In recent years, the conversation around women and diversity in STEM has gained momentum. With women only making up 28% of the STEM workforce, more and more companies are finding ways to help overcome the gender disparity. One such group, named Epistimi, recently held a women in STEMM  leadership conference in Athens, Greece. Of the 27 applicants who were selected, 3 were from the FREEDM Systems Center making us the highest represented group present. Our representatives were Mehrnaz Madadi , Sneha Narasimhan, and Shweta Meena.

Sneha described the application process as “straightforward” and stated that it included many questions regarding interests and qualifications. The American College of Greece, the ECE Department at NC State, and the students’ advisors helped fund attendance at this exclusive and prestigious conference. Program instructors from MIT and other organizations taught leadership skills such as negotiation, communication, and working with different personality types. The conference culminated in a presentation and leadership project to create a lasting impact beyond the workshop. 

When asked for the most important lesson from the event, Sneha stated she learned the most on communication and “voice modulation is essential to keep the audience engaged with our presentation.” Mehrnaz noted the importance of negotiation techniques and interpersonal communication with colleagues. Shweta valued the information about “leading yourself” and  “knowing your strengths and weaknesses” in order to improve yourself.

In addition to the formal workshop events, participants were also able to enjoy what Athens had to offer. During this time, Shweta, Mehrnaz, and Sneha visited various tourist destinations. They were able to experience the local culture through food, museums, and shopping. Overall, the blend of education and culture left them with an experience they’ll never forget.

To read more, ECE wrote an article on Sneha’s experience here.