The 4 day conference at Grace Hopper has been one of the rewarding learning experiences for me. One of the main highlights for me was meeting so many people from all over the globe and from various companies, including Google, Microsoft, Cigna, and Amazon. These connections are valuable for mentorships and a close-knit network in the field. As a woman in the technology field, I felt a warm sense of community of women united through the passion of innovating technologies. I also grew closer with the Rollins College students who went to the conference too, who I may have never met otherwise. From the empowering keynotes that highlighted top women leaders in the industry to the interactive design workshops, this conference opportunity allowed me to be apart of a welcoming technologist community. I particularly enjoyed this year’s theme of the conference which was “We will” to speak to women empowerment. The technology showcases and the speakers showcasing their research, including technologies for the mobility impaired and data science for retail, inspired me to go further in my computer science studies because of the seemingly infinite potential of the power of technologies. The diverse conference workshops allowed me to explore the vast technology industry, such as machine learning and product management. I also hope to continue to foster the relationships with the talented individuals that I met.

Cristalle Choi