Empowering Tech Talent Through ReDI Lab: A Path to Real-World Experience
Ruslana's dream was to become a consultant, but despite her qualifications, she found herself stuck in the frustrating cycle that many aspiring tech professionals face: the requirement for hands-on experience. Rejected by a major consulting firm due to the lack of experience, Ruslana was determined to change her fate. She enrolled in ReDI Lab, a program that gave her the opportunity to lead a project in a professional setting. After completing the Lab, Ruslana reapplied to the same firm, armed with a robust portfolio. This time, she was hired. Ruslana’s success story embodies the core mission of ReDI Lab: breaking the catch-22 of “no job without experience, no experience without a job.”
Some ReDI Lab participants at Her Career job fair
ReDI Lab: Bridging the Gap Between Learning and Employment
ReDI Lab, part of the program “She’s ReDI”, is supported by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, gives tech learners the chance to work on real-life projects provided by companies, enhancing their portfolios and professional experiences. The program has been created to support advanced ReDI students facing the same challenge: competing with seasoned professionals who have already completed internships and other tech roles. By offering students hands-on experience through meaningful projects, ReDI Lab helps its participants build confidence and skills, making them more competitive in the job market.
Real-World Projects with Real Impact
The ReDI Lab model empowers students to take ownership of projects with clients who need digital solutions. The real work projects with students collaborating in an agile way are supported by mentors and client feedback. The teams are deliberately diverse, with a focus on female tech talent, as part of ReDI's commitment to fostering inclusivity and gender equality in tech. Below are examples of three successful projects completed by ReDI students:
1. Corporate Sustainability Reporting with integrationWorks GmbH
Overview of the platform that our students developed
Together with the IT service provider integrationWorks a team of ReDI students developed a solution for the Corporate Sustainability Report Directive (CSRD). The new EU regulation requires companies to publish their sustainability practices as part of their annual report. This project, which came into force in 2024, aimed to tap into this emerging market by helping businesses meet the new legal requirements and automating the process as much as possible.
ReDI students from various disciplines, including UX/UI design, data analysis, and front-end development, worked together to create a questionnaire tool and analytical dashboards. The outcome was so well received that discussions about future collaborations are already in progress.
Ruslana, a ReDI Lab participant from Ukraine, worked hard to find a job as scrum master. With the gained real-world exposure of the project as its scrum master, she was finally hired for this role by Accenture.
"Because of this project, I had more confidence and concrete projects to showcase during my interviews. It helped me to finally get the job, " she said
2. Closing the Gender Health Data Gap with hermaid
Elisabeth's data analytics work
Hermaid focuses on revolutionizing women’s health in the workplace. Together with the ReDI Lab team the Berlin-based startup enhances their data-driven approach.The platform for working women with a particular focus on menopause, provides online consultations, educational resources, and plans to introduce an AI-powered virtual coach.
ReDI Lab student Elisabeth, a PhD candidate in mathematics at TUM Munich who comes from Ghana, played a crucial role in supporting hermaid by analyzing customer data. She evaluated the correlation between medical conditions such as obesity, symptom severity, age and implemented her insights in an easy-to-read dashboard. This project provided Elisabeth with invaluable industry experience while also contributing to create more workplace equality by improving women’s health.
"This project strengthened my skills in applying data analysis in a fast-paced, agile environment and solidified my interest in working in the IT sector" , she remarks
3. Modernizing a Dance Studio's Digital Presence with VintageClub
From left to right: Krystyna, Thushara, Klaudija presenting their project at the ReDI job fair in Munich, July 2024
A team of five female ReDI students took on the challenge of transforming the outdated website of VintageClub, a renowned swing-dance studio in Munich. Using advanced frameworks such as Next.js, the team developed a modern, multilingual website. They also improved the backend processes to help the studio attract new customers.
Klaudija, the front-end developer on the team, used this experience to land a full-time job at Selphspace.
”This project gave me the opportunity to practice and grow some technical skills that are particularly useful in my current role."
The success of the VintageClub project was so impactful that it garnered media attention. The project is featured on german TV at ZDF and Arte TV, showcasing how innovative solutions can drive positive change.
The Impact: Making a Difference for Students and Clients
ReDI Lab’s impact goes beyond the individual projects. Almost half of the participants are now in full-time tech jobs, either with the project client in their work area or for other companies / sectors . Even for those who haven’t yet secured jobs, the program has boosted their confidence, enhanced their job search skills, and honed both their hard and soft skills.
Not only for the students but also for the clients, the value is significant. The prototypes and digital solutions provided by ReDI Lab teams serve as valuable first steps, often setting the stage for further development in professional settings. Some clients have been so impressed by the work that they’ve expressed interest in expanding their teams with ReDI talents.
“the project results that exceeded our expectations, we were glad to collaborate with highly motivated participants like Ruslana and very supportive staff - we look forward to another project with the ReDi School!” explains Jana Bulkin, COO of integrationWorks
Proud Moments and Looking Ahead
At ReDI Lab, we are always looking to create impactful partnerships with forward-thinking companies. If you’re interested in collaborating with us and supporting innovative digital solutions while helping our talented students gain hands-on experience, we’d love to hear from you. By partnering with ReDI Lab, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects that not only benefit your organization but also empower the next generation of diverse tech professionals.
Reach out to us at partner@redi-school.org to explore how we can work together.