The way forward for know-how is vibrant, 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 linked 73 vibrant younger college students with the huge potential of STEM, supported by 13 devoted educators. These proficient members hail from Cisco Networking Academy faculties, a strategic partnership that enables us to successfully attain and encourage the following technology of tech professionals.
What’s Ladies Energy Tech?
In celebration of Worldwide Ladies in Info and Communication Know-how (ICT) Day, Cisco Richardson hosts Networking Academies throughout the North Texas Metroplex, providing college students a full day of empowerment, studying, and pleasant actions. This occasion blends inspiring talks, hands-on labs, mentorship, and networking into a fascinating and academic expertise.
Ladies Energy Tech is extra than simply an occasion. It’s a motion devoted to empowering ladies and younger girls to pursue careers in know-how and bridge the gender hole in STEM. We’re cultivating the following technology of innovators, problem-solvers, and tech leaders.
A day of inspiration and exploration
Inspiring messages
The day kicked off with an inspiring keynote handle 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 girls:
“Tech is highly effective. YOU make it significant. Keep in mind, you belong on this house.”
—Melissa Kraft, CIO, Metropolis of Frisco
Constructing on this momentum, the ladies then engaged in a considerate dialogue, sharing their private inspirations and what sparks their curiosity throughout the world of know-how.
Following the keynote, Veronica Valladarez, Cisco Account Govt – Portfolio, delivered an inspiring handle.
She vividly shared the outstanding story of Cisco co-founder Sandy Lerner and her resilient journey of turning adversity into a brand new, profitable enterprise. Veronica then linked this to the ladies’ potential by way of her empowering message:
“Rejection is simply redirection. True innovators make NEW worlds when the outdated ones don’t settle for them.”
—Veronica Valladarez, Account Govt, Cisco Portfolio
Her phrases deeply resonated, fostering self-belief and resilience to encourage the younger girls to worth their distinctive views.
Partaking actions
To interrupt the ice and foster connections, the attendees participated in a full of life Networking Bingo Sport. This enjoyable and interactive exercise inspired college students to step exterior their consolation zones, meet new individuals, and uncover shared pursuits, constructing a supportive and collaborative environment proper from the beginning.
To provide our vibrant younger attendees a style of various aspects of know-how and join them with inspiring position fashions, we ran our labs and pace mentoring classes 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 skilled a mannequin to categorise fits of playing cards utilizing their webcam. They explored how algorithms be taught, experimented with picture recognition software program, and even brainstormed how AI might be used to unravel real-world issues.
- Sphero Lab: Maze Mayhem – College students realized to program and management modern 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 supplied a useful alternative for the scholars to attach with a various group of completed professionals from numerous tech fields. The rapid-fire, targeted conversations allowed the younger girls to ask questions, achieve insights into completely different profession paths, and obtain personalised recommendation and encouragement.
The day culminated in an Awards ceremony, celebrating the members’ enthusiasm, engagement, and newfound information. The grins on the scholars’ faces as they acquired recognition have 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 powerful, supportive group the place younger girls really feel empowered, assured, and know their voices and concepts are valued.
We have been notably 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 help is strictly what Ladies Energy Tech goals to domesticate.
What attendees stated
“My favourite a part of the occasion was getting to attach one-on-one with the unbelievable individuals from Cisco. I cherished 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 fascinated by all the probabilities 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, all the time asking myself, ‘What if it’s onerous? However you guys confirmed me what it means to work in know-how and what it could actually do for the individuals. You confirmed me that, regardless of my pursuits, tech all the time has a spot for somebody. I thanks for all you have got carried out!”
—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 selections. As an immigrant, I don’t have a lot steerage in these facets of my profession, and this occasion was an important alternative for me. Thanks!”
—Nameless Thank-You Word
Trying forward
Ladies Energy Tech 2025 was an funding sooner or later. It was a day when younger girls found their potential, linked with position fashions, and realized {that a} profession in know-how will not be solely potential but additionally extremely thrilling and significant. The power and enthusiasm witnessed all through the day left little question that the way forward for tech is in vibrant fingers. We are able to’t wait to see the superb issues these younger girls will obtain!
To make sure the continued success and development 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.
In case you are occupied with getting concerned, e-mail us.
Thanks to everybody who made it potential
Our honest gratitude to The Batiste Undertaking for our Tech labs, and to our Cisco Inclusive Group sponsors, Ladies in Science and Engineering (WISE) and Conexión LatinX Community.
A heartfelt because of 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 pictures utilizing #GirlsPowerTech2025!
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