Creating community through Capital One Coders

Since joining Capital One, Solomon has watched folks create their own social media websites from scratch. He’s seen them turn their idea for a cyber security app into a reality. He’s even observed them make their own video games.  

All of this work came from middle school students participating in Capital One Coders, a program where associates educate, mentor and empower students to recognize their potential as technologists. Since Capital One Coders began in 2014, our associates have helped more than 29,000 students—most of whom are from low- to moderate-income communities—develop skills and interest in computer science. 

“Coders is about more than teaching students how to code,” said Solomon, a data engineering manager for the Enterprise Modeling Platform. “It’s about exposing students to a future they might never have considered. We’re changing lives for the better, including our own.”

We chatted with three associates to learn how they’ve made a difference with Capital One Coders, and how the program helps them grow their careers.

Developing new skills

Solomon’s involvement with Capital One Coders started on a whim. Shortly after starting at Capital One in 2015, a colleague asked him if he’d like to help lead a course teaching middle schoolers how to code. 

“I have a similar background to these students,” Solomon said. “It wasn’t until college that I realized a computer science career was viable. I wanted to give them that belief they can succeed in tech.”

Solomon spent his first few years with the program teaching students how to build websites using HTML and CSS. The experience improved his time management, leadership and communication skills, as he learned to break down technical processes for novices. He eventually earned his current position as site lead for the McLean, Va. chapter of Capital One Coders.

While he spends less time in the classroom as site lead, he now gets to recruit volunteers, onboard new schools and nonprofits to the program and organize the process of pairing dozens of Capital One associates with students. 

“I’ve learned all these strategies for working with a variety of people, which has only helped me grow as I’ve become a manager in my day job,” Solomon said. “Coders has given me so much purpose.”

Creating opportunities for other technologists

Megan first volunteered with Capital One Coders before she joined the company as a full-time associate. While participating in the Technology Internship Program, she mentored students in Chicago to help them learn basic programming skills. The day of volunteering played a big role in Megan’s decision to return to Capital One as a full-time software engineer in the Technology Development Program. 

“I thought to myself, ‘Here’s a company putting time, effort and resources into its community,’” said Megan, now a senior software engineer for the Trade Credit team. “It was inspirational.” 

Once Megan was back at Capital One in 2020, she immediately became a Capital One Coders mentor working one-on-one with a student who was building a website that cataloged quotes from her favorite TV shows. She watched the student’s self-belief grow over six months.

“I watched the students' mindset shift over the course of the program, from being intimidated and nervous by the idea of coding to being so proud and bursting with excitement as she rattled off dozens of names of friends and family who she was so excited to share her website with,” Megan said. 

Megan’s own confidence has grown alongside her students. With some ideas and ambition, she took on a Capital One Coders leadership position creating new curriculums and programming.

She also led the creation of the first conference for Capital One Coders volunteers in 2023, which brought volunteer associates together to network and learn from one another, focus on professional development and celebrate. It’s now an annual internal event with more than 600 attendees. 

“I’ve met such incredible people through Coders, it is such a supportive community,” Megan said. “I’m really proud of my impact on my local community, Capital One and Coders. I am so proud of this programs’ mission and what it continues to do.”

Passing along a love of tech

John became interested in software engineering as a kid after his parents enrolled him in a video game programming class. He was amazed to discover that he could create a video game where you had to avoid cars while crossing the street. 

He’s now giving students the same joy and skills by volunteering with Capital One Coders. Among other things, John has taught students how to create games using Python and websites using HTML & JavaScript.

“I think about how I got into programming because of a one-time class I took when I was 11,” said John, a senior software engineer for the Contact Center Enablement team. “If I can convince one student that they can be a technologist, then it’s worth it.”

His skills have grown alongside his students. Volunteering has challenged John to adapt, become a better public speaker and think more critically. Now a leader for Capital One Coders, John is directing an effort to create programs that give high school students a glimpse into what a day in the life of a software engineer is like and what other careers like UX design and product development are like at Capital One.

“My career has grown alongside Coders,” John said. “It feels special knowing that I’m able to take all of the skills I’ve learned at Capital One and in Coders and use them to give back to the community. What could be better than that?”