Marie Cari: Empowering Fellows to Find their Place in Tech

Marie Cari didn’t follow a traditional path into tech, and she’s proud of it.

Now a software engineer at Bank of America, Marie’s journey began in a household where navigating higher education was a challenge. After leaving college early, she found her way through the tech world by discovering free, mission-driven bootcamps that opened doors she once thought were closed.

“I didn’t do the typical four years of college,” she says. However, once she found programs centered on helping people from different backgrounds break into tech, everything changed.

Today, she’s paying it forward as a mentor in Break Through Tech’s AI Program, where she brings her full story—challenges and all—into her mentorship style.

A Mentor Who Gets It

Marie supports her mentees not just with resume tips and interview advice, but with something deeper: understanding.

“Coming from an immigrant background has definitely given me a different outlook,” she says. In her culture, women aren’t always encouraged to pursue higher education, so being able to study tech, and help others do the same, feels like a privilege. She knows how isolating the journey can be, and sees her role as reminding others that they belong in these spaces.

Her mentorship style is shaped by that connection. During the 2024-2025 AI Program cycle, she mentored three Break Through Tech fellows, holding monthly check-ins and tailoring each session to meet their evolving needs. Whether it was preparing for an interview or working through imposter syndrome, she created space for what mattered most to each mentee.

“I brag about my mentees—they are so smart, amazing, and talented,” she says. “It’s more about empowering them so they can let that part shine, because it can be a really competitive and scary space to be entering into for the first time, which I totally understand. So I feel like a lot of my role has been empowering them.”

Creating Community

Marie’s mentorship doesn’t stop at scheduled meetings. Her journey into tech has been anything but traditional. After dropping out of college, she enrolled in free bootcamps designed to support communities from different lived experiences make their way into tech, eventually launching her career as a software engineer at Bank of America. Now back in school at Hunter College, she’s continuing to build her future while helping others do the same.

On campus and beyond, Marie has created a growing network of Break Through Tech fellows—connecting them to opportunities, recruiters, and tech communities like All Tech is Human. She keeps an open-door approach, welcoming fellows whether or not they’re officially her mentees, and creates a supportive community that benefits everyone involved.

Structure That Supports Mentors and Fellows 

As someone balancing work, school, and multiple program commitments, Marie deeply values the structure of the AI Program. She points out that Break Through Tech gives mentors the tools and guidance they need to show up meaningfully, without putting pressure on fellows to figure it all out on their own.

Marie appreciates that unlike many programs where mentees have to take the lead, Break Through Tech provides structured materials like slide decks and discussion guides. This support helps mentors know exactly how to engage and allows fellows to concentrate on their growth without uncertainty.

Paying It Forward, One Fellow at a Time

Marie says mentoring through Break Through Tech has introduced her to a kind of community she didn’t know existed in the tech world.

“They just inspire me so much, especially because I guess I kind of relate to them on a different level because as they’re going through school, I’m also working on my bachelors.” She adds:

“This program has really allowed me to give back in a way that I never thought was possible. I’ve been able to reach so many people, connect with so many amazing fellows—and the best part is working with them.”

Mentoring hasn’t just been about giving back, but it’s also impacted Marie’s own growth and ambition. “Seeing how much they were able to flourish with the right resources and how much it helped them has motivated me to push myself to excel in my career. Ask for that raise, ask for that promotion.” She says that constantly encouraging her mentees to advocate for themselves has made her do the same. “Mentoring for me has helped me grow so much because it’s like holding up a mirror. We share so many experiences and you realize just as you are a powerful influence for them, they do the same for you. It is incredibly motivating when you have people like that in your circle. They are the most ambitious group of women that I’ve met.” For Marie, mentoring through Break Through Tech has been a gift. “People think of mentoring as a giving thing, but it has been just as much a learning thing for me.”

When asked what advice she’d give to someone thinking about becoming a mentor, Marie doesn’t hesitate: “Just do it.” She admits she was nervous at first, especially with only two years of experience and wondering if that was enough. But she encourages others to embrace their unique journeys, emphasizing that different perspectives make the program stronger. She also highlights how enthusiastic and talented the mentees are, making the mentoring experience truly rewarding.

To the next generation of fellows, Marie encourages them to “take advantage of all that is being offered to you.” She urges them to attend events, reach out to mentors, and seek support wherever they can. She reminds them that Break Through Tech exists to help them break into their careers and these spaces, so it’s important to make the most of every resource available.