We’re Kicking Off #75HER with Angie Jones!

THIS ISSUE AT A GLANCE

• What are you the solution to? 👀 → Haven’t registered for #75HER yet? Kickoff with Angie Jones @ Block is live.

• Block joins as a sponsor → What this unlocks for builders this season.

• HypeHER → Vanessa Saunders built a holiday project you’ll love.

• Builder Momentum → DataCamp Scholars are stacking skills (with early wins).

• Resource Drop 📚 → Opportunities to keep your 2026 momentum moving.

FeaturingHER: Vanessa Saunders

Vanessa Saunders is this week’s FeatureHER—a CreateHER turning curiosity and courage into code through our Datacamp Scholars program with Datacamp Donates.

Vanessa is part of our Datacamp Scholars cohort, where women in our community deepen their data and tech skills with structured coursework and peer support. She’s also an active voice in our Discord, using the #wins channel to share progress and keep other CreateHERs encouraged.

Her Holiday Project

Over Thanksgiving, Vanessa jumped into Replit Fast’s free Black Friday access and built herself a positive-message holiday calendar—each day unlocking a little joy, not just code. The calendar pairs a cozy holiday countdown with affirmations, showing how learning to build doesn’t have to wait for a “perfect time” or a big team.

Vanessa’s project is exactly what the Datacamp Scholars program is about: taking the skills you’re learning and shipping something that reflects your values, creativity, and care for community. For other CreateHERs, it’s a reminder that small experiments—a weekend build, a single feature—can become powerful confidence wins.

Want to join in on the creativity? Join our Discord to be the first to know when Cohort 2 applications open!

#75HER Kickoff with Angie Jones @ Block

The time is quickly approaching! Join us for our #75HER Kickoff with Angie Jones and start your 2026 with a commitment to unlocking your HER era. On Tuesday, January 6th from 12:00–12:45 PM ET, we’re gathering online for the launch of the #75HER Challenge—75 days of learning, building, and career‑leveling in AI, AR/VR, Blockchain, career development, and business strategy.

Here’s the outline of the challenge:

During the kickoff, you’ll meet the CreateHER Fest team, get the rundown on how the Learn‑a‑thon, Idea‑thon, and Hackathon phases work, and hear a keynote from Angie Jones, VP of Engineering, AI Tools & Enablement at Block, Inc. We’re especially excited to have Block as a sponsor at the same moment they’re helping launch the new Agentic AI Foundation with Anthropic and OpenAI to advance open, community‑driven AI. Read more here →

During #75HER, you’ll also get hands‑on time with Goose, Block’s open source agentic AI framework. Goose can spin up project scaffolds, wire up APIs, run tests, and help debug code, which means your hackathon team can move faster, focus on impact, and still ship a real demo by our International Women’s Day demo day. We’ll even host a dedicated Goose workshop so you can learn how to use AI agents to your advantage during the challenge!

Make sure you subscribe to the CreateHER event calendar so you’re the first to know when each workshop drops, and—if you haven’t yet—join the CreateHER Discord to meet your future teammates and stay plugged in!

See You Thursday in Augmented Reality!

MeetHER in AR is almost here—have you RSVPed yet? In partnership with The Diamond Resilience, this virtual CreateHER Fest networking event invites you into the metaverse for an immersive AR experience where you can meet fellow builders and hear from women shaping the future of technology.

New to Augmented Reality? No worries! This will be an intentional experience designed with new users in mind while creating a space to foster real connection and conversation.

If you’re registered, you’ll receive step‑by‑step instructions on account setup and avatar creation later today, so you’re ready to log in and start connecting.

See you there!

COMMUNITY SURVEY

Enjoyed it? Share us with your network!

THIS WEEK’S RESOURCES

• Break Through Tech AI Program

  • Break Through Tech’s AI Program is a free, yearlong virtual extracurricular that combines Cornell-certified ML coursework, real company projects, mentorship, and career coaching to prepare undergrad students from diverse backgrounds for internships and entry-level roles in AI, ML, and data science. Deadline to apply is February 16, 2026. Apply Today →

• Work at Buffer

  • Buffer is hiring for fully remote engineering roles on a mission-driven, transparent team. Now hiring: Engineering Manager, Senior Backend Engineer (Platform & API), Senior Engineer – Growth Marketing, and Senior Product Engineer (Frontend) to help grow Buffer’s product suite. See Role Descriptions →

• NYCEDC Founder Fellowship 2026 Cohort

  • The NYCEDC Founder Fellowship supports women, Black, Latinx, and immigrant founders with structured programming, coaching, and access to New York City’s startup ecosystem. The 2026 cohort focuses on early-stage founders building technology, product, and impact-driven ventures. Applications close December 31th. Apply Today →

• Cannes Can: Diversity Collective (CC:DC) 2026 Ambassador & Scholars Program

  • CCDC provides access, leadership development, and global visibility at Cannes Lions for underrepresented creatives and technologists. The 2026 Ambassador & Scholars Program offers mentorship, industry exposure, and programming during Cannes Lions. Applications close March 9, 2026. Apply Today →

• Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship CDM & PayPal

  • Cyber Defense Magazine, in partnership with PayPal, offers a scholarship supporting women advancing their cybersecurity education and professional development. This award targets students and early-career talent seeking pathways into security roles. Deadline extended to December 16th. Apply Today →

• Hazel M. Johnson Fellowship: Paid Climate Justice Internship

  • Applications are open for the Hazel M. Johnson Fellowship, a paid, community-centered climate internship for early-career Black women and gender-expansive environmentalists, offering stipends, mentorship, workshops, and partner placements in diverse climate fields. Apply Today →

Until next time,

Discover \ Design \ Deliver