The fifth Explore Careers in Technology Event (ExCITE), sponsored by the CIO Council and People of Color in Technology (POC-IT) affinity group, was held on March 30. The theme of this ExCITE was “Leading From Where You Are.”
ExCITE aims to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) by providing attendees with tools and resources that can assist them in advancing their careers. These events are geared toward the IT community at Stanford but are open to everyone. The ExCITE program seeks to empower individuals from underrepresented backgrounds and promote their professional growth within the university technology community.
Senior Associate Vice Provost, Residential & Dining Enterprises Dr. Shirley Everett, one of POC-IT’s sponsors, opened the event with a compelling speech about the value of employing a diverse workforce in information technology.
“A culturally diverse workforce in IT allows for a diversity of thought, unique innovative practices, disruptive ideas, a broad range of skills and innovative approaches that are more culturally and socially aware,” says Dr. Everett.
Watch Dr. Everett's Opening Statement.
Attendees learned how they can make a difference and practice leadership from their current positions. Through a number of sessions, leaders across the Stanford IT community spoke on how they cultivated their leadership skills, expanded their networks and built valuable relationships.
Something Ex-tra
As with prior ExCITE events, attendees were entered into two raffles during the event. In a continuing effort to support BIPOC-owned businesses, the raffle prizes were gift cards for Nirvana Soul Coffee Shop. Attendees who submitted a feedback survey were also entered into a raffle. Congratulations to our raffle winners:
- Clare O’Keefe
- Grace Shin
- Christine Evaristo
The POC-IT Planning Group strives to bring relevant topics to the community in ExCITE. Feedback surveys help inform us of what works and what we can improve on for the next event. Here are some notable quotes from the feedback survey.
“I liked the variety of sessions and the fact that I could choose which one to attend. I also appreciated the fact that I could leave a session and check out the other one in progress.” - Cynthia Mijare
Session Materials
Watch Lead, Manage and Do by John Bickar.
Watch Nancy Ware's session, Pulling Back the Curtain on UIT.
View Cindy Cho's Asian Staff Forum at Stanford presentation.
View Bianca Zamora's Centering the Power of Intersectional Advocacy presentation.
View Vatsala Sarathy's Becoming a Leader: How to Create Your Own Roadmap presentation.
View Stretch and Grow by Lori Mackenzie & Walt Ashe.
