Fostering connections among women in technology is essential to promoting diversity within the computing field, thereby encouraging more women to enter and stay in the field. For over 10 years, GW Engineering’s Computer Science (CS) Department has supported its students in attending the annual Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC), the largest gathering of women and nonbinary technologists in the world, to make these connections and find camaraderie as they navigate the transition from university to the working world.
GHC 2024 took place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia from October 8 to 11, where CS students of varying levels, Evelina Naumovich, Maria McIntyre, Sara Almaouf, Peyton Mays, Zeina Nweashe, Niquita Varier, Kealia Niles, Simone Levy, Alice Carmen Tchangoum, Isabella Dayrit, Maryam Ghorbanvirdi, Laura Anker, and Adonia Sequeira, gathered to network with fellow female technologists. To broaden the impact of the conference, conference organizers provided a virtual attendance option, allowing GW Engineering’s three virtual attendees, Ankita Dewangswami, Anu Singh, and Madhuri Duvvuri, to still benefit from this experience.
“I knew GHC would be a great opportunity for me as a soon-to-be graduate from GW in December. I didn’t have a job lined up at the time of applying, and I knew from girls who had gone in the past that it was a great opportunity for job seeking in the tech space, especially for women and nonbinary individuals,” said Levy on why she chose to attend.
Inspired by the legacy of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, the global nonprofit AnitaB.org organizes this celebration to highlight women’s contributions to the tech world while bringing their research and career interests to the forefront. GHC 2024’s extensive program featured over 400 sessions, 600 speakers, and 19,000 minutes of virtual and in-person programming, along with an Expo providing attendees time to learn about open employment opportunities from Sponsors. Sequeira said she jumped at the chance to experience this exciting program after hearing buzz about it being the “go-to event for connecting with others in our field.”
“What really stood out to me were the conversations I had with other attendees. Chatting with engineers who’ve been in the industry for years gave me insights you can’t get from a textbook. They shared real-world advice on navigating job markets and planning career moves that I found incredibly valuable,” said Sequeira. “The variety of workshops kept me on my toes, as one minute I’d be learning about the latest in AI, and the next I’d be in a session on leadership skills. It was like getting a crash course in what’s shaping our industry right now.”
The conference’s theme, “Me + We,” highlights the power of these discussions that reveal shared experiences among women in tech and the collective strength they can harness when collaborating to overcome challenges. This sense of community and empowerment was clearly reflected in the experiences of GW’s CS women, where every connection made and story shared empowers them to remain in the field and strengthens the fabric of the GW Engineering community.
Levy shared a memorable moment of the conference, saying, “My favorite experience was the black technologists' reception where I met so many accomplished women from all walks of life, and it was truly uplifting, especially coming from a predominantly white institution like GW where there are so few black people in CS, let alone women! I also significantly improved my networking skills and became so much less nervous to dive deeper into the job search after attending.”
The CS Department's commitment to supporting diverse voices in tech is evident in its ongoing support of students' participation in GHC. The department and GW Engineering covered travel and lodging costs, helped students prepare for networking sessions, and hosted a dinner at Maggiano’s Little Italy on October 10 to further promote community within the department. In the academic pavilion of the Expo Hall, GW Engineering hosted a booth to engage with students and working professionals and share information on how they, too, can be part of our supportive community.
“Overall, attending GHC felt like getting a behind-the-scenes tour of the tech world. It’s given me a clearer picture of where I want to take my career and the confidence to pursue those goals. I left feeling inspired and more connected to the broader tech community than ever before,” Sequeira stated.
As GW Engineering and the CS Department continue to champion diversity in tech, events like GHC not only empower students but also play a crucial role in shaping a more inclusive future for the industry. The next Grace Hopper Celebration will be held in Chicago, Illinois. Don’t miss this opportunity to network, learn, and contribute to this vital professional development event for the tech community!