Women in Tech Unite at Grace Hopper Celebration
µţ˛âĚý, WGUĚýMSCSIA student
This piece features excerpts fromĚýAngela’sĚýstory,ĚýoriginallyĚýpublishedĚýinĚýĚýonĚýNovember 28, 2025.
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A New Kind of Tech Landscape
WalkingĚýintoĚýthe Grace HopperĚýCelebrationĚýasĚýbothĚýaĚýreporter for Cyber Defense Magazine and a graduate student at Western Governors UniversityĚý(WGU), I had no idea how deeplyĚýitĚýwouldĚýimpactĚýme.
At this event, women were everywhere. Thousands of them, an ocean of talent with a current so strong it set the room buzzing with optimistic energy. Every photon hitting my retinaĚýreflected backĚýthe presence of women, no longer being the rarity, but the majority! The sight caused an overwhelmed sense of pride that has yet to fade, a beautiful echo I still feel every time I think back on that moment.
“When You See Us, You Can Be Us…We Lift While We Rise”
I had the opportunity to attend a fireside chat starring Linda Calvin,ĚýviceĚýpresident of the School of Technology atĚýWGU. She opened the room with the topic of mentorship, not in the corporate checkbox kind of way, but as aĚýdeeplyĚýhuman need. She emphasizedĚýthat mentorship is essential because this industry is challenging to navigate alone. That is why having people who can offerĚýencouragementĚýand honest feedback can change the trajectory of one’s career. She urged every woman to build what she calls a “personal board of directors,” a concept thatĚýrepresentsĚýthe people in ourĚýlivesĚýwhoĚýprovide us with guidance and support.Ěý
Linda spoke about mentorship not as an added benefit, but as a necessity for sustaining women in technology. The way she articulated the impact had everyone in the audience captivated by the truths she shared; her message was deeply felt. It is beautiful to share that I can attest to the importance of mentorship through my own journey. A special acknowledgement to two of my lovely mentors, GaryĚýMiliefskyĚýand Professor Russ Alizadeh, whose guidance has been pivotal in building my confidence in this field!
LindaĚýalsoĚýspoke about growing up without seeing people who looked like her in tech, and how differently her path might have been if she had. She stressed the importance of that truth in one line: “When you see us, you can be us… we lift while we rise!” It was a clear reminder that representation is catalytic, and that visibility shapes what women believe is possible for themselves.
91ÖĆƬł§â€™s Commitment to Women in Tech
After attending Linda Calvin’s keynote,ĚýI had the opportunity to sit down with her andĚýPaul Bingham,Ěýexecutive dean of the School of Technology at WGU.ĚýHaving a conversation withĚýboth of themĚýfelt like a full circle moment.ĚýIt was inspiring to hear directly from leadership about the intentional efforts being made to uplift women in technology.
91ÖĆƬł§Ěýis a nonprofit that is built on the belief that education should be accessible.ĚýTheir message centers on creating pathways for learners who have been historically overlooked, and that commitment is deeplyĚýevidentĚýwithin their SchoolĚýof Technology.Ěý
Linda shared an incredible statistic that captured the impact of WGU’s efforts. Since 2020, the School of Technology has experienced a 264%Ěýenrollment growth among Black,ĚýHispanicĚýand Indigenous women.ĚýThat kind of growth at WGU truly reflects a rising confidence among women entering tech. It also speaks to the supportive environment WGU fosters.
PaulĚýexpanded onĚýthis with a perspective that was just as meaningful. He shared that WGU’s growth is not only fueled by strong programs, but by people. Specifically, byĚýthe students who succeed, and then turn around and encourage others. “Our best marketing isĚýfromĚýhappy students,” he said.Ěý
He explained how one positive experience creates a ripple effect, where students inspire each other into opportunities they may not have sought otherwise. I smiled hearingĚýthat, becauseĚýthat is exactly how I foundĚýWGU. Through someone who believed in me and my abilities and said, “You would thrive there.” Now here I am, a Latina in tech, part of the 264%Ěýrise, another happy link in that chain of possibility.
In the end, my conversation with Linda and Paul underscored what WGU is truly doing. Their commitment toĚýmentorship,ĚýaccessĚýand representation is clearly visible. I walked away proud to be at a university that genuinely invests in women stepping confidently into the spaces where we belong.
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About the Author
Angela Apolinar is a reporter forĚýCyber Defense MagazineĚýand a Women in Cybersecurity scholarship recipient. She is pursuing aĚýmaster’sĚýdegreeĚýinĚýcybersecurity atĚýWGU,ĚýhasĚýearned multiple certifications in IT,ĚýnetworkingĚýand cyber defense, and servedĚýas the first female president of her college’s Computer Science and Cybersecurity Club.
