Life has a funny way of challenging us just when we think we have enough on our plates. I delivered my second baby nine months ago. As a mother of two now, I knew my life would be busier than expected. Somewhere amidst all this, I was also preparing myself mentally to return to work after my maternity break, a journey that in itself demands a lot from any new mom.

Coming back to work wasn’t easy. It never is. IYKYK 🙂 There are moments of guilt, anxiety, and overwhelming emotion. But there’s also a spark inside you, which is kind of missing the old you. I wanted to be in action like my old days. 

When I heard about the UiPath Hackathon organized by the Test Tribe community over LinkedIn, a part of me immediately wanted to jump in. It’s an opportunity to learn a new tool and network with people. But another part of me hesitated.

“Can I really do this with a 9-month-old at home?”
“Will I find the time? The energy? The focus?”

What if I couldn’t finish it?

These questions kept circling in my mind.  But then, something inside me whispered — “Just give it a try.”

Taking the First Step

With a mix of excitement and apprehension, I tried to register for Hackathon and I was facing some issues. So, Ashutosh helped me with the registration.

I promised myself that even if I couldn’t complete everything perfectly, the experience itself would be a win. I decided to work around my baby’s sleep schedule, which is highly unpredictable! It was a juggling act between nap windows, feeding, and baby snuggles.

There were moments when I thought about giving up. It’s hard to sit in front of a laptop, trying to solve a problem, when your heart and ears are tuned to every little whimper from the next room. But each time I felt like quitting, I reminded myself “try till the end”.

Diving into UiPath and No-Code Automation

A day before the hackathon, the Test Tribe team organized a demo around UiPath, and I couldn’t join the session. Later, they shared the recording for our reference. It was quite useful to understand the application and the features offered. 

On April 26th, around noon MYT, the session started with the introduction and icebreakers. 

The hackathon centered around no-code automation using UiPath Studio and UiPath Cloud. I have worked around a few low/no-code tools for automation. My prior experience helped me a lot.

There were two challenges:

1. Web Automation
2. Mobile Automation

Participants can do either one or both. I am more interested in Web and due to time constraints, I had to pick only Web Automation. The challenge was to automate a dummy banking site and create end-to-end test cases around it. I started exploring the UiPath tool, navigating its features, understanding how the drag-and-drop interface worked, how workflows were built, and how various activities interacted.

One of the best parts? It didn’t feel overwhelming. UiPath made automation feel accessible, even for someone new to the platform. I realized how powerful no-code tools can be in reducing entry barriers and democratizing technology.

Step by step, click by click, test case by test case, I was building my demo project. It wasn’t about competing with anyone else. It was about challenging my limits.

The Power of a Supportive Community

I can’t talk about this journey without mentioning the amazing folks from the Test Tribe community.

From the very beginning, they made sure we felt supported. There were hands-on sessions, prompt assistance whenever someone got stuck, and a lot of encouragement flowing throughout the event. Knowing that someone was there to help if you hit a roadblock made a huge difference.

They dedicatedly created a channel for “hackathon” discussion on Discord. Also, all the details were captured in a Notion page and shared with us. 

Sometimes, all we need is a friendly voice telling us, “You can do it. Keep going.” And that’s exactly what the Test Tribe community offered. Other folks were busy trying to fix their issues, and that motivated me not to give up.

My Learnings

Technically, I would say,

• RPA basics (which I was always wondering what RPA was about)
• UiPath Studio for Test case, Workflow designing
• UiPath cloud (Test Manager: Requirement creation, Test Case Creation, Test Set Creation and Execution, Orchestrator)
• No Code Automation Features

More Than Just a Hackathon

Completing my project for the hackathon felt like standing atop a mountain I had Submitting my project for the hackathon, though it’s half-baked, felt so good. It’s about consistency and my hard work. I won something much bigger:

• I won over my self-doubt.
• I won the ability to adapt and grow, even during one of the most demanding phases of motherhood.
• I won the realization that my dreams don’t have to pause just because life gets busier.

This hackathon was more than just a technical challenge. I learnt it’s about showing up and doing what you can, and not about giving up at some point. On day 2, my health was testing me. But I managed to submit my project, video, and slides. It’s okay to try, even when you are not sure how you’ll make it work.

A Message to Other Moms (and Everyone Else)

If you’re reading this and you’ve been holding back from chasing a goal because of fear, guilt, or uncertainty, I see you. I was you. 

There is no perfect time. There’s only now.

It’s okay to start small.

It’s okay to move slowly.

It’s okay to take a break.

It’s okay to ask for help.

And most importantly, it’s okay to be proud of every little win.

Even if the world doesn’t see the countless hours you spent balancing responsibilities, you know the strength it took to show up.

And that’s enough.

As I wrap up this blog, I am filled with gratitude for my family, for the Test Tribe community, for UiPath, and most importantly, for that little voice inside me that said, “Just try.”

Here’s to new beginnings, brave tries, and tiny steps that lead to giant leaps.

Thank you for reading my experience. I hope it inspires you to take that first step, too. See you at the next event 🙂

 #UiPathHackathonWithTTT