WiCS Con 2024 Sessions

Applying for co-op or full-time positions this term? Even if your resume has been looked over in PD1, it is wise to have someone in the tech industry provide feedback on what a resume for a technical position should look like. This session will start with a presentation on resume tips and advice, followed by 1:1 sessions with industry mentors. Bring a copy of your resume!

Note: The presentation is hybrid but the 1:1 critiques are IN PERSON ONLY!
 

Speaker:

Dana Barclay (Campus Recruiter) 

Join Meta for a technical interview bootcamp to help you Crush Your Coding Interviews. This workshop will prepare you to do well in software engineering interviews. We’ll cover: 

• How to write a great resume 

• Talk through an algorithm problem 

• How to brainstorm solutions 

• How to discuss the problem with your interviewer 

• How to write (and test) code on a whiteboard 

Speakers:

Amy Qiu (Software Engineer)

Amy is a Software Engineer at Meta. Amy is a Waterloo CS co-op '20 alumni. She interned at Microsoft, Google, Meta, Citadel and Deepmind. She is currently a backend engineer on the Facebook Metrics team where she is working on enforcing logging correctness. Ask her about leveraging your network to find interesting internships and opportunities, long-term career goals as well as the best cities to work in! 

Rolina Wu (Software Engineer)

Network Software Engineer at Meta during daytime, plant lady/artist at night. I am from the WAN Control team(WAN for Wide-Area Network). I focus on building scalable software and improving reliability gaps for Meta's Network. 

Are you gearing up for technical interviews? Whether you’re interested in Software Engineering internships or full-time SWE roles, you may want to practice your technical interview skills. Join Googlers to practice mock questions and learn some tips & tricks to ace your interviews!

The Power of a Team: The Importance of Community for Women in Tech

It is very difficult to go it alone in just about anything. It is particularly challenging when your identity is not well represented. You may feel like an outsider, question your path, or even change direction to one that feels more comfortable.

I will share how my participation in teams increased my confidence, supported individual and collective success, and created lifelong relationships. I found my first team on the basketball court at 10. My current team works on facilitating community and belonging for college and early career women in tech. With 26,000 global members, it’s my biggest team ever, and we are far from finished!

Speaker 

Sue Harnett (Founder and CEO of Rewriting the Code)

Sue Harnett is changing the game for young women entering careers in computer science and engineering. As a consultant to her alma mater, Duke University, she learned that women were exiting their computer science degree programs and giving up on pursuing their highest achievement because they lacked support. Her solution was to create a nationwide community for women in computing that was not limited by university borders or size.

That’s how her current venture, Rewriting the Code was born. With over 24,000 students and early career members from 110+ countries, women are finding rich digital and IRL communities that celebrate their unique identities as they work together to graduate and find work with many of Rewriting the Code’s corporate partners. Rewriting the Code’s community of women is committed to completing the work required to change the face of technology. She attributes the largest part of her success to creating teams of highly motivated colleagues who embrace a culture of inclusion, independence and motivation to do great things every day. And together, they’re unstoppable.

Have you ever experienced feelings of self-doubt in the face of success and achievement throughout your academia and work? These feelings are extremely common, especially for women in tech. Join us for an empowering workshop designed to provide you with the knowledge, tools and strategies to combat imposter syndrome and how to self-advocate for yourself to thrive authentically in your personal and professional pursuits. 

Speakers:

Amitoj Sandhu (Manager, Global Early Talent)

Amitoj is a seasoned HR professional with over 8+ years of experience in the tech, retail and healthcare sectors. As the Manager of Global Early Talent at Dayforce, he oversees the strategy and implementation of initiatives aimed at attracting, nurturing, and retaining top talent worldwide. His passion lies in empowering individuals and organizations to reach their utmost potential within the Early Talent realm.

Sunny Nagam (Recruiter)

Recruiter at Dayforce and Waterloo alumni. Over 4 years of recruiting experience in various tech and non-tech roles. Always open to discussing industry insights, labour market, economic impact on jobs, interview/resume tips, etc.

Ramijha Puspanathan (Early Talent Recruiter)

Ramijha is a recruiter at Dayforce and a University of Waterloo ’23 alumni. She started her journey at Dayforce as an Early Talent Intern and transitioned into a full-time role as an Early Talent Recruiter earlier this year. Having navigated through a co-op program herself, she’s dedicated to helping other students in kick starting their careers. Her goal is to aid in developing a program that attracts top talent, builds future leaders, fosters professional growth, and ultimately helps individuals discover their full potential. During her free time, she enjoys reading books or watching films, dreaming of attending Formula 1 races, or trying out new food spots in Toronto.

Alina Tang (Early Talent Recruiter)

Alina is a TMU alumni whose journey with Dayforce began in May 2022 as an Early Talent Intern. Since then, she has found her passion - helping students realize their potential early in their careers. She knows the dedication and reality that students face to secure an internship and is always willing to connect with students to help with resume building, interview tips and give early career advice. On a more personal note, Alina loves watching K-dramas on Netflix and eating out at various restaurants trending on TikTok.

Yulian Suwanda (Senior Director, Development)

Yulian Suwanda is Senior Director of Development at Dayforce.  Yulian leads development teams in building innovative and scalable talent solution for organizations to attract and manage their people.  She has more than 15 years of experience in the software industry, spanning from Development, Implementation, and Customer Success.  Yulian holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from University of Toronto.  She is passionate about helping women succeed in their careers.

Zynga’s session will be about nailing your resume formatting, interview prep, mastering your personal brand & career pathways into gaming.

Speakers:

Jane Lalonde (Manager - Early Careers)

Jane Lalonde supports all aspects of strategy, talent attraction, program management and student experience in the early careers space. Jane has worked with early talent for 12 years, starting in the accounting and finance field before shifting over to mobile gaming by joining Zynga in 2022. She's passionate about supporting students on their early career endeavours, and being a part of shaping the future of the industry. 

On a personal note, Jane enjoys spending time with her two pets, cooking, spending time outdoors gardening and is an avid traveler. 

Swedha Shinde (Corporate Talent Partner)

With a passion for mobile gaming, Swedha is a dedicated recruiter specializing in connecting top talent with innovative opportunities in the mobile gaming sector. Armed with over 6+ years of experience in talent acquisition, she possess a deep understanding of the unique demands and trends shaping the mobile gaming landscape. 

Titanic was a famous passenger ship that tragically sunk on its maiden voyage, and the majority of the passengers died. If you have a data set containing the passenger information, can you build a model to predict what factors led to a passenger surviving or not surviving?

In this workshop, we will guide you through a series of tasks to explore the Titanic data set. Our ultimate goal is to build a machine learning model to correctly predict the survival of each passenger in the data set. By the end of this workshop, you will learn a little bit of Python, a little bit of data science, and a little bit of machine learning. But, more importantly, you will be ready to embark on a journey to learn more about machine learning and data science by yourself. 

**BEFORE WiCS Con starts:  There is some homework to prepare for this workshop in advance.

1. Sign on to Kaggle (using a laptop or tablet with keyboard)
2. Access the Titanic Tutorial online (https://www.kaggle.com/alexisbcook/titanic-tutorial), complete parts 1 and 2 of the titanic tutorial on your own. After this, your coding environment is ready for the workshop!
3. Bring your laptop/tablet to the workshop! 

Speakers:

Aisha Khatun, Masters Student
 
Aisha Khatun is research master's student working with Prof Dan Brown in LLM reliability and applications in computational creativity (e.g. story generation). She enjoys working with data and figuring out our answers to questions people do not think of asking. She has been involved with NLP and data since her undergraduate years and has held several industry roles as an ML engineer and Data Scientist. In her spare time, she likes enjoying nature, especially the fresh spring falls!

Jessica Saini, Data Scientist (RBC Capital Markets)

Jessica Saini is a professional in the dynamic field of Data Science and AI. With a strong foundation in the intricacies of data analysis and machine learning, she applies her expertise as a Data Scientist at RBC Capital Markets. Jessica’s commitment to ongoing learning and professional development underscores her dedication to mastering her craft and staying abreast of emerging trends. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge and insights, fostering collaboration and innovation within the industry.

Join us for an engaging panel hosted by Talent Acquisition at OpenText, where we will unlock the keys to successful networking, mastering LinkedIn, and navigating salary negotiations. Whether you’re a student, recent graduate, or young professional, this event will offer invaluable insights into building your career toolkit. Expand your professional horizons and take charge of your career journey with OpenText!

Speakers:

Manjot Sidhu (Talent Acquisition Coordinator)

Manjot Sidhu began her career journey at OpenText as a Talent Acquisition Intern while pursuing her Human Resources Certificate. Today, Manjot has around 3 years of experience in recruitment and has been continuing to support the Talent Acquisition team at OpenText, primarily working on early careers and talent branding.    

Deb James (Senior Manager, Global Talent Branding)

Deborah is a seasoned Talent Acquisition Leader with over 12 years of extensive experience in the tech industry. Currently serving as the Senior Manager, Global Talent Branding at OpenText, she oversees a spectrum of Talent Acquisition programs, including the Canadian Co-op/Intern program. Deb excels in crafting and executing effective, multi-channel hiring strategies and cultivating a compelling employer brand. 

Caetie Anticknap (Director, Talent Acquisition)

Caetie Anticknap is a seasoned Talent Acquisition professional with over two decades of experience in the recruitment industry. Currently serving as the Director of Talent Acquisition at OpenText in Waterloo, Ontario, Caetie is responsible for driving strategic recruitment initiatives to attract and retain top talent.  

Gaurav Sehgal (Lead Talent Acquisition Advisor)

Gaurav Sehgal is currently working at OpenText, serving as a strategic partner in Talent Acquisition for the internal information technology business unit. He is an experienced delivery lead with a demonstrated history of 15+ years, working in the information technology and services industry. He has 8+ years of experience in contributing to organizational growth through hiring for high performing technical teams.   

Niloy Mollah (Lead Talent Acquisition Advisor)

Niloy Mollah is currently a Lead Talent Acquisition Advisor at OpenText, recruiting for Tech Sales Talent in North America. He has completed his Masters in Human Resources from the University of Toronto, and has 8 years of recruitment experience in various fields, such as Finance, Accounting, Operations, Healthcare, and Sales. Outside of work, he’s a tennis addict, cat dad of 2, and a family man at heart. 

Interested in what a security attack looks like? Netsim is a simulator game walks you through the basics of how computers communicate with each other, with an emphasis on security. You will learn how to perform attacks that real hackers use and see how they work in our simulator! 

Through the use of a network simulator game (CS4G Netsim) this workshop introduces participants to foundations of computer networks and their security. Participants will be able to perform realistic network attacks within the confines of the game that correspond to real network attacks. We will conclude with examples of the implications of the attacks demonstrated and potential defenses that are used to protect computer networks. 

**BEFORE WiCS Con starts:  Please bring a laptop or tablet that has an installed internet browser (e.g., Google Chrome) to the workshop! 

Speakers:

Jumana, Masters Student (University of Waterloo)

I am currently pursuing a Master of Mathematics in Computer Science at the esteemed University of Waterloo, where I am actively involved in the Cryptography, Security, and Privacy (CrySP) lab. CrySP engages in research encompassing cryptography, security, and privacy domains. Its members explore diverse subjects, ranging from crafting cryptographic protocols to assessing their efficacy and user-friendliness within operational systems. I am deeply passionate about cybersecurity and dedicated to uncovering vulnerabilities across various technologies. My research focuses on identifying security breaches, crafting robust solutions, and raising awareness among both vendors and users to mitigate risks effectively.

Zahra Manochehri, Masters Student (University of Waterloo)

Hi, I’m Zahra! I’m currently pursuing my master’s in data science and am a member of the Crysp lab. My area of research is the security of artificial intelligence. In my downtime, I love playing board games and video games with friends, as well as cooking meals for them.

Explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and health insurance in our presentation on “Artificial Intelligence for Health Insurance.” Join us as we take a deep dive into the innovative work of Manulife’s Advanced Analytics team and their AI journey for claim fraud detection and investigation. We’ll also explore the potential of Generative AI and responsible AI in shaping the future of health insurance. Engage with Yangang Chen, a Senior Data Scientist at Manulife and a proud UWaterloo alumni, to understand how these innovative AI technologies can impact product design, enhance customer experience, and create significant value for the industry.

Speaker:

Yangang Chen, Senior Data Scientist, Canadian Advanced Analytics Team

I am a Senior Data Scientist in Manulife, specializing on health & dental claim fraud detection and risk management. I obtained my PhD degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Waterloo in 2019, under the supervision of Prof. Justin Wan. Since my graduation, I have been working in Manulife and enjoying my AI challenges and my career here.

Join us for the University Life Panel at WiCS Con! Learn more about life at Waterloo from current WiCS students including work life balance, making friends and community involvement. See you there!

Moderator: 

Hanya Sakr 

Hello! My name is Hanya and I am in my third year of software engineering. I am an executive on the WiCS undergrad committee where I organize events aimed to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within Waterloo CS. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, doing spin classes and trying new coffee shops.


Speakers:

Angel Liu

Hi! I’m a fourth year Data Science student at the University of Waterloo. I’m currently in my fourth co-op term and I’ve just finished my 4A term. For my first few coops, I spent time testing out many positions, including software engineering, software testing, and being a CS teaching assistant. I’m pursuing academia positions further this term by conducting research here at Waterloo. Last winter, I spent a term on exchange at ETH Zurich, where I discovered my love for travelling and rediscovered my love for reading!

Priya Saha

Hi everyone! I’m Priya, and I’m in my 4A term of Computer Science & AI at the University of Waterloo. Currently, I’m working at Manulife as a Software Engineer. Previously, I was at RBC, LTI, and TD. I have been a part of WiCS since second year as Chair, Co-Chair, Director of Publicity & Director of Finance. Besides, I love reading, strumming tunes on my guitar, and you can always catch me running a 12mph all-out pace or a sub 7.5 mins 2000m row at OrangeTheory Fitness!

Dora Su

Hi! I’m Dora and I just finished my 4A term of CS, I’m currently interning at Riot Games, working on VALORANT! I’ll be interning at Jane Street in the Fall and have previously been at LinkedIn, Coinbase, and Faire, through a variety of frontend, backend, and infra roles.While at UW, I’ve joined various student groups such as WiCS, Computer Science Club, and Varsity Cheerleading. I’ve also spent an exchange term at the National University of Singapore, where I learned a lot about different cultures and built an international network of friends.

Join us for an inspiring session as Dazana Hasan shares her career journey—from university to her current role at Avanade. As an engineer who transitioned from industrial engineering to data engineering, Dazana has witnessed firsthand how AI is reshaping our world. Discover how AI integrates seamlessly into my work at Avanade, enhancing our solutions and driving innovation. But it's not just about business; it's about education too. Explore how AI can empower students, encouraging lifelong learning and skill-building.  

Remember this: AI isn't your replacement; it's your co-pilot. Embrace it, and together, we'll thrive in this AI-powered era. Whether you're a civil engineer, a software developer, or a quantum enthusiast, AI is your ally. 

Speaker:

Dazana Hasan (Senior Data Engineer)

Dazana Hasan graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Technology. She is an accomplished Senior Data Engineer at Avanade, where she has excelled in the cloud engineering workspace for several years. Dazana’s passion for technology and her commitment to excellence have made her a valuable asset to her team. Beyond work, she channels her creativity through painting and enjoys water activities during the summer, such as paddleboarding and exploring beaches around the world. 

Curious to hear from a Jane Street Software Engineer? Join us to hear from full-timer and University of Waterloo graduate Shela as she answers your questions about her experience at Jane Street, the application process, and our upcoming opportunities.

Speaker:

Shela Qiu (Software Engineer) Shela graduated from Software Engineering at the University of Waterloo. She interned at LinkedIn, Tesla, Uber ATG, Cognite, and Jane Street before joining Jane Street’s International ETFs team as a developer in 2021. She loves spending her free time playing soccer and hiking.

The conference will close with a stellar panel of women who hold technical roles at the various companies that are participating in WiCS Con 2024. What is the most unexpected obstacle they’ve had to face? What is a good thing to be afraid of? Come and hear their answers to these questions and ask questions of your own!
 

Speakers:

Joanne McKinley, Director of Software Development (Google)  

Joanne is a Director of Software Development at Google. She co-founded the Google Waterloo office in 2005 as one of the first developers of mobile Gmail. For years, Joanne led the delivery of mobile Gmail across multiple generations of mobile platforms, co-authoring over a dozen software patents. Today she runs 3P developer platform and ecosystem for all of Workspace and co-leads the Google Waterloo office. Joanne is passionate about championing and developing female leaders in technology. A role model for work-life balance, she has earned multiple promotions while working 32-hour weeks. 

Joanne holds a BMath (2000) and MMath (2002) in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo. She is mother to 3 school-aged children, enjoys running, and plays in three flute ensembles. 

Luchen Tan, Machine Learning Engineer Manager (Zynga)

 Luchen Tan is a Machine Learning Engineer Manager at Zynga, leading one of the Zynga Analytic Engineering teams focusing on ML system building and MLOps. She was graduated from University of Waterloo Computer Science with a PhD degree in 2017, continued as a Postdoctoral Fellow for a year. Luchen has a diverse career journey that began in academia, transitioned through startup R&D teams, and flourished in leading roles within the machine learning industry. Before joining Zynga, she held leadership positions in ML teams at companies including Twitter, Huawei and RSVP.ai. Committed to fostering talent, Luchen is deeply passionate about guiding university computer science students, particularly females, to discover their true calling within academia or the industry. 

Erika Lal, Software Engineer (Meta)

Hi, I’m Erika (she/her) and I’m excited to be at WiCS con! I’m originally from the Toronto area and graduated from the University of Waterloo Computer Science program in 2022. I currently work at Meta in New York City on machine learning infrastructure. My previous internship experience was in databases, natural language processing, and machine learning optimizations. In my free time I love singing, dancing, playing video games, and watching hockey. 

Lise Lefaive, VP, Chief Digital Officer, PMO, M&A (OpenText)

Lise Lefaive is currently the VP, Chief Digital Officer, PMO, M&A at OpenText. She has been at OpenText for a little over 3 years. Previously, Lise has extensive experience in delivering projects across diverse industries such as Software, Health Care, and Aviation. Throughout her career, Lise remains committed to driving impactful change and fostering collaboration to achieve strategic business goals.

Shela Qiu, Software Engineer (Jane Street)

Shela graduated from Software Engineering at the University of Waterloo. She interned at LinkedIn, Tesla, Uber ATG, Cognite, and Jane Street before joining Jane Street’s International ETFs team as a developer in 2021. She loves spending her free time playing soccer and hiking.

Joy Ananyi, Senior Manager, Global Data Governance (Manulife)

Joy Ananyi is a seasoned professional with 16 years of diverse experience in the Financial Services, Telecommunications, and Technology industries. Her career began in Software testing, where she played a key role in maintaining data integrity for large-scale data migration initiatives. Transitioning into a Product Owner role, Joy excelled in developing product visions and collaborating with technical teams to achieve desired business outcomes.

In her current role as a Data Governance professional at Manulife, Joy has demonstrated expertise in developing and implementing effective processes, standards, and tools to facilitate the seamless use of data. Her focus on ensuring easy access to meaningful, high-quality data for analytics and business users, while implementing stringent controls to protect data and meet regulatory requirements, has been pivotal to her success.

Joy holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Lagos, a master’s in Management of Information Technology from the University of Nottingham in the UK, and has recently completed her Executive MBA program at Ivey Business School.

As a member of both DAMA, the Global Data Management Community, and the Toronto Product Management Association, Joy is committed to staying engaged with industry best practices and other professionals in the data community. In her leisure time, she enjoys swimming and watching documentaries.

Anne Vo, Director, Development (Dayforce)

Anne Vo is a Director of Development at Dayforce, where she leads various web and mobile teams to deliver workforce management solutions to Dayforce users across the globe. She graduated from the University of Ottawa in 2003, with a B.Comm Hon., specializing in Management Information Systems. Once graduated, she decided to pursue a career in software development. Her unconventional background allowed her to think more creatively, problem solve non-linearly, and challenge traditional methods. Her experience spans from FinTech to MarTech, startups to large enterprises, and everything in between! After a decade of hands-on software development, she transitioned into tech leadership. She has been sharing her unique learnings with others in the industry, most particularly those in under-represented groups. Today, Anne continues to grow teams, build culture, and mentor individual contributors as well as other tech leaders. She enjoys connecting with other women and coaching them through their career journey. In her spare time, she stays active through sports and exercise and she loves spending time with her family.

Navjot Kaur, Account Lead (Avanade)

Navjot is currently the Sales and Enablement Lead at Avanade, holding a degree in Business Administration. She has had the privilege of working with Fortune 500 companies such as McKinsey & Company and Stryker and is now making her mark at Avanade. With over 16 years of experience in digital transformation, software development technology, product development, and sales, Navjot has a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Throughout her career, she has led numerous projects in UX design, application development, and workplace modernization. Outside of her professional life, Navjot is a mother to a 4-year-old who enjoys joining her during video calls with her team. A fun fact about Navjot is her green thumb - she loves gardening!