MEET OUR WITTY WOMEN: JUNGAH
This past academic year, we worked with 12 female-identifying students to develop a technical solution for the non-profit organizations Urban Institute and Child Care Aware of America. We are so proud of our fellows and all the work they accomplished, and for the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring these amazing students here on our blog.
This week we are featuring Jungah Ahn. Jungah is a 3rd-year student at CUNY Hunter College majoring in computer science and minoring in business & mathematics.
Why did you join the wit project?
I wanted to apply to the wit project for three reasons. My first reason was to join a community of women at CUNY schools that shared my interest in technology and computer science. I wanted an opportunity to meet other students and develop new relationships and connections. My second reason was I wanted to build on my programming skills and learn new ones as well through the non-profit project that was in the program description. The last reason was I really liked the idea of working on a technology solution to empower and contribute to a non-profit's mission.
What has been your favorite part about the volunteership experience? What have you learned from the wit project?
My favorite part of the experience was my bi-weekly meetings with my team and cohort leads. I got to work and collaborate with two amazing women from CCNY, Ange and Shivani, that I would not have met otherwise. Their drive and intellect really amazed me and encouraged me to do my best work. I also loved meeting regularly with Anooj and Shylee, the two leads for the Urban Institute cohorts. Their guidance was invaluable and they're also just amazing to talk to and hang out with.
Why is it important to have more women working in tech?
Having diverse teams is the key to bringing equity and balance to the world in all senses. Diverse teams bring diverse solutions to the table and this can create better innovation and an overall happier environment for everyone. If tech companies are cis-white male-dominated, their solutions and products are created from the perspective of just this demographic and therefore cannot accurately cater to the diverse world we live in. If products and services are to truly help all audiences, the diversity in tech companies needs to match the diversity of the general population. It is so important to have more women working in tech for these reasons, and not just women, but people who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, etc.
What are your goals for the next year? Where do you want to be in 5 years?
Next year I plan on joining Workday as a summer intern. I'm so excited about this opportunity and hope to learn more about this company and the greater software tech industry. After the summer I will be entering my last year in undergraduate school (most likely.) Since the pandemic started during my undergraduate career, my plans, goals, and mindset have been constantly developing. I'm glad I have college to figure it all out. My main goal during college is to answer the question: how can I best use my degree in computer science and technology to make positive contributions to my communities? I've explored this question by joining different clubs and programs, interning at a variety of organizations and companies, attending seminars and workshops, participating in research, and volunteering (like at the wit project!) Participating in all these different experiences has allowed me to narrow down what I like and dislike which will ultimately help me decide what I want to do in the future. As of now, I'm considering working full-time after college as a software engineer. Some of the current top companies where I would love to work include Workday, Airbnb, Zillow, and Netflix, though this list is always developing and changing! I'm also interested in getting my masters in business or business analytics but I plan on pursuing this after a few years of working. Non-career goals include living abroad or in cities outside of the Bay Area/New York where I've spent the most time, developing my personal interests such as cooking/baking, surfing, and gardening, and continuing to learn and always contributing to my personal growth and development.
Who’s a #badass technologist you look up to?
Jen Easterly, current Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Easterly during a winter internship at Morgan Stanley during my freshman year in 2020. She is one of the most inspiring technologists and leaders I have had the opportunity of meeting and I look up to her for many reasons. Her drive and discipline inspire me to work hard and use technology for good. She is also one of the main people responsible for my interest in cyber security. During my meeting with her, she talked about her history of working for the White House and other federal agencies, as well as her current role at the time as the head of Firm Resilience and the Fusion Resilience Center at Morgan Stanley. She shared multiple stories of counterterrorism cyber-attacks which immediately kickstarted my interest in information and cybersecurity. During a speech she gave at the 2019 Grace Hopper Conference, she talked about the power of imagination, and talks about something called the "Imagination Coefficient". As someone who is incredibly curious about technology and the world around her, I take this advice to embrace intellectual curiosity to heart.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
I was a member of the San Francisco Girls Chorus for more than 7 years during which we recorded two albums and toured New York City twice, D.C., Oregon, Paris, and London. We performed at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Windsor Castle, L'eglise de la Madeleine (in lieu of the Notre Dame after the fire tragedy), and many more venues! Because of chorus, I have a great appreciation for classical and contemporary music and love attending shows and concerts in New York City's abundant art scene