On January 21, 2025, students from Cabrillo High School in Lompoc Unified School District participated in an IGNITE Virtual Women in STEM Mini-Panel, where they had the opportunity to hear from industry professionals about their career paths and experiences in STEM. Anusha Yella, Principal Software Engineer at AT&T, and Diana Vicezar, Product Manager at Microsoft, shared their journeys, discussing how they navigated career changes, moved across countries, and leveraged their skills to find fulfilling roles that matched their interests. Rashi Kukke, Security Product Manager at Microsoft, facilitated the discussion, ensuring an engaging and interactive session.
Students appreciated the personal and relevant insights shared by the Panelists, which made the event feel unique and tailored to their experiences. The open conversations about career shifts and adapting to new challenges resonated with them, helping to demystify STEM careers.
“The panelists’ stories and answers to the questions we asked inspired me and made me feel like I have more options for my future. One panelist told us it’s okay to make mistakes and to learn how to take rejection, which I have always struggled with.”
11th Grade IGNITE Student
“It inspired me because it shows different ways you can have a career in STEM. My favorite thing I learned is how STEM can be applied in different ways.”
12th Grade IGNITE Student
“It showed me that people can be resilient and that resilience can drive you to a great career. STEM is used in just about everything.”
11th Grade IGNITE Student
STUDENTS SURVEYED FOLLOWING PARTICIPATION IN THIS EVENT REPORTED...
74%
KNOW MORE ABOUT STEM CAREERS & THE BENEFITS OF WORKING IN STEM
68%
FEEL MORE CONFIDENT
IN PURSUING STEM
74%
GAINED PERSPECTIVE & FEEL MORE HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE
Additional Student Feedback:
“Today’s event inspired me to start looking into more math courses. I learned that women work hard in these fields. Anyone can do these jobs if you just try hard.” – 10th Grade IGNITE Student
“It was cool to see people who work for big companies. They are all international.” – 12th Grade IGNITE Student
“It inspired me and made me more confident in pursuing STEM despite not having as much experience as most people. My favorite thing was learning more about Microsoft (thanks to Diana) and how it works there.” – 11th Grade IGNITE Student
“It inspired me to pursue my interests in college and the real world. It also showed me that not everything is easy and that I should ask lots of questions. My favorite thing I learned today was that there is a variety of STEM careers to explore. I also enjoyed learning that we are allowed to make mistakes and not be critical of ourselves.” – 11th Grade IGNITE Student
“I was inspired by how the speakers started their STEM journey and how passionate they are about their jobs. I learned about all the different opportunities STEM has beyond math and science, which are most well-known.” – 11th Grade IGNITE Student
“This event inspired me to pursue not just STEM, but also other areas I’ve considered before. I’ve been doubtful about pursuing some careers (writing and software engineering are two big ones), but now I feel more inspired to pursue these interests! Mistakes will be made, and that’s common. Thanks to all of you for this session.” – 9th Grade IGNITE Student
“Today’s event inspired me by showing me that there are many opportunities in STEM and available jobs. It also made me feel more comfortable with the idea of applying to college while undecided. My favorite thing I learned today is that going to college undecided can help me figure out what I want to do in life.” – 11th Grade IGNITE Student
“This event inspired me by showing different perspectives on careers in STEM and the various fields within it! This meeting made me want to look more into STEM careers. I loved seeing new faces from different companies attend this meeting! It was really cool meeting everyone.” – 9th Grade IGNITE Student
“It made me feel more comfortable, as someone who comes from a bicultural background, to pursue a predominantly white field. It makes me more determined to pursue urban planning, which closely aligns with my passions. I learned to ask questions, create a mentor, and talk to people.” – 12th Grade IGNITE Student
“After listening to the advice given about how to work towards your goals, along with valuable insight into how to be successful in a career, I feel inspired to look deeper into STEM. Building logic and asking questions are two of my favorite things that I’ve learned. Another thing was learning to make the most of every opportunity that is offered.” – 12th Grade IGNITE Student
“Even in jobs that deal with technology and computers, not everything can be perfect, and it doesn’t have to be. Mistakes are okay, and over time, things will improve. Communication and planning are very important, which means lots of meetings.” – 10th Grade IGNITE Student
“While I’m pretty sure I was the only non-binary person in the Zoom call, I do feel more comfortable with the idea of having a career in STEM. I learned that STEM can expand to many fields, not just science, math, engineering, and technology. It can also be in creative fields like filmmaking.” – 9th Grade IGNITE Student
Thank you to our IGNITE Volunteers and Educators:
- Anusha Yella
- Diana Vicezar
- Rashi Kukke
- Anusha Musunuri
- Melanie Honeycutt
About IGNITE Worldwide:
IGNITE Worldwide is a 501(c)3 nonprofit STEM education organization that aims to change gender and racial equity in STEM permanently and systematically. We work directly with teachers during the school day to provide programming that promotes gender equity and representation in STEM academics and careers. Through our award-winning program, IGNITE provides engaging, hands-on events that connect students with STEM professionals from industry leaders from around the world. Learn more at igniteworldwide.org.