Ideas that resonated at #GHC17

This was the first time I've ever attended the Grace Hopper Celebration, and it was truly eye-opening. Here are the things I took away from the amazing experience.

• You don’t need a background in something to be an expert in something. You just need to be willing to learn and put in the hard work.
• Grit can take you far, but you also need a bit of luck along the way. To maximize your potential for luck, get yourself and your ideas out there and be heard.
• Don’t give up. If you drop out then game is over.
• Connect the dots as you learn. Nothing you learn in this life goes to waste.
• The road to success can be circuitous. You never know what could be waiting at the next turn. So keep exploring.
• Unconscious bias exist in all of us, and can cause us to hold ourselves back. Recognize them, reframe them, and change your mindset so you can break the cycle.
• When evaluating an opportunity, ask yourself whether it aligns with your values and interests.
• Don’t take everything too seriously. Focus on the things that are truly important.
• If you weren’t born to talk in front of a crowd, no big deal. Practice makes perfect, so get out of your comfort zone.
• It’s good to have mentors, but having sponsors will get you farther.
• Take chances.
• Ask for opportunities, because most of the time opportunities will not come to you unless you seek them out.
• Don’t let society define who you are or what you can and cannot do.
• Chart your own course, because it’s different for everyone, and enjoy the journey.
• Help other women along the way, because technology is a great field for women, and technology as a field benefits with more women. When women benefit, society as a whole benefits.
• Make yourself heard. Help other women be heard.
• Embrace failures, because failures build character.

I hope these ideas resonate with you as much as they resonate with me. Enjoy the journey!