We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ariel Garraway a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ariel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.

Absolutely! My brand is built on serving underserved communities by making tech careers more accessible, especially for those who don’t have a traditional background in the industry.

For so long, tech has felt like a “closed-door” industry, favoring those with computer science degrees, insider connections, or simply the privilege of early exposure. What I’ve learned in my career journey is, tech is full of opportunities that don’t require coding or years of experience and there are opportunities that many in underrepresented communities simply don’t know exist.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Ariel Garraway, an IT professional, digital content creator, and public speaker, but more than anything I’m someone who believes in making tech careers accessible to everyone, no matter their background.

I didn’t take the “traditional” path into tech. With a degree in Sports Management from Rutgers University, I had no roadmap, no coding experience, and no connections in the industry. But I was determined to create a better future for myself, so I leveraged my transferable skills, pivoted into tech as a Business Analyst, and worked my way up to a Product Manager role for one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world.

Getting into tech was one thing, but actually feeling like I belonged there was another battle. I struggled with imposter syndrome constantly sitting in meetings, second-guessing myself, wondering if I was truly qualified to be in the room. I didn’t see many people who looked like me in my department, and at times, it made me feel like I had to work twice as hard just to prove I deserved my seat at the table. But the more I learned and grew, the more I realized that I wasn’t the problem, but the lack of access, visibility, and representation in tech was.

That’s when I knew I had to do something.

I started creating content to help others see what I didn’t when I was first starting out, that tech isn’t just for people with computer science degrees, that you don’t have to code to land a great role, and that there are clear paths into this industry if you know where to look. Through my platform, I educate, empower, and guide aspiring tech professionals, (especially those from non-traditional backgrounds)on how to break into tech and secure high-paying, entry-level roles. I teach people how to translate their existing skills, navigate the job search, and actually land roles that change their financial future.

Since then, I’ve partnered with brands like Glassdoor, Miro, CourseCareers, YearUp, AdaMarie, Gamma AI, and Lemon8 to help expand access to tech careers. I’ve also been an ambassador for Baddies in Tech, where I’ve connected with and mentored women of color looking to enter the industry.

But what I’m most proud of isn’t my career, it’s the people I’ve helped along the way who have landed their first tech roles, increased their income, and changed their lives because they had the right guidance and information.

I know what it’s like to feel stuck in a job that doesn’t pay enough, to apply endlessly with no callbacks, to wonder if you’re even capable of working in tech. And I also know what it’s like to push past that doubt, take a chance on yourself, and completely change your life.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was thinking I needed to meet every single qualification before applying for a job. For so long, imposter syndrome had me disqualifying myself before anyone else even had the chance to. I would read job descriptions, see requirements I didn’t fully meet, and convince myself I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t taking into account the qualifications I did have, and I was unknowingly blocking my own opportunities.

The wake-up call came when I applied for a Product Manager role that required seven years of experience, when I only had two. I hesitated, but I took the leap anyway. And not only did I land the job, but I learned quickly on the role, adapted to the challenges, and the product I managed ended up winning a digital award. That was the moment I realized how many doors I could have closed on myself just because of self-doubt.

Now, I teach others what I wish someone had told me earlier: apply for the roles you think you’re unqualified for. Companies hire potential just as much as experience, and if you can learn, adapt, and deliver results, you belong in that room.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I was working as a Product Manager for a large company, I was completely burnt out. I was the first one in and the last one out, managing an enterprise application with over 100,000 users alone. After layoffs swept through the company, the pressure on those of us who remained honestly became unbearable. The stress started affecting every part of me, physically, mentally, and emotionally. My friends could see it. I knew something had to change, so I put myself back on the market.

So this is where the real challenge began. I thought that with experience, finding a new job would be easy but I was met with rejection after rejection, ghosting, and a job market that felt impossible to break through. I tweaked my resume, refined my interview skills, networked as much as I could, and still, nothing seemed to stick. For five months, I applied to at least seven jobs a day, and each time, I questioned if I should just settle and accept the burnout because at least I have a job right?

But resilience to me means pushing forward even when it feels like nothing is working. On the sixth month, things finally started looking up. I received three six-figure, fully remote job offers, putting me in a position where I was no longer at the mercy of a toxic work environment and I had the power to choose.

That experience reinforced one of the biggest lessons I now teach others. You are always one opportunity away from everything shifting in your favor. The key is to stay persistent, stay optimistic, and keep pushing even when it feels like nothing is happening. Because your breakthrough is coming, as long as you don’t quit.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arielmarieg
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielgarraway
• Other: TikTok:

  https://www.tiktok.com/@arielmarieg?lang=en