The future of technology is bright,especially after the resounding success of the 7th annual Cisco Girls Power Tech,held at the Cisco campus in Richardson, Texas, on April 17, 2025!

Girls Power Tech Leaders

This impactful event connected 73 bright young students with the vast potential of STEM, supported by 13 dedicated educators. These talented participants hail from Cisco Networking Academy schools, a strategic partnership that allows us to effectively reachandinspire the next generation of tech professionals.

What is Girls Power Tech?

In celebration of International Girls in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Day, Cisco Richardson hosts Networking Academies across the North Texas Metroplex, offering students a full day of empowerment, learning, andenjoyable activities. This event blendsinspiring talks, hands-on labs, mentorship, and networkinginto an engaging and educational experience.

Girls Power Tech is more than just an event. It's a movement dedicated to empowering girls and young women to pursue careers in technology and bridge the gender gap in STEM. We're cultivating the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and tech leaders.

A day of inspiration and exploration

Inspiring messages

The day kicked off with an inspiring keynote address fromMelissa Kraft, the CIO of the City of Frisco. She shared her tech journey, highlighting its power and boundless opportunities, and delivered a profound message to the young women:

"Tech is powerful. YOU make it meaningful. Remember, you belong in this space."
-Melissa Kraft, CIO, City of Frisco

Building on this momentum, the girls then engaged in a thoughtful discussion, sharing their personal inspirations and what sparks their interest within the world of technology.

City of Frisco CIO Melissa Kraft delivers the Girls Power Tech Keynote.Veronica Valladarez, Account Executive -Cisco Portfolio, delivers an inspiring message of empowerment.

Following the keynote,Veronica Valladarez, Cisco Account Executive -Portfolio, delivered an inspiring address.

She vividly shared the remarkable story of Cisco co-founder Sandy Lerner and her resilient journey of turning adversity into a new, successful venture. Veronica then connected this to the girls' potential through her empowering message:

"Rejection is just redirection. True innovators make NEW worlds when the old ones don't accept them."
-Veronica Valladarez, Account Executive, Cisco Portfolio

Her words deeply resonated, fostering self-belief and resilience to encourage the young women to value their unique perspectives.

Engaging activities

To break the ice and foster connections, the attendees participated in a livelyNetworking Bingo Game. This fun and interactive activity encouraged students to step outside their comfort zones, meet new people, and discover shared interests, building a supportive and collaborative atmosphere right from the start.

Our attendees take a moment to connect during Networking Bingo.Networking Bingo-Girls Power Tech, April 17, 2025

To give our bright young attendees a taste of different facets of technology and connect them with inspiring role models, we ran our labs and speed mentoring sessions in a dynamic rotation.

• AI Lab: Suited for Victory -Young minds explored the basics of artificial intelligence through a hands-on experiment. In this activity, they trained a model to classify suits of cards using their webcam. They explored how algorithms learn, experimented with image recognition software, and even brainstormed how AI could be used to solve real-world problems.

Gathering to discuss AI & Sphero Labs.Our attendees team up to tackle the AI Lab.

• Sphero Lab: Maze Mayhem -Students learned to program and control innovative programmable robotic balls through a LEGO maze. This hands-on experience helped foster problem-solving skills, creativity, and a deeper understanding of programming principles.

Powering tech, together. (Sphero Lab)Educating girls can change the world. (Sphero Lab)

• Speed Mentoring-This provided an invaluable opportunity for the students to connect with a diverse group of accomplished professionals from various tech fields. The rapid-fire, focused conversations allowed the young women to ask questions, gain insights into different career paths, and receive personalized advice and encouragement.

The day culminated in anAwardsceremony, celebrating the participants' enthusiasm, engagement, and newfound knowledge. The smiles on the students' faces as they received recognition were a testament to the event's impact.

More than just tech

Girls Power Tech isn't just about technical skills; it's about building a strong, supportive community where young women feel empowered, confident, and know their voices and ideas are valued.

We were particularly moved by the conversations we overheard -girls sharing their aspirations and encouraging each other to pursue their dreams fearlessly. This sense of camaraderie and mutual support is exactly what Girls Power Tech aims to cultivate.

What attendees said

"My favorite part of the event was getting to connect one-on-one with the incredible people from Cisco. I loved hearing everyone's career trajectories as it gave me so much perspective-it helped me stay grounded in my own vision while thinking about all the possibilities ahead. My biggest takeaway was the importance of staying open-minded and committed to continuous learning. I realized that mindset can open doors you didn't even know existed!"
-Jassmin

"I was scared, always asking myself, 'What if it's hard? But you guys showed me what it means to work in technology and what it can do for the people. You showed me that, despite my interests, tech always has a place for someone. I thank you for all you havedone!"
-Aaliya

"Thank you for hosting this great event. It was inspiring and very useful. The amazing mentors I've met through networking have significantly changed my life decisions. As an immigrant, I don't have much guidance in these aspects of my career, and this event was a great opportunity for me. Thank you!"
-Anonymous Thank-You Note

Looking ahead

Girls Power Tech 2025 was an investment in the future. It was a day when young women discovered their potential, connected with role models, and realized that a career in technology is not only possible but also incredibly exciting and meaningful. The energy and enthusiasm witnessed throughout the day left no doubt that the future of tech is in bright hands. We can't wait to see the amazing things these young women will achieve!

To ensure the continued success and growth of this annual Girls Power Tech event, we consistently need dedicated leaders to assist with coordination, supportive partners to fund engaging activities, and impactful speakers to inspire our attendees.

If you are interested in getting involved, email us.

Thank you to everyone who made it possible

Our sincere gratitude toThe Batiste Projectfor our Tech labs, and to our Cisco Inclusive Community sponsors,Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) and Conexi