Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Tech: ShadowTech25 at Comet Backup

Written by Michelle Wong – Marketing Specialist

ShadowTech25 at Comet Backup

This August, Comet Backup was proud to take part in ShadowTech25, a nationwide initiative from TechWomen giving high school girls across Aotearoa New Zealand the chance to experience a day in the tech industry, connect with women in tech, and explore future career possibilities.

We welcomed five students Year 9-11 from Akaroa Area School to our Christchurch office for a day of learning, inspiration, hands-on activities, some fun games and plenty of laughs. The day was designed to show that tech is a diverse field, and that in addition to programming, there are many different career pathways available.

Along the way, they discovered that tech is about so much more than coding, it’s about creativity, problem-solving, teamwork…and sometimes even pizza.

Inspiring Future Generations

The students got a behind-the-scenes look at how a global software company operates, and how technology plays a role in every department. They explored areas such as customer success, marketing, software testing, product development, and engineering, seeing how each area contributes to building great software.

The day included:

• Meet & Greet: Introduction to the Comet Backup team and an overview of how our different departments work together
• Office Tour: Showcasing our space themed decorations, artwork, astronaut mascot, and of course, the very popular snack trolley and candy jars
• Women in Tech Panel Q&A:  Personal journeys in tech, career pathways, and life lessons from the Women of Comet, representing a range of industries and roles
• Interactive Sessions: Fun ice-breaker games, plus hands-on activities and talks on software testing and brand marketing (using TikToks and memes to communicate what we do)
• Pizza Lunch: At Comet we love connecting over shared food (especially pizza!) and enjoyed chatting with the students about their hobbies, sports, and favorite apps

Opportunities In Tech

One key takeaway for the students was that technology careers aren’t limited to coding or programming. There are roles that combine creativity, problem-solving, communication, and technical expertise.

Another insight was that the Women of Comet came to tech from a variety of backgrounds and education, showing that not all career journeys are linear, and that there’s no single ‘right’ career path.

It was also fun for the Comet team to chat with the students and learn what technology and apps they use at school and in their everyday lives.

Before and After

At the start of the day, we asked the students:

What comes to mind when you hear ‘Women in Tech’?

Each student wrote their thoughts on a sticky note. Most answers were focused on coding, programming, and computer science, a common perception of tech careers.

At the end of the day, we asked the same question again. This time, the responses were broader and also included using skills like creativity, problem solving, roles in marketing, testing, product development and more. One student summed it up perfectly “women can do anything.”

Seeing that shift in perspective over just one day was inspiring, and exactly what ShadowTech is all about.

Why it Matters

At Comet, we believe diversity strengthens our team and our industry. Initiatives like ShadowTech help open doors and inspire the next generation to show young women that there’s space for them in tech, no matter their backgrounds, skills, or starting point.

Seeing the students’ perceptions shift from “tech equals coding” to “women can do anything” was the highlight of our day.

A huge thank you to TechWomen NZ for making the ShadowTech program possible, and to all the Comet team members who helped make the day welcoming, memorable, and full of inspiration (and snacks). We can’t wait to see where these talented students go next in their journeys!