The Women in Technology Club (W.I.T.) at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center hosted its first EmpowerHER Summit on March 28th to inspire, educate, and connect young women in southern Virginia who are interested in pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, or Math (STEAM).
The event featured dynamic, interactive workshops on a wide range of topics including leadership, networking, entrepreneurship, coding, public speaking, and more. Led by subject matter experts, each session provided attendees with valuable insights, hands-on practice, and an action plan for success.
Yolanda Tate, motivational speaker and Vice-President of Marketing and Communications for the Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal Pine, led the “LeadHER” session focused on leadership development. She encouraged students to have a boss mindset and to be proactive in their responsibilities. At the end of the session, attendees drafted a personal power statement focused on who they want to be and the strengths they possess.
Kelsey Robertson, CEO of TECHnista, a technology focused curriculum and content development company based in Pittsylvania County, led the session on networking. She discussed the importance of networking as a strategy for success and busted popular myths like only extroverts network or that high school students are too young for networking. She also encouraged attendees to be authentic and to ask questions.
“I created the EmpowerHER Summit as an annual event to provide a place where high school girls and woman can connect, inspire, and uplift one another. Each year, we gather to foster growth, leadership, and the belief that together, we can achieve anything,” said Christie Hart, W.I.T. founder and IT instructor for the SVHEC’s Career Tech Academy. Hart was recently awarded the Southern Piedmont Technology Council’s Rising Star Award for her efforts in starting W.I.T.
“Bringing this summit to a small town allows us to empower women and create a ripple effect that benefits the entire community. It shows that no matter where you come from, you have the power to create change and make a lasting impact year after year,” Hart continued.
The EmpowerHER Summit was sponsored by Microsoft and Hitachi Energy. To learn more about the Women in Technology Club or to join visit www.svhec.org/cta/wit.