After a career as a Nurse Clinician and Clinical Instructor, Julie-Ann recognized gaps in clinical training. This inspired her to explore innovative learning solutions. To bridge these gaps, she pursued further education in teaching and web development with Le Wagon, aiming to create tools that better prepare nurses and students for real-world practice.
The bootcamp journey: how Le Wagon shaped her career
Before choosing Le Wagon, Julie-Ann conducted thorough research on various bootcamps. She was particularly drawn to Le Wagon’s dynamic community and structured program.“I liked how active Le Wagon is in comparison to other bootcamps,” she explains. “It offers many free online courses, workshops and gatherings. I also chose Le Wagon because of the positive feedback from alumni. Moreover, I liked how the program focused on hands-on learning by doing many projects and daily live code sessions.”
Transitioning from a healthcare background to the tech world was not without challenges, especially since Julie-Ann had to start from the basics of programming. Despite her long-standing interest in web development, she lacked the technical foundation and had to navigate a steep learning curve. She overcame these challenges by embracing a hands-on approach and leveraging the supportive learning environment at Le Wagon.
“Coming from a non tech background meant that I had a lot to learn and had to start from the basics,” she recalls.
Julie-Ann emphasizes that the learning environment at Le Wagon was instrumental in her success.
“I learn best by hands-on work and by having instructors that are not only available to answer questions but are also approachable. At Le Wagon, the facilitators are enthusiastic about teaching and want you to achieve your goals whether before, during and after the bootcamp.”
For her final project, Julie-Ann worked with a team of four on a web app called bARTers, designed to help artists connect and trade services within their local community.
“The objective of bARTers was to help artists find other artists in their local area to make trades of services. The vision was to aid artists come together, make connections all without the need for money.”
This experience not only taught her how to identify problems, find practical solutions, and effectively pitch her ideas but also enhanced her collaboration and networking skills, which have been invaluable in her entrepreneurial journey.
“Le Wagon provided me with the fundamental skills to learn how to code and do web development regardless of the programming language. It also helped me to network which led to many opportunities that I may not have known about otherwise.”
Transforming nursing education with INFIRNAA
After completing the bootcamp, Julie-Ann began developing her startup, INFIRNAA, inspired by her experiences as a nursing student and clinical instructor. She aims to enhance clinical training by providing nurses and students with more opportunities to practice rare skills and scenarios, improving their preparedness for diverse situations.
“The next steps for INFIRNAA include securing more partnerships and expanding its interactive features,” she explains. “In the coming years, I see it becoming a leading resource for nursing education and clinical training.”
The platform already offers nurses and nursing students a unique learning experience, featuring virtual simulations, tailored scenarios, and interactive case studies.
In 2024, Julie-Ann participated in HEC Montréal La Base entrepreneuriale’s Entreprism program, which provided her with essential skills for building a startup and further fueled her vision for INFIRNAA’s future.
Her commitment to continuous learning didn’t stop at Le Wagon. She is currently taking programming courses at McGill University to deepen her technical expertise, building on the foundation she gained during the bootcamp.
“The skills that I learned during le Wagon and now at McGill are helping me to evolve my start up” she shares.
Stepping out of comfort zones: a women in tech story
Julie-Ann’s past experience in healthcare and her journey as a tech entrepreneur give her a distinctive perspective in the health tech industry.
“I hope that my experiences can help bridge this gap and contribute to meaningful, effective innovations,” she shares.
For women considering a path in tech entrepreneurship, Julie-Ann’s key advice is to step out of their comfort zone.
“This was the only way I was able to achieve some of my objectives,” she explains. “I challenged myself, faced fears (public speaking 🙂 ), and learned from mistakes”.
She also stresses the importance of surrounding yourself with a supportive community— whether through programs like Le Wagon and the incubators she participated in, or through local organizations, online communities, or coworking spaces.
Through these challenges, Julie-Ann found immense support and guidance from other women entrepreneurs and tech professionals.
“I was fortunate to receive guidance and support from other women entrepreneurs and women in tech who shared their insights and experiences,” she reflects. “Le Wagon also plays an active role in encouraging and supporting women in tech, creating a welcoming and inclusive space.”
Looking back at Le Wagon
Reflecting on her experience, Julie-Ann highly recommends Le Wagon to anyone looking to break into tech.
“100%! Le Wagon is a wonderful program for anyone aiming to enter the tech industry and to learn about web development or data,” she says enthusiastically. “It is hard work and may seem daunting but the facilitators, pre bootcamp learning modules and teaching methods make it very feasible. I always recommend le Wagon when people mention wanting to dive into the tech world 😊”
Want to follow Julie-Ann’s advice? Book a call with our learning advisor to ask all your questions and discuss your project.
