Ellina Chhay on how to find your place in the tech world

As part of the Nocode Series n°14 on December 21, 2023, Nocode expert and financing consultant Ellina Chhay shared her experience. This exchange offered unique insights into using Nocode tools to find one's place in the tech world, as well as advice for those wishing to embark on entrepreneurship.

Ellina Chhay's story

Ellina began her talk by sharing her atypical career path. With a degree in literature, she initially wanted to become a diplomat. However, her passion for learning and her interest in the world of startups led her towards a different path. She took part in a Startup Weekend in 2016, an experience that marked a decisive turning point in her career, opening the doors to the technology sector. 

Succeeding in Nocode

Ellina shared her practical tips for success in the Nocode field. She stressed the importance of continuous learning and curiosity. In her opinion, it's crucial to stay up to date with the latest Nocode trends and tools to remain competitive in this rapidly evolving field. The entrepreneur has trained on several Nocode tools, choosing to become a generalist rather than focusing on a single tool. This approach has enabled her to adapt to diverse project needs and remain flexible in a constantly evolving field. Her preferred tools include Airtable and Zapier, but she also has extensive experience with other platforms such as Notion and Webflow.

Financing expertise

As an innovation finance consultant specializing in HealthTech, Ellina explained how she helps startups and entrepreneurs secure funding for their innovative projects. She also shared her expertise on the grants available in this sector and the eligibility criteria for such funding. Ellina guides startups and entrepreneurs through the complex maze of funding, helping them to identify and obtain grants tailored to their innovative projects. Her expertise extends to understanding the eligibility criteria for such funding, emphasizing the importance of having a minimum viable product (MVP) and an established customer base. She shared her strategies for writing funding briefs, focusing on sectors such as the circular economy and healthcare, while deftly navigating programs such as those offered by BPI France and EIT. This combination of funding expertise and in-depth knowledge of the criteria essential to the success of innovative HealthTech projects makes Ellina an invaluable resource for those looking to turn their ideas into funded, achievable realities.

The place of women in Tech

As part of the Nocode Series event, Ellina Chhay highlighted a crucial aspect of the tech world: the imperative to include more women in this sector. Ellina pointed out that, despite a growing demand for tech and Nocode skills, only 17% of professionals in this field are women. To remedy this disparity, Ellina has initiated an ambitious project to encourage the presence of women in tech. Focusing on Nocode training, the project specifically targeted women, offering them resources, coaching and an online community to support them on their tech journey.

The initiative stands out for its dual approach. On the one hand, it targets middle and high school girls, with the idea that early intervention can have a significant impact on their future career choices. By introducing Nocode at an early age, the project aims to awaken their interest in tech and boost their confidence in their ability to engage in this field. In addition, the program also targets adult women, particularly those undergoing professional retraining, by offering them training tailored to their entry or progression in the tech world.

Ellina insists that the inclusion of women in tech is not just a question of equity; it is also a necessity for the creation of more inclusive and diverse products and services. This Nocode training project for women is therefore an essential step towards breaking down barriers and opening up new avenues for gender equality in the tech sector.

Ellina Chhay's advice

The entrepreneur shares several tips for people looking to find their place in the tech world: 

• Stay curious: it's crucial to be constantly learning, especially in a fast-moving field like Nocode.
• Step out of your comfort zone: don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and tackle new skills or challenges.
• Building confidence: she stressed the importance of self-confidence and not hesitating to take your place in the business, especially for women in technology.
• Finding mentors: building a network of contacts and finding mentors is an important part of advancing in the industry.
• Document your journey: it's smart to document your journey, including failures and successes, as this can help build a community and establish a presence in the field.
• Use media to promote yourself: don't hesitate to use social media and content creation to promote yourself and your services or products.
• Showing resilience: this is a quality you need to work on, especially when you're starting out and facing obstacles.
• Be active on platforms: be active on platforms like LinkedIn to increase your visibility and professional network.

The whole exchange is on our youtube channel, and for those who want to know more, you can watch it here :