Starting a career conversation with kids might seem early, but in today’s rapidly evolving digital world, understanding the landscape of future careers is more important than ever. For parents pondering their children’s future, the tech industry stands out as a sector brimming with opportunities. My journey from a comfortable position at Google to founding Bitsbox, a platform dedicated to teaching kids to code, was driven by the realization that early exposure to coding is not just a hobby, but a crucial step towards a promising future career path.
During my five years at Google, consistently ranked as the “best place to work,” I experienced firsthand the allure of the tech world. The perks were incredible – gourmet meals, exceptional benefits, and generous compensation. Working there felt like being on a luxury cruise ship, where every need and desire was catered to. Yet, beneath the surface of this corporate paradise, I felt a growing disconnect. Despite working on interesting projects, their impact often felt diluted within the vast machinery of a tech giant. Ideas that could flourish as independent startups were sometimes deemed insignificant distractions.
I recall proposing a website feature that internal Google analytics predicted would generate a million dollars in annual revenue for my team. The development time? Less than a month. However, the project was dismissed. My million-dollar idea was shelved because, within the context of Google’s monumental objectives, it wasn’t deemed strategically important enough.
This isn’t a complaint, but a reflection of the reality within large corporations. Focus is paramount, and when your mission is dictated by someone else, you inevitably work on projects that may not ignite your deepest passions. This experience, however, became a catalyst for a significant shift in my own career path and perspective, especially when it came to my children’s future and the skills they would need to thrive.
The Spark: Coding for the Next Generation’s Careers
The genesis of Bitsbox was my daughter, Audrey. Around seven years old at the time, she began asking about my work. When I explained that I programmed computers, her curiosity sparked, and she wanted to try it herself. Eager to nurture her interest in what could become a valuable skill for her future career, I searched for coding resources designed for children. I discovered numerous apps that used drag-and-drop block-based programming, like the excellent Scratch from MIT. While these platforms are valuable, I noticed a significant gap: a lack of tools that encouraged kids to actually type real code.
My own introduction to coding was quite different. When I was about Audrey’s age, my dad brought home a TRS-80 Color Computer. Upon turning it on, a blinking cursor was the only prompt. To make the computer do anything, I had to write code. I learned BASIC, a programming language, by diligently copying projects from the instruction manual that came with the computer. Enduring lines of seemingly cryptic commands would eventually result in something visually exciting on the screen. Through repetition and immersion, these commands started to make sense. This hands-on, project-based learning was the starting point for many programmers of my generation, laying the foundation for future tech careers.
I envisioned a similar experience for Audrey: a blank screen, a blinking cursor, and a project book filled with engaging coding challenges. Beyond coding itself, I wanted her to become comfortable with a keyboard, the essential instrument for any programmer and a valuable skill for numerous future careers. Just as learning a musical instrument involves playing existing pieces before composing original music, I believed kids should learn to code by working through guided projects, gradually progressing to creating their own. Finding no existing tool that matched this philosophy, I decided to create one myself.
Initially, these prototypes were solely for Audrey. However, their effectiveness sparked an idea: could this be more than just a learning tool for my daughter? Could it become a business, helping other children gain crucial coding skills for their future careers? I remembered the computing magazines of the 80s, which regularly featured programming projects. This culture of learning through practical application had largely disappeared. Bitsbox could revive this approach, offering a tangible pathway for kids to explore coding and consider future tech careers.
Leaping into the Startup World: Focusing on Kids’ Coding Careers
In 2014, the timing felt right. I approached my Google colleague, Aidan, and shared my vision. He resonated with the idea, recognizing the importance of early coding education for future career prospects. Together, we decided to leave our secure corporate jobs and embark on the startup journey.
That summer was spent in Aidan’s basement, developing mockups, creating example projects, and conducting trials in local schools and enrichment programs. The early results were encouraging. Kids were not only able to build apps, but they genuinely enjoyed the process. Even without drawing a salary, witnessing children engaging with our product and creating their own apps fueled our determination. It solidified our belief that we were not just building a product, but contributing to the future career readiness of these kids, equipping them with valuable skills for the digital age.
Are you interested in unlocking the joy of app building for your own children and setting them on a path towards potential tech careers? Visit our store page to learn more and subscribe to Bitsbox!
