The DevLab Podcast
The DevLab Podcast (by hackajob) is your backstage pass into the world of today’s leading tech professionals. We talk to developers, engineers, product managers, CTOs, and more from some of the most innovative companies in the UK and US.
If you’re building a career in tech, this is where you’ll find the stories, skills, and strategies that matter. Each episode brings you real journeys, technical know-how, and actionable insights to help you grow your craft and your career.
The DevLab Podcast
The women who refused to stop learning: Afghanistan's quiet tech movement
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Fauzia didn't plan to go into tech. She wanted to be a doctor. When Afghanistan's university entrance exam placed her in computer science instead, she had no laptop, no coding experience, and no clear idea of what she'd signed up for.
Then the pandemic hit. Then in 2021, everything changed again. Women were told they could no longer continue their studies.
In this episode of the DevLab podcast, Phil, VP of Marketplace at hackajob, sits down with Fauzia, Software Engineer and Executive Director at CodeWeekend, a community-led bootcamp helping Afghan developers build real technical skills.
They talk about her unexpected journey into tech, the reality of learning to code through internet shutdowns and electricity shortages, and the women's cohort CodeWeekend ran in 2025 for Afghan women banned from formal education.
This is a conversation about resilience, community, and what it looks like when talent refuses to be stopped.
Follow CodeWeekend on LinkedIn and get in touch for any collaborations: https://www.linkedin.com/school/codeweekend/
What would you like us to talk about next?
🔥Are you looking for a new role? Create your free hackajob profile and let top employers send you interview requests for roles that match your skills and experience. Get started here: https://hackajob.com/talent/sign-up
🔥Are you hiring? Discover how hackajob can connect you with top talent by booking a free, no-commitment trial: https://hackajob.com/employer/book-a-demo
Stay up to date with DevLab and hackajob:
X: @hackajobHQ
LinkedIn: hackajob
Facebook: hackajob
Instagram: @hackajob
TikTok: @hackajob
