The way forward for expertise 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 related 73 vibrant younger college students with the huge potential of STEM, supported by 13 devoted educators. These proficient individuals hail from Cisco Networking Academy faculties, a strategic partnership that enables us to successfully attain and encourage the subsequent era of tech professionals.
What’s Ladies Energy Tech?
In celebration of Worldwide Ladies in Data 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 gratifying actions. This occasion blends inspiring talks, hands-on labs, mentorship, and networking into an interesting and academic expertise.
Ladies Energy Tech is extra than simply an occasion. It’s a motion devoted to empowering women and younger ladies to pursue careers in expertise and bridge the gender hole in STEM. We’re cultivating the subsequent era 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 ladies:
“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 expertise.
Following the keynote, Veronica Valladarez, Cisco Account Government – Portfolio, delivered an inspiring handle.
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 ladies’ potential via 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 Sport. This enjoyable and interactive exercise inspired college students to step outdoors their consolation zones, meet new individuals, and uncover shared pursuits, constructing a supportive and collaborative ambiance proper from the beginning.
To offer our vibrant younger attendees a style of various sides of expertise and join them with inspiring function fashions, we ran our labs and pace mentoring periods in a dynamic rotation.
- AI Lab: Suited to Victory – Younger minds explored the fundamentals of synthetic intelligence via 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 could possibly be used to resolve real-world issues.
- Sphero Lab: Maze Mayhem – College students discovered to program and management modern programmable robotic balls via a LEGO maze. This hands-on expertise helped foster problem-solving expertise, creativity, and a deeper understanding of programming rules.
- Pace 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, achieve insights into completely different profession paths, and obtain customized recommendation and encouragement.
The day culminated in an Awards ceremony, celebrating the individuals’ enthusiasm, engagement, and newfound information. The grins on the scholars’ faces as they obtained recognition had been a testomony to the occasion’s impression.
Extra than simply tech
Ladies Energy Tech isn’t nearly technical expertise; it’s about constructing a robust, supportive neighborhood the place younger ladies really feel empowered, assured, and know their voices and concepts are valued.
We had been notably moved by the conversations we overheard – women sharing their aspirations and inspiring one another to pursue their desires fearlessly. This sense of camaraderie and mutual assist is precisely 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 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 occupied with all the probabilities forward. My largest takeaway was the significance of staying open-minded and dedicated to steady studying. I noticed 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 onerous? However you guys confirmed me what it means to work in expertise and what it may well do for the individuals. You confirmed me that, regardless of my pursuits, tech at all times has a spot for somebody. I thanks for all you could have completed!”
—Aaliya
“Thanks for internet hosting this nice occasion. It was inspiring and really helpful. The wonderful mentors I’ve met via 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 ideal alternative for me. Thanks!”
—Nameless Thank-You Word
Wanting forward
Ladies Energy Tech 2025 was an funding sooner or later. It was a day when younger ladies found their potential, related with function fashions, and realized {that a} profession in expertise just isn’t solely doable but in addition extremely thrilling and significant. The power and enthusiasm witnessed all through the day left little doubt that the way forward for tech is in vibrant fingers. We are able to’t wait to see the wonderful 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 fascinated with getting concerned, e-mail us.
Thanks to everybody who made it doable
Our honest gratitude to The Batiste Challenge for our Tech labs, and to our Cisco Inclusive Neighborhood 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 women 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!
Join Cisco U. | Be part of the Cisco Studying Community.
Comply with Cisco Studying & Certifications
X | Threads | Fb | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube
Use #CiscoU and #CiscoCert to affix the dialog.
Share:
