The Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) 2024 was an unforgettable experience, as it is the largest gathering of women and nonbinary individuals in technology. As a first-time attendee, I was both excited and a little nervous. My goals were simple: learn about the latest technology trends, network with recruiters, and find inspiration from the stories of others. GHC opened my eyes to new career possibilities, connected me with a supportive community, and boosted my confidence. This year's theme, "Me + We," really resonated with me, reminding me that when we support each other, we can achieve anything.

Pre-Event Preparation

In the summer, I applied for the GHC Grants offered by Women in Computing Science (WiCS) and was grateful to be selected as one of seven students. Once we received the news, we worked together to plan our flights, book hotels, and coordinate schedules.

I spent time reviewing the event schedule, choosing sessions related to AI, data science, leadership, and career development. I updated my resume and uploaded it early to the GHC Resume Database to improve my chances of connecting with recruiters and receiving invitations to exclusive events. Before the event, we met with Noble, a former WiCS president and GHC attendee, who gave us valuable tips to help us prepare. She advised us to submit our resumes early, add a QR code, prepare a one-minute pitch, and research the companies we were interested in. She answered our questions, which made us feel less nervous and more confident for the conference.

Opening Ceremony

After we landed in Philadelphia, we freshened up at the hotel and took the shuttle to the convention center to get our badges. The convention center was lively and filled with thousands of attendees. We attended the opening ceremony, where we enjoyed performances by a DJ and a violinist, along with talks from several notable speakers.

During this, Brenda Darden Wilkerson, President and CEO of AnitaB.org, shared some important statistics:

• In 1995, 37% of computer scientists were women. By 2024, that number has dropped to 22.6%, a 38.9% decrease over the past 30 years.
• Only 14% of leaders in tech are women. Without visible role models, young girls often find it hard to see themselves in leadership roles, which contributes to continued underrepresentation.

She emphasized that by empowering young women through mentoring, education, and encouragement, we can work together to reverse these trends and create a more inclusive future for women in tech.

One of my favorite moments at the opening ceremony was the keynote by America Ferrera, the award-winning actress and activist. She spoke passionately about overcoming unconscious biases and fostering inclusivity in tech. Her message, emphasizing the value of embracing our unique backgrounds as strengths, resonated with me and others who have felt like outsiders in the industry. America also highlighted the importance of mentors in opening doors for the next generation of women in tech, inspiring me to work toward creating better opportunities for those who will follow.

Breakout Sessions: Workshops, Panels, and Hands-On Learning

I attended various workshops and sessions such as "Master Your Elevator Pitch to Land and Ace Interviews" and "AWS: Build a Virtual Styling Agent Using Amazon Bedrock and Langchain." These workshops provided practical skills and fresh ideas on new technologies. I also attended helpful sessions on system design interview preparation and the "Ask the Experts vs. Ask GPT-4" debate, which highlighted how human knowledge and AI can work together.

The hands-on workshops were valuable and allowed me to explore firmware, server management, and the ethical issues of AI in healthcare. These experiences helped me improve both my technical and interpersonal skills. I also found panels like "Can I Cry at Work?", "Advice From a Modern Mentor", "You're Not Alone" to be eye-opening, as they encouraged important conversations about emotional well-being in the tech industry and emphasized the need for workplaces where emotions and challenges can be shared openly, without fear of judgment.

Career Fair Expo

This year, the conference split attendees into two groups for the Expo and we were given specific time slots each day to visit. The Expo Hall was full of energy! There were hands-on demos and cool tech to check out. Big companies like Amazon, Google, and Meta were there, along with nonprofits like Rewriting the Code. Some recruiters were screening resumes and doing interviews on the spot. Talking to recruiters was a bit nerve-wracking at first, but being myself and asking good questions helped. I often teamed up with another WiCS attendee, which made it easier to relax and have better conversations. We connected with recruiters on LinkedIn and got access to GHC-exclusive job postings. I also had fun collecting swag and meeting companies I admire, like Roblox, Cloudflare, and Nvidia.

Overall, the Expo Hall was full of creativity, exciting demos, and industry leaders ready to chat. Besides the booths, I enjoyed Uber's bracelet-making session, which was a unique way to network. One of my favorite highlights was attending an exclusive Roblox event, which included great food, fun activities like perfume making, and excellent hospitality. The experience was truly memorable.

While GHC was overwhelmingly positive, I faced some challenges. Navigating the large number of sessions, events, and networking opportunities was overwhelming at times. There were moments when I felt intimidated or out of place, especially as a Canadian student in an American-dominated space, but these challenges were part of the growth process. I pushed myself to step out of my comfort zone, engage in conversations, and make the most of every opportunity.

Closing Ceremony

The final day of the conference featured the closing ceremony, along with Breakout Sessions and Career Fair Expo time. The closing keynote by Viola Davis, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning actress, producer, and activist, was inspiring. She spoke about resilience, authenticity, and overcoming obstacles to build diverse, inclusive communities. Her message highlighted that persevering through personal or societal challenges can help break down barriers preventing marginalized groups from fully participating in the workforce. She encouraged us to bring our true selves to the table, reminding us that doing so makes the industry stronger and more innovative.

Experiencing Philadelphia

This year's GHC offered the opportunity to explore Philadelphia, a city rich in history and culture. From iconic landmarks like the Liberty Bell to vibrant neighborhoods filled with art galleries and restaurants, there was something for everyone. We took advantage of the free time at night to visit local spots and connect with other attendees outside of the conference. I spent this time with the other WiCS students, which gave me a great opportunity to get to know them and grow closer.

Reflection

The Grace Hopper Celebration was an incredibly powerful experience, mainly because of the strong sense of community it fostered. I felt surrounded by allies, mentors, and friends, and the energy was contagious. GHC isn't just about individual success - it's about uplifting one another and creating a more inclusive tech community. Seeing so many women and nonbinary individuals excel in male-dominated fields filled me with pride and confidence and helped me see myself as a future leader in tech.

Leaving GHC, I felt stronger, hopeful, and determined. The event reminded me that representation truly matters and that the "Me + We" theme is more than just a slogan; it's a guide for the future of tech. At GHC, women weren't a minority in computing; we were the majority, and that feeling was incredibly empowering. It felt like a healing experience, where we found a community that genuinely understood each other's challenges and supported one another.

Thank you to SFU Women in Computing Science for this once-in-a-lifetime experience! <3