Attending the Grace Hopper Conference was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life. I had the opportunity of meeting so many bright women in the tech industry and hearing about how they impacted change through their work. The GHC female speakers at the conference are creating the technology of tomorrow. Seeing so many powerful female leaders applying software to tackle societal issues like global warming, social injustice, medical research and treatment proves that studying computer science is important to lead the future forward. There are so many applications to software and the nice thing is that you can apply it to anything you are passionate about. All the women who achieved great success in their career and/or continued their education to graduate studies all started as beginners. If they were able to work hard and make it, so can current UW female students who are early in their academic and career journeys.
My favorite memory from GHC was having brunch with Sue Harnett, the founder of Rewriting the Code. The other Grace Hopper scholars and I were able to chat with Sue about the struggles of women in the tech industry. We were able to discuss how hard it is to fit in when you are in a male-dominant program. Feeling imposter syndrome is always intensified when you are part of a visible minority. It is rare to have female supervisors and mentors when working; this makes it hard to find someone you can relate to and talk to openly. That is why the organization’s mission of creating a community for women in tech where it is easier to network, receive personal and professional skill development, and meet other women with similar interests is vital. Creating equal opportunities for all is the main goal tech industries should be working towards. Rewriting the Code’s efforts of working alongside tech companies to ensure this happens brings optimism and hope. On top of the many prizes and swag that were provided at GHC, Sue told us the people who interviewed with Bank of America at the conference received free admission to Universal Studios the following night. If you attend GHC, make sure to watch out for similar opportunities!
The energy at GHC was thrilling and uplifting. On the first day, it was so exciting to witness all the big tech company booths in the expo hall. As I walked from booth to booth, I not only spoke with company recruiters, but I was able to have one-on-one conversations with female software engineers and learn about the projects they are working on. GHC is a great way to network and gain advice on how to kick-start your tech career. On top of the expo hall, there were a variety of speaker sessions available for attendees. The sessions were a great way to learn more about the different advancements and topics surrounding different fields of software development. Other sessions focused on personal and character development and how to be successful in the industry. The Orange County Convention Center is huge. My recommendation is to wear a comfortable set of shoes to prepare for three consecutive days of walking.
The highlight of each day at GHC was attending the after-parties. The companies either sent you an Uber voucher to commute to the off-site event, or shuttles to and from the event were provided. The parties were great ways to socialize with employees in a fun atmosphere and learn about the different teams and roles at the company. Dinner, swag and activities were provided as well. My favorite after-party was the event hosted by Citadel and Citadel Securities at the Orlando Science Center. Featured speaker, Dr. Cady Coleman, spoke about her six month experience aboard the International Space Station. Dr. Coleman is an engineer and former US Air Force colonel at NASA where she was the leading officer on three missions. The commitment and passion required in space exploration are the same qualities needed when pursuing a career in technology and engineering. Dr. Coleman experienced many challenges of being a female astronaut, but her persistence and commitment to the mission allowed her to conquer great things in her career.
I gained so much insight into the tech industry; the opportunities are endless. In addition, I was able to build strong connections with the other GHC scholars and learn about their experiences of being a female in computer science. Building that sense of community between my peers meant a lot. We are here to support one another on our academic and career journeys. A huge thanks to the UW WiCS organization for sending me to GHC. Reflecting on the impactful work of the women at GHC, I aim to impact positive change through technology in the Waterloo community.