Accenture Sponsors Day of Innovation for Students in Iowa with Pi515, Focusing on Youth Tech Skilling and Entrepreneurship

Accenture was thrilled to sponsor and participate in the 2024 Day of Innovation hosted by Pi515, a youth tech and entrepreneurship organization, held April 25 in Des Moines, Iowa. More than 200 high school students from around Central Iowa were hosted at the John & Mary Pappajohn Education Center for a full day of learning, networking, and sharing ideas for the future.

The day kicked off with a welcome and proclamation of the Day of Innovation from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, watch the full video here.

Students then had the opportunity to network with professionals from varied organizations like Principal Financial Group, the State of Iowa, Drake University, Accenture, John Deere and Corteva Agriscience, and many more.

?Accenture speakers shared TED-talk style presentations on various topics including:

·????? Creative Industry Roles in Generative AI & Marketing with Crystal Olig, Song Account Lead

·????? Using AI for Manufacturing and Engineering with Jay Balch, a Consultant with Industry X in supply chain and engineering

·????? The Four Phases of Learning Something New with Danielle Roecker, Client Services Delivery Lead with Industry X

·????? The Story Behind Storytelling with Howard Tempero, Digital Product Design Senior Manager with Industry X

Interactive technology demos were also hosted by Accenture teammates, with the most popular session being the demo of BrainGym. This is an Accenture Liquid Studios innovation utilizing Mendi headsets to showcase the use of the integrated neurosensing insights and GenAI capabilities, building mental fitness by controlling objects with your focus. The demo was presented by Shreya Sreenivas from Accenture’s New York office.

Students also participated in two pitch challenges, and more than $20,000 in prizes was awarded to help students on their path to entrepreneurship and careers in technology.

The AI challenge was a multi-week challenge that culminated in the final judging rounds during the Day of Innovation. Matt Bender, ?Deputy Director- State of Iowa Department of Management, was one of the judges from Accenture’s great team of clients.

A Girl’s Entrepreneurship Challenge also took place during the event. Girls could pitch their business ideas to a panel of female business leaders and were awarded prize money at the end of the day to build their businesses. Judges included Accenture’s Des Moines Office Managing Director, Marissa Bryan; Program Manager – Embedded Software at John Deere, Ann Beuligmann; and Data Scientist and Computational Biologist, Gurmeet Kaur from Corteva.

Accenture’s Corporate Citizenship efforts in the central Iowa region include participating in our client’s social and corporate responsibility efforts as well as focusing on ways we can connect the power of Accenture’s global team with organizations serving priority beneficiaries and that are prepared to report diversity metrics: racial and ethnic underrepresented communities, persons with disabilities, veterans, refugees. The other focus is programs providing technology and digital skills leading to opportunity jobs, like Pi515 in Des Moines.

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About Pi515:

Pi515 is a nonprofit organization based in Des Moines, Iowa, dedicated to empowering underserved and refugee youth through technology education and mentorship. Founded in 2014, Pi515 aims to bridge the digital divide and provide opportunities for students who are the first in their families to graduate high school or pursue higher education.

With a mission to challenge, inspire, and teach technology skills, Pi515 offers advanced learning opportunities outside of the traditional school setting. The organization strives to close the skills gap and address rising unemployment rates by equipping students with the essential skills for the future of work. Through free after-school programs, the organization exposes students to coding, innovation, critical thinking, soft skills, and upskilling. By empowering individuals from low-income households and supporting their families, Pi515 aims to foster economic empowerment and create a more inclusive and prosperous society.

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About Accenture:

Accenture is a leading global professional services company that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services—creating tangible value at speed and scale. We are a talent- and innovation-led company with approximately 742,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Technology is at the core of change today, and we are one of the world’s leaders in helping drive that change, with strong ecosystem relationships. We combine our strength in technology and leadership in cloud, data and AI with unmatched industry experience, functional expertise and global delivery capability. We are uniquely able to deliver tangible outcomes because of our broad range of services, solutions and assets across Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X and Song. These capabilities, together with our culture of shared success and commitment to creating 360° value, enable us to help our clients reinvent and build trusted, lasting relationships. We measure our success by the 360° value we create for our clients, each other, our shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at?www.accenture.com.