Building a New Future Through Technology

Ekaterina began her career in Russia working in the legal field. After attending law school, she worked for both a law firm and the regional bar association, supporting lawyers with cases, investigating ethical misconduct, and helping manage professional licensing.

But even in that role, she often wondered how technology could improve the work.

In 2019, Ekaterina moved to the United States after marrying an American. Continuing her legal career would have required returning to school, and soon her personal situation became increasingly difficult.

“I was not employed at the time, and my family situation was also unstable, so I needed to find a way to support myself financially,” she said.

Facing limited resources and an uncertain future, Ekaterina knew she needed a way to support herself independently. 

A Practical Path to New Skills

Through a nonprofit supporting immigrants and survivors of domestic violence, Ekaterina learned about Generation United State’s Full Stack Development program.

“Having an education opportunity that I didn’t need to pay for, with potential job placement and the probability to make enough for living, was pretty important for me.”

She enrolled in the program in 2021. For Ekaterina, the program made a career shift into technology feel achievable. Complex skills were broken down into manageable steps, and the employment preparation helped her navigate the U.S. job market for the first time.

“I created a LinkedIn account during the employment preparation for the first time,” she said. “I didn’t even know what LinkedIn was before.”

Beyond technical training, the program helped build her confidence.

“Things that seem complicated are actually doable and accessible,” she remembered. “Especially when someone breaks them down for you.”

A Career That Keeps Growing

After completing the Generation program, Ekaterina continued her education with a master’s degree in computer science. When she later attended a university career fair, she met the hiring manager who would offer her a job.

Today, she works as a Software Developer at Harman, helping build software used to configure networked audio equipment systems. Much of her work focuses on front-end development using TypeScript and Angular, skills closely related to what she learned in Generation’s program.

“I’m still using the skills I learned during the Generation program in my current job.”

Confidence for the Future

For Ekaterina, the most important outcome of the journey is the confidence that she can support herself and continue building her career.

“I became more confident that no matter what happens in my life, I still have the skills I can get employment with and provide for myself.”

Her career in technology now allows her to live comfortably and continue growing professionally. She has also recommended Generation to others, especially immigrants looking for a way to build new careers.

“If there is a question of acquiring new professional skills, there is always a question of how much it’s going to cost, but Generation is free” she said. “Nothing beats a curriculum that teaches useful skills and prepares you for employment all in one package.”