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Home , Grace Hopper, Stephanie Kwolek

1 Editor’s note You got this: words of wisdom from techies, for techies “networking event,” but truly — as its name implies — name implies event,” —asits truly but “networking Editor’s note T-shirts and water bottles and lip balms —don’t balms lip and bottles water and T-shirts — Hopper Grace we take mementos away from The

So in 2017,So different. something to try we decided and learn from one another in pursuit of a shared goal: goal: of ashared in pursuit another one from learn and encouraging. and illuminating are Hopper Grace at with the idea that we’d collect them into a book. into them abook. that collect we’d idea the with we meet. technologists fellow and we hear down some words of wisdom for future technologists, technologists, future for of wisdom words some down to write asked attendees and notecards We printed away. thrown get often they Worse, that spirit. capture speakers the by energized and inspired feeling year every The conversations Ihave conversations community. of The a celebration I feel that we’re all making a good faith attempt to engage to that engage we’reI feel attempt faith agood making all like adreaded doesn’t it feel because Hopper Grace I love We leave . for Celebration Hopper Grace atthe abooth has Palantir hosted For many years, building a future we want to live in. in. to live we want a future building

Fig. 1

and they exhort techies from from techies exhort they and my difficult task to select the ones ones the select task to my difficult every submission, and it was was it and submission, every underrepresented backgrounds that wants acommunity of we included. included. we to stick it out. it to stick Our contributors contributors Our itself. to better Now, later, ayear that book I felt the spirit spirit the Ifelt is moving: Hopper moving was cards the Reading know why it’s important that tech the why it’sknow important read Ipersonally is hands. in your in the way that attending Grace Grace wayin that the attending industry become more inclusive, inclusive, more become industry

Fig. 2

Editor’s note Editor’s 2 techies for techies, from wisdom of words this: got You In the following pages, you’ll read words of wisdom and encouragement from your peers in industry and academia, 3 Fig. alongside quotes from historic women changemakers. We’ve broken these out along the following themes:

Believe in yourself Mantras for the days when your goals seem out of reach

Do the work Practical advice for taking

You got this: words of wisdom from techies, for techies for techies, from wisdom of words this: got You on insurmountable challenges

Find your community Tips on building an ecosystem of support to help yourself and others thrive

Focus on the future Reminders to keep you oriented toward your end goals Editor’s note Editor’s

If these words of wisdom are any indicator, the next generation of technologists is ready to build a more supportive, more inclusive community. I hope this book helps you along that journey.

Dana Palantir Technologies September 2018

3 Believe in yourself

9 Believe in yourself You got this: words of wisdom from techies, for techies A ship in port is safe, A shipinportissafe, ships arebuilt for. but that’s not what notwhat but that’s * Grace

1906—1992

*Quoting John Shedd *Quoting A. Fig. 4

Computer Science

Computer scientist and Rear in the who helped create, among other things, the UNIVAC I computer and the COBOL

13 Believe in yourself You got this: words of wisdom from techies, for techies a pioneer — but oh, a pioneer—butoh, It is not easy to be It isnoteasytobe is itfascinating! Elizabeth

1821—1910

Fig. 5

Medicine

First woman to receive a medical degree in the United States

Do the work

29 Do the work You got this: words of wisdom from techies, for techies Take all thecourses you are interested you areinterested Ask questions. Find Ask questions. Find someone doing what someone doingwhat Do theresearch. in your curriculum. in yourcurriculum. in! Becurious! Katherine

b. 1918

Fig. 6

Physics and Mathematics

Mathematician at NASA and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom

What we find is that

if you have a goal that Fig. 7 is very, very far out, and you approach it You got this: words of wisdom from techies, for techies for techies, from wisdom of words this: got You in little steps, you start to get there faster.

Do the work Your mind opens up to the possibilities.

Mae Jemison Astrophysics space in travel to woman African-American First b. 1956

33

Find your community

When you succeed,

don’t forget Fig. 8 the responsibility

of making somebody You got this: words of wisdom from techies, for techies for techies, from wisdom of words this: got You else succeed with you.

Antonia Novello Find your community your Find Medicine States United the First woman and first Hispanic person to serve as Surgeon General of General Surgeon to serveas person Hispanic first and woman First b. 1944

41

I was able to stand

on the shoulders Fig. 9 of those women who came before You got this: words of wisdom from techies, for techies for techies, from wisdom of words this: got You me, and women who came after me were able to stand on mine. Find your community your Find

Christine Darden Mathematics, Aeronautics Mathematics, and aeronauticalMathematician engineer b. 1942

45

49 Find your community You got this: words of wisdom from techies, for techies you stay motivated. your interestsandhelps a friend who shares a friendwhoshares It is invaluable to have It isinvaluabletohave Maryam Mirzakhani Maryam

1977—2017

Fig. 10

Mathematics

Professor of mathematics at Stanford and first woman to win the Fields Medal

Focus on the future These were moments

of exhilaration and F i g . 11 ecstasy! A glimpse of this wonder You got this: words of wisdom from techies, for techies for techies, from wisdom of words this: got You can be the reward of a lifetime. Could it be that excitement Focus on the future and ennobling feelings like these have kept us scientists marching

forward forever? Physics Physics in Prize Wolf inaugural the of winner and physicist Experimental 1912—1997 55 Chien-Shiung Wu

This job is a great

scientific adventure. Fig. 12 But it’s also a great human adventure. You got this: words of wisdom from techies, for techies for techies, from wisdom of words this: got You Mankind has made giant steps forward. However, what Focus on the future we know is really very, very little compared to what

we still have to know. Physics CERN of to serveDirector-General as woman first the and physicist Particle b. 1960 59 Fabiola Gianotti

63 Focus on the future You got this: words of wisdom from techies, for techies with things. All sorts of things can All sortsofthingscan and playing around and playing around happen when you’re happen whenyou’re open to new ideas open tonew ideas

1923—2014

Fig. 13

Chemistry

Chemist who invented, among other things,

67 Photo sources You got this: words of wisdom from techies, for techies sources Photo Fig. 3 Fig. Fig. 5 Fig. Fig. 4 Fig. 2 Fig. Fig. 6 Fig. Fig. 7 Fig. Fig. 1 Fig.

Getty Images Getty Blackwell.” “Elizabeth Bettmann. Getty Images Hopper.” Getty M. “Grace Cynthia. Johnson, 13 Jan. 2018, https://www.gettyimages.com/license/905609962. advice for future technologists.” 4 Oct. 2017. 4Oct. technologists.” future for advice of wisdom.” 4 Oct. 2017. 4Oct. wisdom.” of Getty Images Getty Studio.” Portrait TCA “2018 Winter Boer, Maarten. de Masterson, Pauline. “Our call for submissions at the Grace Grace the at submissions for call “Our Pauline. Masterson, Masterson, Pauline. “Cards full of Grace Hopper attendees’ attendees’ Hopper Grace of full “Cards Pauline. Masterson, words her down writing “An attendee Pauline. Masterson, 2017. 4Oct. Conference.” Hopper Getty Images Getty Portrait.” Johnson Katherine https://www.gettyimages.com/license/515448936. https://www.gettyimages.com/license/50336184. https://www.gettyimages.com/license/627024522.

, Donaldson Collection, 1960, Collection, , Donaldson

, , 1 Feb. 1984, 1984, , 1Feb.

,

Fig. 10 Fig. 13 . g i F 12 . g i F 11 . g i F Fig. 8 Fig. Fig. 9 Fig.

Talk with ‘Hidden Figures’ Former Aerospace NASA Engineer Christine 9 May 2017, https://www.gettyimages.com/license/680606892. Vondrak, Jan. Maryam Mirzakhani. Jan. Maryam Vondrak, Senate.” Senate.” Stephanie Kwolek in laboratory among cones and bobbins of yarn spun spun yarn of bobbins and cones among laboratory in Kwolek Stephanie 01_01_07_009, and Library. Museum Hagley Kwolek_2014248_ Collection, Photographs Kwolek Stephanie there. Getty Images Getty “Switzerland-Sciences-Physics-Particle.” Fabrice. Coffrini, Warman, Manny. Chien Shiung in Lab. University Archives, Rare Archives, Warman, Manny. University Shiung Chien in Lab. Bettmann. “Surgeon General Dr. Testifying Before Before Testifying Novello Dr. Antonia General “Surgeon Bettmann. Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University in the City of New York. New of City the in University Columbia Library, &Manuscript Book Darden.” Hosts Beach Angeles-Long Los Base Guard Coast “U.S. Greg. Doherty, icense/932921196. license/515363600. Getty Images Getty Getty Images Getty

, 9 Feb. 1990, https://www.gettyimages.com/ , 9Feb. , 16 Mar. 2018, https://www.gettyimages.com/l

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68 Photo sources Photo You got this: words of wisdom from techies, for techies for techies, from wisdom of words this: got You Quotes collected at the 2017 Grace Hopper Celebration

Editor: Dana Cass Designer: Sophia Umansky Producer: Pauline Masterson