next generation, building a program that gives women the tools and encouragement to thrive.
Founded on the belief that women should not be held back by circumstance, the program serves participants in countries including Pakistan, El Salvador, the Philippines, Malawi, Zambia, and Afghanistan. Over nine months, women receive technical training, weekly mentorship, coaching in workplace skills, and financial support when necessary. Marion’s aim is to ensure that women can start and remain in technical careers while building fulfilling professional lives.
In our conversation, Marion highlights the challenges women face in tech. Many struggles with inadequate resources, limited internet access, or environments that feel unwelcoming. Others juggle family, education, and work responsibilities. Marion emphasizes how mentorship, peer networks, and community support can be the difference between giving up and moving forward.
She envisions a world where women in developing countries to pursue tech careers without compromise, to have the confidence, skills, and guidance to sustain meaningful careers. By bridging gaps in opportunity and access, her work advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 5: Gender Equality, and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
“Marion is opening doors that were previously closed,” says Awele Okigbo, CEO of Credo Advisory. “She is showing women that they can belong in tech even in spaces that have not always welcomed them. What she offers gives women the freedom to imagine what’s possible and the tools to make it real.”
Listen to the full episode on Spotify and visit our website for more information. To learn more about Marion and her work, follow her on LinkedIn and visit the Code Blossom website.
New episodes of Credo Voices are released monthly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube as part of Credo Advisory’s commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and fostering a global community of change-makers.