The way forward for expertise is vivid, particularly after the resounding success of the seventh annual Cisco Ladies Energy Tech, held on the Cisco campus in Richardson, Texas, on April 17, 2025!
This impactful occasion related 73 vivid younger college students with the huge potential of STEM, supported by 13 devoted educators. These gifted individuals hail from Cisco Networking Academy colleges, a strategic partnership that enables us to successfully attain and encourage the subsequent technology of tech professionals.
What’s Ladies Energy Tech?
In celebration of Worldwide Ladies in Info and Communication Expertise (ICT) Day, Cisco Richardson hosts Networking Academies throughout the North Texas Metroplex, providing college students a full day of empowerment, studying, and pleasurable actions. This occasion blends inspiring talks, hands-on labs, mentorship, and networking into an enticing and academic expertise.
Ladies Energy Tech is extra than simply an occasion. It’s a motion devoted to empowering ladies and younger ladies to pursue careers in expertise and bridge the gender hole in STEM. We’re cultivating the subsequent technology of innovators, problem-solvers, and tech leaders.
A day of inspiration and exploration
Inspiring messages
The day kicked off with an inspiring keynote deal with from Melissa Kraft, the CIO of the Metropolis of Frisco. She shared her tech journey, highlighting its energy and boundless alternatives, and delivered a profound message to the younger ladies:
“Tech is highly effective. YOU make it significant. Keep in mind, you belong on this area.”
—Melissa Kraft, CIO, Metropolis of Frisco
Constructing on this momentum, the women then engaged in a considerate dialogue, sharing their private inspirations and what sparks their curiosity throughout the world of expertise.
Following the keynote, Veronica Valladarez, Cisco Account Government – Portfolio, delivered an inspiring deal with.
She vividly shared the exceptional story of Cisco co-founder Sandy Lerner and her resilient journey of turning adversity into a brand new, profitable enterprise. Veronica then related this to the women’ potential by way of her empowering message:
“Rejection is simply redirection. True innovators make NEW worlds when the previous ones don’t settle for them.”
—Veronica Valladarez, Account Government, Cisco Portfolio
Her phrases deeply resonated, fostering self-belief and resilience to encourage the younger ladies to worth their distinctive views.
Participating actions
To interrupt the ice and foster connections, the attendees participated in a vigorous Networking Bingo Recreation. This enjoyable and interactive exercise inspired college students to step exterior their consolation zones, meet new folks, and uncover shared pursuits, constructing a supportive and collaborative ambiance proper from the beginning.
To present our vivid younger attendees a style of various sides of expertise and join them with inspiring position fashions, we ran our labs and pace mentoring periods in a dynamic rotation.
- AI Lab: Fitted to Victory – Younger minds explored the fundamentals of synthetic intelligence by way of a hands-on experiment. On this exercise, they educated a mannequin to categorise fits of playing cards utilizing their webcam. They explored how algorithms study, experimented with picture recognition software program, and even brainstormed how AI might be used to resolve real-world issues.
- Sphero Lab: Maze Mayhem – College students discovered to program and management revolutionary programmable robotic balls by way of a LEGO maze. This hands-on expertise helped foster problem-solving abilities, creativity, and a deeper understanding of programming ideas.
- Velocity Mentoring – This offered a useful alternative for the scholars to attach with a various group of completed professionals from varied tech fields. The rapid-fire, targeted conversations allowed the younger ladies to ask questions, acquire insights into totally different profession paths, and obtain personalised recommendation and encouragement.
The day culminated in an Awards ceremony, celebrating the individuals’ enthusiasm, engagement, and newfound data. The grins on the scholars’ faces as they obtained recognition had been a testomony to the occasion’s influence.
Extra than simply tech
Ladies Energy Tech isn’t nearly technical abilities; it’s about constructing a robust, supportive group the place younger ladies really feel empowered, assured, and know their voices and concepts are valued.
We had been significantly moved by the conversations we overheard – ladies sharing their aspirations and inspiring one another to pursue their goals fearlessly. This sense of camaraderie and mutual assist is precisely what Ladies Energy Tech goals to domesticate.
What attendees mentioned
“My favourite a part of the occasion was getting to attach one-on-one with the unimaginable folks from Cisco. I liked listening to everybody’s profession trajectories because it gave me a lot perspective—it helped me keep grounded in my very own imaginative and prescient whereas excited about all the chances forward. My greatest takeaway was the significance of staying open-minded and dedicated to steady studying. I spotted that mindset can open doorways you didn’t even know existed!”
—Jassmin
“I used to be scared, at all times asking myself, ‘What if it’s arduous? However you guys confirmed me what it means to work in expertise and what it could possibly do for the folks. You confirmed me that, regardless of my pursuits, tech at all times has a spot for somebody. I thanks for all you’ve gotten finished!”
—Aaliya
“Thanks for internet hosting this nice occasion. It was inspiring and really helpful. The superb mentors I’ve met by way of networking have considerably modified my life choices. As an immigrant, I don’t have a lot steering in these facets of my profession, and this occasion was an awesome alternative for me. Thanks!”
—Nameless Thank-You Be aware
Wanting forward
Ladies Energy Tech 2025 was an funding sooner or later. It was a day when younger ladies found their potential, related with position fashions, and realized {that a} profession in expertise is just not solely doable but additionally extremely thrilling and significant. The vitality and enthusiasm witnessed all through the day left little doubt that the way forward for tech is in vivid palms. We will’t wait to see the superb issues these younger ladies will obtain!
To make sure the continued success and progress of this annual Ladies Energy Tech occasion, we persistently want devoted leaders to help with coordination, supportive companions to fund partaking actions, and impactful audio system to encourage our attendees.
If you’re keen on getting concerned, e mail us.
Thanks to everybody who made it doable
Our honest gratitude to The Batiste Venture for our Tech labs, and to our Cisco Inclusive Group sponsors, Ladies in Science and Engineering (WISE) and Conexión LatinX Community.
A heartfelt due to the 13 devoted educators, two inspiring audio system, 40 enthusiastic volunteers, 11 dedicated Ladies Energy Tech leaders, and particularly the good ladies who participated. You all introduced the imaginative and prescient of Ladies Energy Tech to life.
What was your favourite a part of Ladies Energy Tech 2025? Share your ideas and images utilizing #GirlsPowerTech2025!
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