A few weeks ago, Data Fluency Certificate undergraduate students Sima Raha, Nazifa Qazizada, and Computational Biology undergraduate Hannah Beakley attended the WECode Conference at Harvard University. WECode (Women Engineers Code) is the largest student-run undergraduate tech conference, organized by undergraduate women at Harvard University.
“As graduation approaches, I’ve felt some uncertainty about where I fit into the tech industry,” says Hannah Beakley, a senior studying Computational Biology. “I attended this conference hoping to gain confidence and new perspectives as a woman pursuing a career at the intersection of technology and life sciences.”
The conference featured talks, workshops, and mentorship events with tech industry leaders who shared their journeys towards overcoming challenges and finding success in tech and their expertise in innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
“One of my favorite talks was with Ellen Pao, former CEO of Reddit,” says Hannah. “While many speakers offered advice on how to adapt to the changing landscape, Ellen Pao encouraged us to think about how we can actively shape it for the better—an idea that really resonated with me.”
Hannah, Sima, and Nazifa, whose attendance at the conference was sponsored by DSI, say they had an overwhelming positive experience.
“The mentorship circles were an especially impactful part of the conference,” says Sima. “Hearing personal stories and advice from accomplished mentors made me feel more confident and inspired to pursue my goals. Their encouragement and guidance helped me envision the kind of leader I hope to become.”
Similarly, Hannah says her favorite part of the conference was “simply being surrounded by so many inspiring women—from the Harvard students running the conference to the speakers and attendees.
“The energy in the room was invigorating, and I left feeling both empowered and excited for the future.”
