DigiGirlz Introduces Girls to STEM Careers

By Stella Dolan '20 and Anneke Van Oosterom '20
April 26, 2019

Microsoft recently offered its 20th annual DigiGirlz event, held at Microsoft locations around the world. Its purpose was to provide girls with a better understanding of what a career in business and STEM consists of. Eleven CDH students had the opportunity to participate at the local event in Edina.

We got to interact with Microsoft employees and managers to gain insight into careers in business and technology. We also got a special insight into what it's like to work at Microsoft. The event provided us with career planning assistance, technology and business roles and information, and hands-on Microsoft product demonstrations. We found out about the variety of opportunities available in the high-tech industry and got a look at possible future career ideas. We also got to speak to professionals and learn about the many different jobs people have.

The day began with us learning professional skills, such as information about resumes, the importance of eye-contact, interview preparation, and networking. We were taught to never say the word “just” to downplay our ability. We participated in a group activity where we created ideas for apps while using different marketing skills. We practiced data analytics by creating visual graphs for movie statistics and created an interactive project which demonstrated a real-world use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. We were amazed as we stepped into a mixed reality and virtual world, where a 3D computer screen was right in front of us, which we could control with our fingertips.

Lastly, we learned about the importance of cybersecurity and social media in our world today. Aime Konwinski, founder of Smart Girl Society, educated us about our not-so-private social media accounts. Smart Girl Society works to protect students, parents, and educators on all things technological and digital, while encouraging conversation about digital media and promoting action towards safety and privacy online. We learned that social media is now one of the leading causes of human trafficking.

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I would highly recommend it to underclassmen. Whether or not you are interested in a career in technology, STEM, or business, this event will open your eyes to the many different opportunities available after our time here at CDH closes.