Takeaways from the SJSU Women in Engineering Conference 2025 👩‍💻

As a leader in engineering and an advocate for women in computer science, I had the incredible opportunity to hear from high-achieving and successful women like Sally M. Benson, Rose Castanares, Savi "Sravani" Boggarapu, Suchreet Dhaliwal, and many others who are true role models for women in engineering. Their insights on career growth, networking, and breaking barriers in tech were invaluable!

Beyond the amazing speakers, I also got to network with so many intelligent minds and peers at my randomly assigned lunch table. I was truly inspired by the conversations we had and made sure to connect with everyone on LinkedIn to stay in touch! The people I met made this event even more meaningful. 💡💬

One of the biggest lessons? Networking is EVERYTHING:

🔹 85% of jobs come from connections—so say hi to everyone!

🔹 Follow up after every semester & engage with LinkedIn connections (even a simple "Happy Birthday" goes a long way!)

🔹 Small talk matters—be present and ask insightful questions at events!

Pro Tips I got for Interviews & Career Growth:

✅ Have a master resume—a long version with all your experiences to tailor for each application

✅ Use keywords like programming languages, front-end, back-end, ML, etc.

✅ If you don’t know an answer in an interview:

Behavioral? Explain how you’d approach the problem

Technical? It’s okay to say you don’t know—just ask for clarification!

Ask the Right Questions:

🔹 What is expected of me in the first 30 days?

🔹 Are there professional development opportunities?

🔹 How can I contribute to the team beyond my role?

And finally—Women in Semiconductors & Responsible AI are exciting areas to explore! ⚡

Feeling inspired and motivated after this conference! Glad I got to to attend this event with the board members of the Women in Computer Science cub at California State University, Monterey Bay. Let’s keep supporting women in tech! 🩷

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