Launchpad by Vog’s goal is to see students succeed in the industry.
When students graduate from post-secondary they are 2 years behind in their education and are not industry-ready. That’s why Launchpad by Vog has created a platform that gets students up to speed on everything in Tech and delivers these students to the real world – ready to face real-life experiences & projects and have the confidence of developing tomorrow’s future! Be a part of the noise and join Launchpad By Vog today.
Let us help you develop your future in tech!
The Class of Launchpad By Vog
Meet
Jean Armstrong!
What sparked your love for tech?
In an attempt to inspire my kids with the possibilities available in tech (and lead by example) I started making Halloween Costumes that light-up and this morphed into creating full-blown Halloween light shows.
Did you start at a post-secondary school? If so, what school?
University of Alberta, Mechanical Engineering
What would you say your experience at University was like?
I was in a small co-op class where I was able to connect with others and build some lifelong relationships. I sometimes struggled with the relevance of the material being taught but overall graduating as a Mechanical Engineer opened many opportunities.
How did you hear about Launchpad? What made you decide to go with LP?
I joined a community Careers in Tech and Inovation, which lead me to a presentation by LP at Immigrant Techies Alberta. I was looking for a program that was small, flexible and in touch with what is happening within the Calgary Tech ecosystem.
How was the program?
A great experience to learn the complete process of building an app as a backend developer.
What were your favourite portions of LP?
On the technical front, I liked the depth of the project. How to structure a project and then connect together all of the parts to make one large functional app. I also enjoyed the people.
What did you end up doing within LP?
I took the C# .NET backend program with LP.
How was finding a career in tech after your time at LP?
There is a lot of competition for the jobs that are willing to take devs with no experience and just applying to job postings was not overly effective. 2 months after I graduated from LP an opportunity came up and I was hired to join LP’s junior developer program!
What would you recommend to future students, looking to get into tech?
Network, network, network. Reach out to people in tech and learn what opportunities are out there and help you determine where you best fit in. Knowing someone at a company can also help you get your resume seen amongst the hundreds of applicants.
If you have time, do a side project to help showcase your skills and show off your passion.
What does the future of tech look like to you?
Unlimited potential!
Meet
Kevin Vo!
What sparked your love for tech?
Hardly a unique story, but it started as trying to find a better solution for hard and/or menial tasks. When I was a lot younger, I’d play a ton of video games, and I thought ‘gee, wouldn’t it be nice to have friends to be able to trade version exclusive Pokémon to myself?’ Suddenly, you’d find yourself deep diving into the inner workings of Pokémon and through clever code manipulation (also known as cheating) you would have the ability to inject whatever Pokémon you want in your game; Mew was no longer just a rumor under a truck. To summarize, yes, it started as a desire to cheat in Pokémon.
Did you start at a post-secondary school? If so, what school?
I went to the University of Calgary where I took my first programming course after a good friend told me that I look like I’d be good at it
What would you say your experience at University was like?
I had an okay time, there’s obviously some regret and missed opportunities, but overall I’d say it was pleasant. Would I go back? Maybe after I’ve had more experience outside of the educational bubble. In my experience at university, the work tends to focus more on isolated environments instead of integrating with every other environment.
How did you hear about Launchpad? What made you decide to go with LP?
I heard about it from the iOS team lead, Duy Pham. I finally decided to check out the program after multiple attempts to get me to join. I saw LP as a different educational opportunity that provided a more grounded experience than formal education.
How was the program?
It was lovely! Everyone involved was very kind and engaging. It felt like everyone tried their best to allow us to succeed, from my peers to the instructors and guest speakers. You learn and bond a lot through the struggle.
What were your favourite portions of LP?
Every time we didn’t have to introduce/reintroduce/sell ourselves – you want to keep it fresh each time but there’s only so many ways you can tell your life story in one minute. But really, my favourite parts are the interactive group lessons making it both fun and insightful.
What did you end up doing within LP?
There’s an overarching project that we did in LP that was meant to mimic how a product could be run from its inception to its release. While working on that, we also had daily classes touching a variety of subjects including both soft skills and technical.
What was the biggest takeaway from LP’s program?
I had an insightful look at the behind-the-scenes processes specific to the industry that I would not have known about as a new graduate. The emphasis on soft skills that contribute to productivity and self-improvement are definitely something other programs don’t specifically spotlight.
How was finding a career in tech after your time at LP?
I didn’t have to look very far considering they hired me!
But really, everyone involved in LP provided support in starting and finding a career after the program had ended and I’ve heard from many of my peers who have been successful as well.
What would you recommend to future students, looking to get into tech?
Build up some personal experience – I’ve had trouble finding personal projects to do so try to find something you could automate or something that could be improved. For example, I have a completionist mentality and thus spreadsheets are born. Turn that spreadsheet into a glorified checklist app with steps, pictures, progress bars and share it with the world.
Make something you are satisfied with even if it wasn’t explicitly asked and show where your standards lie. Oh and never buy the latest tech – it’ll be outclassed 6 months from now – but do stay relevant!
What does the future of tech look like to you?
Has anyone correctly predicted the time flying cars will become a thing? It’s all so nebulous to me, but I don’t see tech regressing anytime in the next hundred years. Therefore my predictions are
1. Improvement of human quality of life
2. The human-robot revolution will occur
3. Proof of extraterrestrial life
All in all, it sounds pretty promising to me.
Meet
Shane McGuire!
What sparked your love for tech?
Desperation at first when trying to switch careers from the trades industry (Heavy Duty Mechanics). Then curiosity more than anything. A colleague who is a Web Developer suggested looking into Programming. That was in 2019 and I haven’t looked back.
How did you hear about Launchpad? What made you decide to go with LP?
A company I was formally working for as a Junior Developer ran out of work, I was told that it’d be a good idea to start looking for other places to apply. I was still too junior to pass some interviews. My partner (Sarah) who is a UX/UI designer at Vog, told me about the Launchpad program. I saw that they were offering a Backend Development course. Being that that area of programming is my least practiced, I decided to take it.
How was the program?
The program was great, I was the 2nd cohort so I’m sure the course has changed since then. I taught a variety of soft and hard skills, from practicing interviews (with the CEO) to deploying applications to AWS.
What were your favourite portions of LP?
The programming itself and learning about the stack was the part I most enjoyed. Using Docker with .NET and then deploying to AWS was very valuable to my development.
We made an API for an online peer-to-peer marketplace where users could list, purchase and exchange items.
What was the biggest takeaway from LP’s program?
The tech stack LP taught us was valuable as I implement it on most of my projects.
How was finding a career in tech after your time at LP?
I had more success at getting interviews. Companies took me seriously when they looked at my resume and saw the skills I’ve acquired at Launchpad.
What would you recommend to future students, looking to get into tech?
Taking a course doesn’t guarantee a job afterwards. You still have to put in a lot of work learning and building your skills. The process to transfer into the tech industry can take years and a lot of rejection.
What does the future of tech look like to you?
Endless opportunity. It also can be a paradox of choice since there are so many avenues.
Meet
Torin Johnson!
What sparked your love for tech?
When I was in elementary school, I attended a robotics presentation at a science center. The robots were incredible, and the presenter spent time talking about both the process of making the machines and the programming that determined their behaviours. It was a fascinating experience that led me to engage in any tech opportunities I could growing up!
Did you start at a post-secondary school? If so, what school?
I went to the University of Calgary for six years. I was studying for a degree in Astrophysics with a minor in Computer Science.
What would you say your experience at University was like?
My university experience was great for the most part. There were some challenging courses, but I also attended a lot of introduction-level classes in fields outside of my department. I had an amazing time learning about all sorts of things and was fortunate to have many good professors over my time there.
How did you hear about Launchpad? What made you decide to go with LP?
I first heard about LaunchPad through my mother-in-law. She had read an article about the rise of tech in Calgary, and the piece focused on LP as a great resource for aspiring developers. I looked into the program and was interested in a couple of the offered courses. At first, I thought I was under-qualified for what classes were offered, as I had never used the listed programming languages in my time at University. However, after meeting online with the Director of Operations, Christie, I realized LP was the perfect fit for me.
How was the program?
The program was incredible. I learned so much during my time at LaunchPad. I went from no C# experience to building a full project app in just a few months. Even more importantly, there was so much practical knowledge to be gained. Both regarding industry processes like resumes and interview skills, but also by connecting students with professionals within the industry and getting to share in their passion and love for the field.
What were your favourite portions of LP?
I knew I would get a lot of enjoyment out of the development side of the program, but it was such a pleasure to meet so many great people within the tech field. Getting the opportunity to learn about each person’s experiences and perspectives on the industry was truly wonderful.
What did you end up doing within LP?
Most days of the program involved topic lectures, presentations from different team members, or open-ended discussions on technology and web development. Over the 16 weeks, I completed a few code challenges, performed two mock interviews, and built up a main project web application from scratch.
What was the biggest takeaway from LP’s program?
The knowledge that I gained from the program was very beneficial, but the largest takeaway from LaunchPad was the value of soft skills and a learning mindset. LP was the perfect blend of a professional, serious program as well as a safe learning space. If you are willing to put in some effort and not be intimidated by the content, there is so much to get out of the experience.
How was finding a career in tech after your time at LP?
I was fortunate to get an official interview with another tech company I met through the LaunchPad program, as well as an offer to join the Junior Development team at the Vog office. The interview was a good time to put many of the skills I learned in the course into action and joining the development team at Launchpad has been such an incredible learning experience. Being able to use the knowledge I gained from the program to work on a commercial product has been such an amazing time.
What would you recommend to future students, looking to get into tech?
I would recommend future tech students to keep themselves open to different opportunities and be willing to put in the effort to take full advantage of any learning experiences that come their way. It is so easy to be intimidated by the large leap it takes to get started in the industry, and to feel imposter syndrome even after doing so. But it can be such a rewarding process if you are able to get past the initial hurdles.
What does the future of tech look like to you?
Tech is already such an integral piece of our lives. There is room for technology to be used to improve and expand in every field in the world. It is a fast-paced environment that is constantly evolving and growing, making it such an exciting, and important, part of what the future has in store.
Meet
TK Soriyan!
What sparked your love for tech?
Innovation and solving problems sparked my love for tech!
Did you start at a post-secondary school? If so, what school?
Yes, I did, I went to a University in Nigeria.
What would you say your experience at University was like?
It had no real-life implementation. I mostly learned the fundamentals of programming.
How did you hear about Launchpad? What made you decide to go with LP?
I heard about Launchpad by Vog through Immigration Services, I decided to go with it because I wanted to work in the tech industry as it is a love of mine to solve problems.
How was the program?
It gave me a new perspective on development, it was informative, involving and challenging
What were your favourite portions of LP?
Data structures and algorithms.
What was the biggest takeaway from LP’s program?
Understanding how businesses built software solutions that were scalable
How was finding a career in tech after your time at LP?
It was not difficult but I applied to a lot of companies and did numerous interviews which LP already prepared me for with their real-world interviews
What would you recommend to future students, looking to get into tech?
Ensure you go to LP to get that jumpstart needed to translate your academic programming knowledge to real-world implementation of the same language.
What does the future of tech look like to you?
Programming for as long as I can see.
Success Stories
“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for Launchpad by Vog. I was looking for a program that would teach me exactly what I needed to know in order to get a job as an iOS developer, and Launchpad was exactly that. I worked on real projects and faced real issues, which made the transition to working as a developer quite smooth. I was able to directly apply the knowledge I got in my new job. I went from having very little knowledge in coding to being employed as an iOS developer in less than a year.”
Fernando Arenas
LaunchPad Graduate
Vahid graduated from Launchpad by Vog, was hired by Vog App Developers, and as of recently has been hired by a newly identified unicorn company. Launchpad by Vog gave him the platform he needed to be able to be successful in the role he has been in for the last year or so. Launchpad by Vog strives to ensure that all of our Alumni move onto greater paths of success – beyond the doors at Vog.
Vahid Haghighat
LaunchPad Graduate
Sit down interview with Christie and Jason
Gallery
Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.
– Malcolm X
How has it progressed since its start?
“As developers, we are always in a state of learning. We as Professional Development providers also have learned a lot over the year and our cohorts are stronger because of this. We’ve added the Junior Development Program that allows developers to work on real jobs, in real-time, with real clients! We’re looking to expand our education platform that will be fully accredited. We continue to establish strong partnerships within the industry that align with our mission. LaunchPad is building a strong ecosystem where talent can thrive and we’re thrilled that we are being recognized because of this.”
What are your goals for the future of developers?
“Our primary goal is to ensure that developers are provided with a platform that empowers them! Submerging themselves in the culture of tech, applying the skills that they have learnt to a real industry scenario is critical to their overall growth and long-term career goals!”
What is the future of Launchpad look like?
“The future looks very bright for all that participate in our program. We’re excited for what’s up and coming in 2023 as we are taking the learning experience and what we deliver here at LaunchPad, to the next level.”
“Our recruits aren’t just a number, we are a part of their journey! Not just for the term they are with us but for a lifetime! We want to change lives! It’s important that your time here is valuable and that you are being taught and mentored by individuals that are true masters at their craft, and that are actually “developing” today. Tech is one of the fastest-moving industries! How we are coding today is not how we will be coding in 3,5, or 10 years from now. Learning from someone that eats, lives and breathes this every day is a skill or methodology that can’t be taught in a traditional classroom.”
How Does Launchpad Differentiate itself from Other Programs/Schooling?
“LaunchPad is different in that we focus on the knowledge needed to be a successful developer and that goes way beyond how to program. From job hunt and interview skills, to a realistic project management environment, and real-world projects, everything is structured to ensure students are productive from day one when they start working for their first employer. The one other key factor that makes us different is our close association with Vog App Developers. The students are taught by real developers, project managers, QA professionals, etc. that are doing this for a living, right now.”
What are your goals for the future of developers?
“Our goals for developers are to make the developer training industry more supportive of everything a developer needs to learn to be a successful business developer, not just basic programming skills.”
What is your mission as a teacher at Launchpad?
“My mission is to provide a safe environment for developers of the future! We want to polish their skills and be as successful as possible no matter where they go in their career.”
“The future of LaunchPad is made up of two pieces. Piece 1 is a thriving education program for students coming right out of high school, transitioning into the tech sector, or upskilling for their current job. Piece 2 is a successful internship program giving as many junior developers as possible the opportunity to gain real experience while building real projects for real businesses.”
Join and become a student today!
Testimonials
Made me realize that still had a lot to learn before I could start working
Unlike traditional boot camps and coding programs I have tried out, LaunchPad gave me insight on how real-world projects and proposals are planned and implemented. Also, having the opportunity to interview a real client about his idea to develop a solution is one of the most valuable learning opportunities I’ve seen on IT anywhere.
Thiago Botelho
LaunchPad Graduate
It is so important to choose the right school
Results matter! My transition into web development happened a year ago and I got very lucky to start my journey as a student of Launchpad by Vog (Started Cohort in September 2021). It offered knowledge in economics and variety of other business courses, alongside the tech courses I learned at Launchpad. It is so important to choose the right school. A school with a program that will benefit and help students land their first job, in their field. Launchpad surprised my expectations and it made a significant impact on me as a developer. Thanks to professional mentions, valuable career advices and hard work, I was able to land my first job, thank you Launchpad by Vog.
Julian Radevych
LaunchPad Graduate
Helped me become more efficient as a software developer
The team at Launchpad helped me understand the requirements a software developer needs to fillfill, in order to improve every day. Jason was a great instructor and has a lot of experience as a senior software developer. He helped me understand how todays companies build modern back end web applications. Learning about all the tools available out there and how to properly structure code in a web application, helped me become more efficient as a software developer.
Fabio
LaunchPad Graduate