Future Icons in Tech is the first article in the Women to Watch campaign, highlighting the accomplishments of RTC’s talented members. This is part 2 of 2.

The women of RTC are making moves, creating incredible projects that are making a difference in the tech industry. The following four women are trailblazers in their own right, icons who’ve made a difference in their niche. 

We’d like to introduce you to four future icons in tech: 

Meet Sonia Bendre, RTC Member Since 2021

Creator of SalaryDiff and Blindclock

From an early age, I learned that if opportunities didn’t exist, I had to create them. At nine, I launched and profitably ran my school’s first-ever student magazine. At seventeen, I launched and hosted a radio show with 14,000 listeners on one of West Africa’s biggest stations.

As I explored different ways to create impact, I fell in love with technology—I found it to be the most powerful and accessible tool for solving problems. In high school, I built weekly Raspberry Pi projects focused on sustainability. Later, I captained Team Nigeria in building a robot to combat the global ocean pollution crisis, earning two medals at the FIRST international robotics competition.

Ultimately, I became addicted to the magic of bringing transformative ideas to reality. This continues to push me forward in tech today.

What has been your biggest learning experience in tech so far?

I’ve always been a highly motivated self-learner; I believe the most powerful breakthroughs happen when you take full responsibility for your education. Last fall, while studying abroad in Budapest, I found myself with the space to be more intentional about the projects I pursued.

During this time, I became obsessed with building—rapidly cycling through full product development processes in under a week each. I kept iterating, refining, and testing ideas until I identified projects worth betting on, both for their mission and potential. While I drew heavily from my experiences in Product at Databricks and SWE at Microsoft, I also learned to trust my instincts more.

Through this process, I began developing a suite of tech recruiting solutions. The first of these is SalaryDiff.tech, which democratizes compensation data by providing real-time negotiation statistics for verified college students—soon to be integrated into Rewriting The Code! The second is BlindClock.com, an AI-powered mock interviewer for aspiring Product Managers. These projects are just the beginning; stay tuned for more!

What’s a project or achievement you’re particularly proud of?

Recently, my team and I won the Next-Gen Web3 Security Award at Stanford University’s TreeHacks! In less than 36 hours, I collaborated with three complete strangers to build Cipher Shield, a tool designed to make discrimination mathematically impossible. Our solution leveraged homomorphic encryption and blockchain to provide secure, aggregated demographic insights without exposing individual data—eliminating liability for companies while protecting users.

Before this weekend, I had barely heard of smart contracts, yet within hours, I was deep in Web3 development, ultimately implementing the entire blockchain component of our project. This experience solidified my confidence in rapidly picking up new tech skills head-on and reinforced my passion for building high-impact, scalable solutions.

What impact do you hope to make in the industry or your community?

I want to be at the forefront of ground-breaking product innovation. I see this ambition not just as a personal goal but also as a responsibility to my communities. After all, I was completely built by women’s tech programs—they were the first to bet on me. Winning at competitions like Technovation and actively engaging with organizations like Rewriting the Code has given me a powerful sense of belonging in the industry. Now, as the leader of Dartmouth’s Women in CS Club, I pay it forward by mentoring others and driving career growth initiatives.

But I’m just getting started. Guided by my mission to foster meaningful change, I intend to carve out a name for myself as a visionary in the tech industry. My hope is that by advancing in my career with intention and visibility, I can further pave the way for the generations of women behind me.

What’s one piece of advice or encouragement you’d give to someone just starting out?

Keep going. Just because tech might feel hard sometimes doesn’t mean that you don’t belong. Skills compound over time—your consistency will pay off.

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Meet Hawa Sylla, RTC Member Since 2024

Creator and Host of Muslimahs in Motion

I then started learning Java in high school and continued my Computer Science undergrad degree. Now, I’m working as a Backend Java Developer with an interest in Flutter and mobile app development when I’m working on side projects.

What has been your biggest learning experience in tech so far?

You know what’s funny about working in tech? I used to think I had to follow every single framework and best practice to the letter. But here’s what I’ve learned: while those structures are super helpful (and thank goodness for them!), some of my best solutions have come from trusting my intuition and thinking creatively. It’s like having a great recipe but knowing when to add your own special touch to make it even better.

And let me tell you about being stuck in a role that’s going nowhere: I’ve been there! I used to wait around, hoping someone would notice my potential, until I realized nobody was going to advocate for my growth better than me. Sometimes, you have to create your own sunshine, you know? Whether that’s pitching new projects or raising your hand for that intimidating assignment, we have to be our own champions.

The biggest game-changer for me, though? Finally ditching that “hustle till you drop” mindset that’s everywhere in tech. I was burning myself out trying to match this intense, masculine energy of constant grinding.

Now, I’m embracing what I call my “sustainable sister” approach: setting boundaries, honoring my natural rhythms, and finding success on my own terms. Because honestly? We’re playing the long game here, and taking care of ourselves isn’t just nice-to-have; it’s absolutely essential. We’re not just building careers, we’re building lives we actually want to live.

What’s a project or achievement you’re particularly proud of?

Let me tell you about some of the passion projects that light up my soul! You know how sometimes we need that cozy corner where we can just be ourselves? 

That’s exactly why I started Muslimahs in Motion. It began as this little podcast dream of mine, but amazingly, it’s grown into this beautiful garden where Muslim women can truly flourish, both in who they are and in their careers. 

Speaking of combining faith with my tech skills, I’m currently working on this app called DuVa (cute name, right? It stands for Dua Vault!). It’s basically like having your spiritual bestie in your pocket, helping you organize and discover your supplications and mini prayers. As a tech sis who’s always trying to stay connected to her faith, this project just feels really right. It’s like finally bridging that gap between our digital lives and our spiritual needs. 

But here’s something that really makes my heart smile: I’ve been a judge for the Posse Foundation, and let me tell you, it’s been such a blessing! Getting to use everything I’ve learned along my journey to help diverse students step into college and professional spaces? It’s like being the big sister I wish I’d had when I was starting out. Seeing these brilliant young minds shine and knowing I get to play a tiny part in their story? That’s the kind of work that makes all those late-night programming sessions worth it. 

These projects really remind me that when we follow our heart and stay true to our values, we create something truly beautiful and meaningful. And the best part? Getting to lift others up along the way. 

What impact do you hope to make in the industry or your community?

There’s a unique journey that Muslim women face in their respective careers, whether it’s tech, business, or entrepreneurship. 

How I would like to leave an impact is helping Muslim sisters navigate their journeys by: Providing a platform for Muslimahs to share their stories. Creating a space for Muslimahs to share experiences and lessons with each other. Ensuring they have a safe space while holding on to their values and what matters to them. 

Because let’s be real, we shouldn’t have to choose between our careers and our values! And can we talk about making tech spaces work for everyone? As someone deeply involved in community building (shoutout to my MiM and Qahwa Collective people!), I’m passionate about creating spaces where everyone can truly belong. 

That means one day designing apps that work for all our beautiful neurodivergent minds (as someone who is and has experienced the world through that lens) and building communities where everyone can show up as their whole selves.

What’s one piece of advice or encouragement you’d give to someone just starting out?

Can I be real for a minute? I remember feeling so much pressure to have it all figured out when I first started as a software engineer. But let me tell you what I wish someone had told me: Give yourself permission to explore and grow at your own pace! 

Your career is a journey, not a destination. That first role, even if it’s not your dream job, is a launching pad. 

And something that took me way too long to realize? Everything that makes you different: your faith, your background, the way your beautiful mind works differently? That’s not just okay, it’s your superpower! 

Here’s what really changed the game for me: finding my people. You need your tech tribe: mentors, tech buddies, and communities like RTC where you can just be yourself. The right people will lift you up and remind you of your potential when you forget. 

To my younger self: 

• Every step forward is progress, even the wobbly ones.
• Remember, you’re exactly where you need to be right now. 

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