Inside a Girls in Tech Shadowing Day at Vinted
Closing the gender gap in tech isn’t just about numbers—it’s about opening doors. At Vinted, we believe in driving systemic change by showing the next generation that a career in technology is within their reach. Our ‘Girls in Tech’ shadowing program is our first step in inspiring high school students to explore what’s possible. For these young women, the experience is about more than just code; it’s about demystifying the industry and building the confidence to lead.
A Glimpse into Life at Vinted
Working in tech can feel like a mystery from the outside. That’s why we partnered with Lithuanian Junior Achievement to host 57 high school girls at our Vilnius HQ. The two-day event was a mix of hands-on learning and one-on-one mentorship. From testing their knowledge in a quick-fire quiz to exploring every corner of our office, the goal was to make tech feel tangible.
The heart of the program was the mentor-mentee matching. Our participants spent individual shadowing sessions with 31 of our female leaders—Engineering Directors, Engineers, Data Scientists, and more. They didn’t just watch; they saw how we collaborate, solve complex problems, sat in on real conversations, learning how decisions get made, and asking all the questions you don’t get to ask in a classroom. They experienced first-hand how to turn big ideas into a simple app used by millions.
We closed with a panel discussion about confidence—not the glossy version, but the everyday kind. Our mentors spoke openly about learning as they went, getting things wrong, being underestimated, pushing through discomfort, and choosing to show up anyway. By discussing self-doubt and ambition, they showed that confidence is a choice, not something you either “have” or “don’t have.” It’s something you build—through practice, support, and time.
Biggest takeaways
The clearest theme in the feedback: seeing real roles up close changed how students think about tech.
For some, it confirmed they’re on the right track. For others, it opened doors they didn’t know existed—like QA, Data Science, or Product and Engineering leadership. Many also said it helped them understand what an office environment is really like, and how much teamwork sits behind an app that feels simple on the surface.
“What stuck with me most was the time with my mentor. I understood much better what work in the tech field looks like. We had interesting conversations, and I felt very good throughout the whole shadowing.”
By the end, almost everyone said they would consider a tech career. Highlights included the honesty of mentor conversations, the panel on confidence, and the sheer variety of paths within IT. One of the biggest surprises? How much complex thinking, collaboration, and iteration happens behind the scenes—long before anything reaches users.
A single day can’t solve a systemic challenge of enabling more girls to enter the tech field. But it can shift someone’s sense of what’s possible—and that matters.
Why our leaders show up as mentors
Many of our senior women leaders joined as mentors for reasons that were both personal and professional: they wanted to share the real story behind their careers (rarely linear), widen students’ view of what “tech” can mean, and make leadership feel more reachable.
For Vinted, the impact is also internal. Mentorship strengthens how we lead—through listening, clarity, and real care for people’s growth. It creates visibility for role models across levels, connects day-to-day work to a bigger purpose, and reminds us that investing in future talent starts long before someone applies for a job.
“It really gives me a sense of achievement to hear young people's stories, learn about their fears for the future, and offer inspiring advice that makes their eyes light up.”
This is also why many Vinted people choose to mentor in other programs—through our internal learning initiatives and external partnerships. When you’ve learned something the hard way, sharing it can be one of the most meaningful ways to pay it forward.
This is how we work at Vinted
This project reflects what we try to practice every day: build things that are useful, invite different perspectives in early, and keep it real—especially about what growth actually looks like. We believe that being open about our challenges is the best way to build a community, and that we all have a responsibility to pull the next person up the ladder. We’re proud of the mentors who made time to lead by example, the students who showed up curious and brave, and the partners who helped us see the bigger picture.
If you’re someone who wants your work to mean something beyond your own inbox, you’ll find a lot of people here who feel the same.