“Women are taking over and changing the narrative,” said Sintiki Gushop, MLIS ’25, reflecting on her first-ever experience at the Grace Hopper Celebration, the world’s largest gathering of women in technology. For Gushop and fellow iSchool student Ashley Kao ’26, attending the annual event in Chicago this past November as part of a group of 11 Syracuse students. not only affirmed their ambitions in tech but also served as a catalyst for reimagining how they might help shape the field.
Founded in 1994 by computer scientists Anita Borg and Telle Whitney, and named after computing pioneer Grace Hopper, the conference brings together thousands of students, professionals, academics, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations each year to exchange knowledge, build connections, and amplify the impact of women in tech.
Gushop, who is originally from Nigeria and does not come from a traditional technology background, said she felt “most privileged” to be selected through the iSchool’s application process to attend the gathering. “I went to gain inspiration, knowledge and insight from what frontier women in the twenty-first century are doing,” she said—and wasn’t disappointed. Keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking events gave her much to think about as she considered how to strategize for a successful career, learn from failures, adapt to changes, and step out of her comfort zone. She also left with concrete connections, such as with Pennsylvania State University College of Information, which shares her passion for serving the community. “It was a wonderful experience, educative and inspiring, and a real eye opener on how women are shaping the future, especially in AI,” Gushop summarized. “I can be a part of it or an onlooker. Believing in myself is the first step.”
For Kao, the conference offered a different kind of clarity. A double major in linguistic studies and innovation, society and technology from San Diego, California, she attended with an interest in how technology intersects with human communication and design. During networking fairs, Kao was pleased to find that many graduate programs she spoke with emphasized developing artificial intelligence with user-centered design frameworks and humanities-informed approaches. “This aligns with my own perspective that technology needs to be thought of as a tool available for humans to use and shape to fit their needs,” she said. Inspired by those conversations, Kao hopes to pursue a graduate degree focused on the intersection of linguistics and technology.
Both women left the gathering with more confidence in their path—which they hope will include visits to future Grace Hopper Celebrations. For Kao, the recent conference’s theme of “unbound” captured both the possibilities of technology and women’s place within it. She said the experience reinforced her belief that, while tech remains male-dominated, women can still become pioneers and thought leaders in their own ways. “Many women in tech have already proven that,” she said.
Gushop echoed Kao’s positive outlook. “The future looks promising,” she said. “An open mind is the gateway to navigating a successful career pathway, by learning from leaders who are making giant strides today.”