Why Refugee Women in Tech?
Bridging the Gender Gap in Tech & Digital Access
The future of tech is female.
Despite the rapid growth of the digital economy, women—especially refugee women—are vastly underrepresented in tech.
Nija Taylor
Passionate Marketing Professional | Performance, Brand & Growth Marketing | MBA Candidate at Drexel University
Nija is a dynamic marketing strategist with expertise in performance marketing, brand growth, and multi-channel strategy. Formally served as the Global Brand Franchise Manager at Tripadvisor, she has a proven track record of building, scaling, and optimizing marketing initiatives that drive measurable impact.
At Tripadvisor, Nija led the Travelers’ Choice Awards, achieving a 90% recommend-it rate and generating $8M in revenue year-to-date, marking a 50% year-over-year growth. Her ability to develop and execute brand strategies has positioned her as a key driver of success in highly competitive markets.
Previously, Nija built a search engine marketing (SEM) product from the ground up, securing Google Partner status within six months and scaling it into a top revenue driver for a fast-growing digital marketing agency. Her leadership helped the agency earn recognition as one of North America’s fastest-growing businesses.
Beyond campaign execution, Nija has successfully scaled paid advertising departments, trained teams, and led expert practitioners to outperform competitors in thriving industries. She is highly data-driven, using advanced analytics to optimize performance and extract key insights that push brands beyond industry benchmarks. With a strategic mindset and a passion for turning ideas into impact, she excels at building brands, driving growth, and leading high-performing marketing teams.
Kelly Giles
Product Marketing Manager | Digital Marketing | Strategic Planning | Growth Marketing | Lead Generation | Remote Team Leadership | Cross-functional Collaboration | Multi-channel Marketing | Content Strategy
Kelly Giles is a high-impact marketing strategist and senior leader with a track record of driving growth, building high-performing teams, and executing integrated campaign strategies in the technology industry. With expertise spanning digital marketing, strategic planning, lead generation, and multi-channel marketing, she is known for her ability to transform complex challenges into scalable, results-driven solutions.
Kelly’s leadership journey has been defined by her ability to build and scale marketing teams, leading the largest department at an Inc. 5000 company and ensuring its seamless operation through predictive resource modeling, cross-functional collaboration, and production management. Her sharp analytical mindset allows her to connect data with strategy, identifying key business opportunities and executing them with precision.
What truly sets Kelly apart is her exceptional leadership and communication style. She has an innate ability to distill complex ideas into clear, actionable insights, engaging teams with a balance of persuasion, logic, and strategic foresight. She is a leader who stretches teams to grow continuously, earning admiration and respect for her ability to inspire excellence while maintaining an unwavering standard of performance.
Her impact extends far beyond execution. Kelly is a mentor, strategist, and change-maker. She is widely regarded as a leader who commands results without demanding them, fostering an environment where professionals thrive under her guidance. Her approach, an iron fist in a velvet glove, leaves an indelible mark on those she leads, pushing them to achieve their best work ever. Kelly’s reputation is one of extraordinary talent, rare leadership, and unparalleled expertise. To work with her, it’s not just a collaboration, it’s a masterclass in marketing, leadership, and professional growth at the highest level.
Jo Hutchinson
Lead Product Designer at Verblio, Consultant, UI/UX Specialist, Expert CMS Integrator, Trained Artist, Web Design practitioner, Leader in product design and cross-functional team building.
A Visionary Product Designer and UI/UX Specialist Driving Scalable, User-Centered Solutions - Jo is a senior product designer and leader with deep expertise in UI/UX design, product strategy, and cross-functional team building. Currently serving as the Lead Product Designer at Verblio, she has an extensive track record of designing scalable, user-centered solutions for complex platforms in both agency and in-house environments.
With a mastery of Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and other industry-leading tools, Jo specializes in product design, information architecture, qualitative and quantitative user research, accessibility, and building design systems. Her approach is data-driven and results-oriented, ensuring that every design decision enhances usability, engagement, and business performance.
Beyond execution, Jo is a proven leader and facilitator of learning, regularly leading discussions, exchanging insights on emerging design trends, and mentoring professionals to advance their skills in UI/UX and product design. Her leadership has been instrumental in fast-growing agencies, where she has played a critical role in shaping design teams, optimizing workflows, and driving best-in-class execution.
Jo’s passion for innovation, accessibility, and seamless digital experiences makes her an industry leader in crafting impactful, high-performing products that elevate both user experience and business success.
Stephanie Mesa
Social Media Expert with a background in marketing and literature, career practitioner building online presence through thoughtful brand planning and strategic engagement tactics. Leadership in product design and team building.
A Paid Social Media Strategist Driving Impact Through Data and Creativity - Stephanie Mesa is a Paid Social leader in the pharmaceutical space with over seven years of experience in paid and organic social media marketing. With a deep understanding of platform strategy, audience engagement, and performance optimization, she has successfully led and executed high-budget campaigns across Meta, TikTok, Reddit, and more, managing annual ad spends exceeding $10 million.
Her expertise spans both B2B and B2C marketing, where she has developed comprehensive social media marketing plans that drive measurable impact. Stephanie is known for leveraging both data and storytelling to craft campaigns that go beyond clicks—building genuine connections and engagement. She has also spearheaded unique social activations such as Reddit AMAs, brand takeovers, and high-impact engagement initiatives, demonstrating her ability to push the boundaries of digital marketing in creative and effective ways.
Beyond campaign execution, Stephanie has played a pivotal role in product development within the digital marketing space. She was instrumental in developing a social media management product and establishing the production function for one of North America’s fastest-growing companies, as recognized by the Inc. 5000.
A proven leader and collaborator, Stephanie has successfully led cross-functional teams to execute complex digital strategies on time, at scale, and with precision. Her balance of analytical expertise and creative execution makes her a powerhouse in paid social media marketing, driving performance-driven results for brands looking to thrive in today’s fast-evolving digital landscape.
Lisa Koroma
Creative Project Manager | 10+ Years Streamlining Creative Projects | PMP® Certification Candidate
Lisa Koroma embodies the modern renaissance entrepreneur—veteran spouse, serial mompreneur, and catalyst for business transformation. Over two decades, she has launched and nurtured multiple successful ventures, both for herself and for fellow mothers in her community. As CEO and creative director of LK Designs and Mom Power Moves, she orchestrates visual strategies and business solutions from her northern Virginia headquarters, empowering nonprofits, government agencies, and small businesses to amplify their impact through strategic design.
Her signature approach combines magnetic messaging with visually compelling designs, creating authentic connections that transform passive scrollers into active change-makers. Lisa's work transcends aesthetics—she builds visual ecosystems where consistent branding and strategic messaging inspire meaningful engagement. A Seattle native with a BFA from Cornish College of the Arts, Lisa has complemented her formal education with certifications in project management and web development from Northern Virginia Community College. She embodies the continuous learning ethos, having leveraged the transient nature of military spouse life to immerse herself in business strategy, digital marketing, and design innovation through specialized online coursework.
Beyond her primary ventures, Lisa co-founded Threadom®, an African Diaspora-inspired clothing and lifestyle brand that weaves social impact into its business model. Through Threadom, she channels both awareness and financial support to underrepresented African and African Diaspora charities, with proceeds supporting the Throne Room Orphanage & Educational Center, Inc.
Lisa's creative wellspring remains full through her passion for thrift-store fashion transformation and ambitious DIY home projects. Family minivacations and community volunteering serve as both respite and inspiration, fueling her vision for future initiatives that support fellow entrepreneurs while creating positive ripples throughout her community. Her ultimate aspiration: to multiply her impact by empowering other doers to realize their full potential through projects that transcend business success to create lasting community value.