Elizabeth Agada’s story is one of curiosity, resilience, and a relentless drive to create impact through technology and community. She didn’t always know she would end up in tech, but life had a way of leading her there—and once she discovered it, she never looked back.
Growing up, Elizabeth was the kind of child who couldn’t resist taking things apart just to see how they worked. Her elder sister jokingly called her “Discovery Channel” because she was always investigating, always questioning. That curiosity once led her to dismantle the family DVD player, carefully examining every component before putting it back together—only to find that it never worked again. But even then, she wasn’t discouraged. For her, understanding how things functioned was worth the risk.
Originally, she dreamed of studying Pharmacy. Chemistry fascinated her, and for a long time, she thought that would be her path. But when she wasn’t admitted into the program, she found herself pivoting to Computer Science—a field she hadn’t initially considered. At the time, she didn’t realize how much that decision would shape her future. What started as a fallback option soon became a passion. The logic of programming, the creativity of problem-solving, and the endless possibilities of software development captivated her. She immersed herself in learning, building a strong foundation in web development, system administration, and coding.
About five years ago, she took her first deep dive into frontend development, and it was a turning point. There was something magical about writing code and seeing it come to life on a screen—transforming abstract ideas into tangible, functional applications. She threw herself into mastering HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and various frameworks, constantly pushing herself to learn more. The more she built, the more she realized that tech wasn’t just a career for her—it was a way of thinking, a way of solving problems, a way of creating something meaningful.
But Elizabeth’s journey didn’t stop at coding. Along the way, she discovered another passion: community building. She realized that technology wasn’t just about writing lines of code—it was about people. She began managing communities, including Sandlip-Oasis, where she helped others navigate their own tech journeys. She organized training sessions, hosted career spotlights, and created spaces where people could learn, grow, and support one another. Seeing someone land a job, master a new skill, or gain confidence because of a community she helped build became one of the most rewarding parts of her work.
Her dedication to empowering others led her to take on roles as an Organizer for Google Developer Groups (GDG) and an Ambassador for Women Techmakers (WTM). Through these platforms, she mentored aspiring developers, championed diversity in tech, and organized events that brought people together. She believed deeply in the power of shared knowledge and collaboration—that no one should have to struggle alone when a community could lift them up.
Of course, juggling community management, tech projects, and personal growth wasn’t always easy. There were moments when the workload felt overwhelming, when she questioned whether she was doing enough. But she learned to pace herself, to prioritize, and to remind herself that progress wasn’t about doing everything at once. She started journaling to reflect on her journey, to celebrate small wins, and to keep herself grounded.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Elizabeth found joy in the little things—like binge-watching medical dramas. There was something about the precision of surgeries, the way doctors worked together to save lives, that reminded her of software development. Both were about solving puzzles, about every small piece contributing to a larger solution.
At the heart of it all, Elizabeth’s story is about impact. Whether through coding, mentoring, or building communities, she wanted to create solutions that helped people. She believed in the power of communication, trust, and commitment—not just in work, but in every aspect of life.
Her advice to young people starting in tech? Start where you are. You don’t need all the answers to begin. Stay curious, keep exploring, and trust the process.
For Elizabeth, this is only the beginning. She doesn’t have everything figured out, and she’s okay with that. She’s learning as she goes—one project, one lesson, one community at a time. And if her journey so far is any indication, the best is yet to come.
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