A Full Circle Moment at CloudFest Hackathon 2025
Just one year ago, I walked into the CloudFest Hackathon with a nervous heart, a contributor badge, and deep gratitude for the sponsorship from all the partners that made it possible for me to attend. I was still finding my way—juggling freelance work, creating art between gigs, and trying to figure out where I fit in the tech world again. At the time, I could never have imagined where I’d be today.
Fast-forward to March 2025: I returned to the very same hackathon, this time as a representative of Codeable, not only as part of the team but as someone in a leadership position as I was promoted to the Head of Support Operations at Codeable shortly after joining the company. Codeable is a recurring sponsoring partner for the CloudFest Hackathon, again backing an award category and directly supporting open-source attendees—exactly the kind of support I had received the year before.
It felt like a full-circle moment—and a deeply emotional one.
A Year That Changed Everything
Last year, I was hopeful but uncertain. I leaned on my open-source community, my creativity, and a lot of resilience. I applied for contributor sponsorship because I believed I still had something to give, even if I wasn’t sure where it would lead.
That leap of faith, that small moment of being seen and supported, opened doors I never expected. Over the past twelve months, I’ve grown from a freelance creative and WordPress contributor to stepping into a full-time leadership role at Codeable. It hasn’t been easy—but it’s been real, fulfilling, and deeply aligned with my values.
I now lead with empathy, intentionality, and a fierce belief in creating space for others to grow—especially those whose paths aren’t linear, whose stories are still unfolding.
Representing with Purpose
At CloudFest Hackathon 2025, I contributed to the CMS Freedom project—a cross-CMS initiative supporting open web interoperability. Our team ended up receiving the Pitch Perfect Award, which (and here’s the wild twist) was the very category Codeable sponsored.
Important note: the awards were handed out by an independent jury, and my participation in the winning team was an unexpected coincidence—but what a meaningful one.
Even more powerful was knowing that our sponsorship helped fund five seats for open-source contributors to attend the hackathon, where my attendance was paid by my employer. I know what that support feels like. It’s not just logistics—it’s possibility.
Groundbreaker Talents: A Cause Close to My Heart
The Pitch Perfect Award also supports Groundbreaker Talents, an initiative I’ve been part of as a mentor. It funds residential software engineering scholarships for young women in Uganda. Seeing that award go to a project I contributed to, supported by a company I now help lead—it’s hard to describe the feeling. Humbling. Grateful. Full of purpose.
Why I’m Sharing This
I’m not telling this story to brag. I’m sharing it because someone out there might be where I was a year ago—freelancing, struggling, creating, hoping.
This is a reminder that your path can shift. You can grow into leadership. You can find yourself again through community, purpose, and just the right nudge of support at the right time.
And when you do, I hope you remember to turn around and hold the door open for someone else. That’s what we do when we’re built with heart.
To all the mentors, sponsors, organizers, and fellow contributors—thank you. This is just the beginning.
With gratitude,
Birgit
