Episode 27: Grace Hopper Celebration 2022 - Part 1

If you're looking to learn more about the Grace Hopper Celebration - the premier technology conference for women and non-binary individuals - then this episode of our podcast is perfect for you.

Guests, Brandi Einhorn and Amy Vargas, discuss their involvement in the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC), as guests on today's show. GHC is sponsored by AnitaB.org and is the largest technical conference for women and non-binary individuals. The Expo Hall is a key feature of the conference where companies can market themselves and recruit new talent. Our guests discuss their experiences at the Grace Hopper Celebration, from navigating the Expo Hall to networking effectively.

At the heart of Brandy Einhorn’s talk is the concept of "transformational networking" - a strategic approach to networking that allows you to achieve your goals and work harder, not smarter. Through building advocates, establishing reliability, and driving demand for your value, you can navigate the corporate world with ease.

As someone who has attended the conference in person before, Amy Vargas shares her thoughts on the switch to a virtual format due to the pandemic. She highlights the benefits, like increased accessibility through scholarships, and acknowledges the challenges, such as technical issues and the loss of the in-person energy of previous years. A key takeaway from her talk is the importance of having clear goals in mind when attending the conference. This prevents aimless effort and ensures you maximize your time and energy to achieve what you set out to do.

Mercedes Adams talks about how NetApp supports employees' goals of becoming confident public speakers and presenters through a speaker series that helps them develop the necessary skill set to achieve their goals. This program has resulted in their most successful year in terms of the number of selected speakers for the Grace Hopper Celebration.
Each of the guests—all past attendees of the conference--share some personal anecdotes and reflections on the importance of sharing stories and gaining new perspectives at events like the Grace Hopper Celebration.

This episode provides valuable insights and practical tips for anyone looking to make the most out of attending the conference. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to grow your skills and network with other like-minded individuals in the tech industry.