Tamasin Ford

Tamasin Ford is a software developer, educator, and entrepreneur whose career spans business strategy consulting, web development, and technology education. Ford founded Power Up Tech Academy, a coding school for children in grades K-8, after recognizing a lack of computer programming classes for kids in Chicago. Power Up Tech Academy offers students an introduction to coding or opportunities to deepen their skills.

Before establishing Power Up Tech Academy, Ford consulted on business strategy for Fortune 100 companies with The Boston Consulting Group and spent a decade in custom web development, including nine years running her own business, SharpCurve Solutions. Ford has also taught private piano lessons for more than 15 years and has experience teaching mathematics in various settings, including private, small group, classroom, and lecture hall environments. This combination of corporate strategy, technical expertise, and teaching experience positions Ford as a knowledgeable voice on the intersection of technology and education.

At Power Up Tech Academy, Ford teaches coding to students from kindergarten through eighth grade in languages such as Scratch, Scratch Jr, Python, and HTML/CSS/JS. Students create video games, Minecraft mods, animations, and websites, developing confidence, problem-solving, and logical thinking skills. Ford has served as an instructor at University of Chicago FEMMES Code Camp and Chicago Scratch Day, and speaks to students about careers in technology and her experiences as a woman in tech.

Ford also co-founded Female Founders Pitch, a community supporting women entrepreneurs in networking and business development. Her entrepreneurial work includes being part of the team at Molecule Software, where she explores artificial intelligence and its impact on technology and industry. Ford holds an MBA from University of Michigan Ross School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Pure Mathematics from University of Calgary. Her academic background in mathematics, combined with practical experience as a developer and educator, establishes Ford as an authoritative voice on technology, STEM education, and women in entrepreneurship.