AthenaHacks 2017 Reflections: Kourtney Chima

Meet Kourtney! Kourtney worked on planning AthenaHacks from the Finances&Sponsorship team and will continue planning AthenaHacks 2.0! Not only did she help plan AthenaHacks, but she also planned HackSC, Jr., a hackathon for kids in the surrounding USC area. She’s currently interning at Qualcomm in San Diego!

Are there any stories/experiences you want to share about why you are passionate about getting more women involved with tech?

Growing up partly in Nigeria, I experienced first hand, the need to accelerate and diversify technology to cater to diverse audiences and unique needs of people who live in different socio-economic and cultural environments. To make diverse technology, we need diverse minds. I am passionate about helping to create a comfortable environment to build the right confidence in minorities to allow for better understanding and skill acquisition and ultimately, greater ability to contribute to the field of technology. I cofounded a K-12 hackathon, HackSC Junior, also at USC, with this principle in mind — building confidence in young girls and young children of diverse backgrounds.

Bridging the gap in technology is and always will be the responsibility of everyone in tech. Events like AthenaHacks are important to support gender and ethnic minorities who are trying to enter or better navigate the field of technology.

What motivated you to work on AthenaHacks?

The amazing dedicated women who worked together to make AthenaHacks a success were all the motivation I needed. It’s all about teamwork and an amazing team can make all the difference. AthenaHacks gave me an opportunity to not only create a space for women in tech, but also to meet and learn from other women in tech. A bad**s squad is a great treasure.

Were there any specific moments of AthenaHacks that you really enjoyed/why?

Picking up breakfast for over 300 people on Sunday morning was definitely an unforgettable experience. Ilona and I made new friends at Costco bakery haha.

Anything you’re excited to see in AthenaHacks 2018 / changes you want to make?

As a black woman in tech, I’m really pleased at our focus on bringing more ethnic diversity to AthenaHacks this year. It’s gonna be lit.

Advice you have for people unsure about attending their first hackathon

Girl, please! You gotta try it! You’ll love it. I promise.

Advice you have for people just starting out in the major

There are more people rooting for your success than you think. Meet people, make friends, speak up and know that there is a place in tech for everyone. When classes get tough and assignments too long — and they will! — know that you aren’t the only one and that you can triumph. You got this. One of my favourite quotes puts it in a nutshell:

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” — Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

One last thing … go to office hours!!!