Semester Study Abroad
This spring semester I was lucky enough to spend a semester abroad at the Lochlann Quinn School of Business at the University College of Dublin. While being immersed into a completely different culture taught me a lot about myself, I was also blessed to have both an informative and exciting experience with the Women In Stem Society.
I learned so much about women not only in the information systems field, but from other STEM fields such as biology, computer sciences, actuarial sciences, and so much more! More than anything, this group has permitted me to bond with other women in a fun and collaborative environment. The club hosted many different meetings, speaker series, conferences, and panels.
One of my favorite events with this club was the Celebration of Women of Colour in STEM event.
Celebration of Women of Colour in STEM event
This event was my favorite because I got was introduced to numerous students who were also interested in women in STEM without being in the STEM field. This event collaborated with the UCD Africa Society and the African Professional Network in order to bring five empowering women on a panel to share about their own personal experiences in the STEM field. I was able to learn about hardships they faced and the challenges they overcame in order to rise in their fields. This deeply moved me because I am an Indian woman who hopes to one day make waves in the MIS industry.
I was particularly inspired by Toju Duke who works as a tech startup mentor and is also the founder of Refyne – a marketing coaching platform. She shared a message about how AI, social impact, and world issues can all be combined to create something bigger. She shared her thoughts about how technology should be used to serve to make the world a better place for everyone. It was this positive mindset that truly inspired me to learn MIS not just for the information, but to impact the world in a positive way.
My experience with both the Women in STEM society and studying abroad has helped me to gain a whole new appreciation for technology, and even more importantly, the powerful minds of women.