TechWomen Emerging Leaders Share Their Advice

The 2013 TechWomen Emerging Leaders are arriving on October 1!

In order to set them up for success, TechWomen alumnae from 2011 and 2012 shared pearls of wisdom with this year’s cohort of Emerging Leaders:

Be prepared

Get to know your Mentors and the other Emerging Leaders before you arrive. As with any new endeavor, the more you know prior to the program, the more you will get out of the experience because you won’t be starting from square one.

Ask as many questions as you can

Your Professional Mentor and Cultural Mentor want to give you as much guidance and information as possible. Don’t be shy about asking for their advice. Take advantage of working closely with someone who is excited to mentor you by cultivating open communication.

Record everything

After every workday, take some time to write down, video, or voice record key moments from the day. Make a note of the people you meet and the places you are able to visit that you will want to remember later. After a life-changing experience, it’s nice to be able to go and back and remind yourself of what was so valuable, inspiring, and useful to you at the time.

Stay positive

The TechWomen program is intense and the days are long, so it is important to remember what an invaluable opportunity this is and keep envisioning positive ways in which this will impact your work when you go home. Set realistic goals for implementing what you’ve learned, and don’t let potential roadblocks keep you from being innovative in your work.

Take advantage of every opportunity

Be proactive in meeting new people and be open to new experiences. This is how you will get the most out of your time in the United States. Enjoy every moment and work hard during your mentorship. The more you invest, the more you will receive in return.

Get inspired

Come home with new ideas, and keep dreaming about everything you can accomplish with the new skills and knowledge you’ve acquired. Stay connected to your new community and continue to communicate and collaborate.

Give back

Motivate the next generation of leaders to get excited about science, technology, engineering and math by sharing your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your expertise. Make sure to use the momentum you have gained from your experience to mentor the young girls in your community. Don’t let the inspiration end with you!