Hi, nice to meet you! My name is Alisa Lu, and I am a second-year undergraduate student at UC Irvine studying Computer Science. At UCI, I am a member of Women in Information and Computer Sciences (WICS), an organization aimed to encourage and support women pursuing a career in the computer science field. Last week, I had the amazing opportunity to attend Grace Hopper Celebration in person in Orlando, Florida with a couple other members from WICS. Grace Hopper Celebration is the world’s largest gathering of women technologists, named after Admiral Grace Hopper, who was a pioneer in the field of computer science.
My two (jetlagged) days at Grace Hopper were spent mostly at the Expo Hall, which showcased booths for all sorts of companies from around the world. I also attended a couple presentations, workshops, and company networking events. In this blog post, I’ll be covering all my experiences with these various parts of the conference — whether you are preparing for a future Grace Hopper, or simply curious about what the conference is all about, I invite you to come read and relive my experience with me.
The Keynote Ceremony
The first day we spent at the conference, we attended the opening plenary, which set an empowering and uplifting tone for the energy of the conference. As people filled the seats in the Mainstage, we listened to live music from Va$htie, and it was great to see everyone dancing along and having fun in the audience!
There were a variety of speakers and presentations at the keynote — I will be covering just a few highlights here. Brenda Darden Wilkerson, President and CEO of AnitaB.org gave a great opening speech (after walking on stage to September — Earth, Wind, and Fire — it was September 21st, after all) which really nailed the theme of “Next is Now” and inspired me to be brave and achieve greatness. Frances Haugen also gave a great speech regarding the ethical problems in social media, something that I find really important. I wasn’t able to tune into the virtual opening ceremony’s keynote from Dr. Anita Hill, but I find it amazing that she was present.
The keynote also featured awards for outstanding women in technology and top companies for women technologists. Hearing other women in technology speak about their achievements and reflections on where they came from was especially inspiring as a student. The top companies for women technologists portion was very eye-opening as well and introduced me to much of the progress being made in the industry. As someone entering the technology workforce as a woman in the near future, these companies’ achievements were great to hear and helped me identify traits that I hope to see in my future place of work.
The Expo Hall
I spent most of my time at GHC in the Expo Hall, which hosted all the company booths with cool displays (and lots of swag)! I wasn’t actively seeking a job or internship, so I didn’t take any interviews or 1-on-1 meetings with companies, but it was still a pleasure to chat and connect with company representatives. I learned a lot about so many companies out there, as well as the experiences of the women who have worked at those companies.
The energy throughout the hall really was unmatched — from speaking to other students in line waiting to talk to company representatives, to seeing representatives from competing companies talk among themselves about their experiences — I could feel the bonds being made in the spirit of connection. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to speak to so many different companies and to have learned so much about working at those companies.
My favorite company that I learned about was John Deere — prior to Grace Hopper, I didn’t know much about it other than it produced tractors. Speaking with an engineer from John Deere, I learned so much about the innovation in the tractor industry. Machine learning applications for tractors are helping farmers place seeds more strategically, save money and energy for tractors, and keep track of crop growth.
I decided to major in computer science because of the potential it has in making advancements in other industries, which is why I enjoyed learning about companies like John Deere, which weren’t necessarily big tech. These conversations inspired my innovative spirit — I find it amazing how technology is ever-growing and expanding in so many different fields.
I also made sure to take the time at Grace Hopper to talk to representatives from quantitative trading firms. I have heard many things about the financial technology space being a toxic space for women, but I wanted to challenge these stereotypes by speaking to women who work firsthand in the industry. I am happy to report that the general consensus is that the environment is getting better for women, though it is a work in progress. It was great to hear that Grace Hopper gave quant firm engineers the opportunity to converse with women from competing quant firms about their workplace policies (such as maternal leave). These conversations were ones they hoped to leverage to pave the way for more equitable policies in the workplace.
Other than the conversations I had, there was also a lot of swag to be received! The list of cool swag is very long, so I’ll summarize it with a couple highlights:
- Many (high quality) bags, hats, and shirts
- A water bottle with a remove cup and lid hidden inside from Snapchat
- Several professional photoshoot opportunities (to update your LinkedIn profile picture!)
- A macaron with my picture on it! (Wells Fargo had a machine that took a picture of you and printed it onto an empty macaron)
- Free DNA test kits from Ancestry.com
- a Hot Wheels Tesla car
- a portable speaker and phone holder from Bank of America
- I could go on and on…
From the Expo Hall, I gained a suitcase full of goodies, and also a heart full of the inspiring conversations I had and connections I made.
Networking Events
After the conference events ended at 5 PM, many companies also hosted post-conference networking events, where you could socialize and connect with company representatives. I attended events hosted by Google and IBM, and my friends at WICS also went to events hosted by Disney, Nike, Kohl’s, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan Chase.
I attended the Google Experience Studio, which was marketed as “a space designed to celebrate wellbeing, individuality, and meaningful connections.” The event was indeed a great way to unwind. When I walked in, the first thing I noticed were installations encouraging us to explore art and culture with some games developed by Google (a pottery game, a pictionary with an AI game, and a coloring game). Trying these games out was a great way to relax after a long day of walking around the conference hall. In the center of the event were affirmation telephone booths — when you picked up a phone, you’d hear a note of affirmation and encouragement! There was also a line for massages, as well as a wellness booth to unwind by listening to meditation and breathing exercises.
The event was also a great place to connect and meet new people! Over some drinks and hors d’oeuvres (my favorite were the empanadas, bacon wrapped scallops, and the “Grace Hopperitas”), I was able to sit down with a friend and bond over some icebreaker question cards. Some questions we asked each other were regarding our favorite books, what we do after work, and 4 words that other people would use to describe us. There were also many photo booth opportunities inspired by Google’s offices!
Other than the Google Experience Studio, I also attended an event hosted by IBM at Universal Citywalk. Upon arriving, I indulged in some free food and drinks while enjoying the vibes at the karaoke bar (I want it that way, anyone?). We then headed over to Universal’s Marvel Super Hero Island, where the free food and music continued as we got to ride the rides of our choice (with no lines) and take pictures with superheroes!
I’m not a huge fan of roller coasters or superheroes, but going on the rides with some new friends I made at the event was a blast! I went on the Spiderman 3D ride several times and even though I knew all the sequences and the plot, it didn’t get old and kept making me scream. The Hulk ride was intense, fast, and dizzying, but so exhilarating and fun! And lastly, the Doctor Doom drop tower was terrifying at first, but the night scenery as we made the final slow descent downwards was so relaxing and beautiful.
I am super grateful to have been able to be invited to and attend these events — thank you to Google and IBM for their organization and hospitality. They were definitely a major part of attending Grace Hopper in person that made it as fun as it was, and if any readers are going to Grace Hopper, I strongly recommend attending these networking events if you have the chance!
Miscellaneous / Being in Florida
My first impression of Florida was formed when I checked the weather forecast and saw 90-degree weather happening concurrently with rain — as someone who grew up in California, I had no idea what kind of clothes I was supposed to pack, and I was scared of the territory I was about to enter. My second impression of Florida was formed when we stepped out of the airport in Orlando — it was so humid!
Weather aside, where we were in Orlando was, from what our Uber driver said, quite touristy and had plenty of things to do. My friends at WICS and I spent some nights eating out and surveying the Florida food and vibes. I really enjoyed eating at nearby restaurants and getting a taste of the nightlife in Orlando.
Takeaways
I learned so much from my time at Grace Hopper, and it was extremely empowering to be in a space surrounded by so many outstanding women in tech. At the Keynote ceremony, we were encouraged by President and CEO of AnitaB.org Brenda Darden Wilkerson to take note of the things that inspired us. Throughout my time at Grace Hopper, there were many things that I ended up noting down — from the conversations I had, to the ones I overheard; from the affirmations I received, to the ones I gave.
In the end, I am incredibly grateful that I was given the opportunity to attend — thank you to the Office of Access and Inclusion at UC Irvine! I will be taking away all that I have learned and applying it to my life and future career as a woman technologist. Next is indeed now — the future is now, and change is built now.