More about Techwomen and what is Silicon Valley?

So the program goal is to empower Women in STEM through introducing them to a network of likeminded professionals and let them increase their awareness through cultural-professional exchange. A beautiful community was established since the beginning of the program in 2011. It is very inspiring when you meet likeminded people who share passion towards technology and  willing to chase big dreams.  The program was 5 weeks.  The first week included welcome orientation, program orientation, cultural kickoff night  in addition to other workshops . Each country is requested to come up with an action plan to solve a socioeconomic issue in their country. The next three weeks are the mentorship weeks where we start our mentorship period each in the host company that she was accepted in. In the matching survey I chose Adobe and I was hosted at Adobe, and became more in love with this company. We are also requested to work on an individual project during the mentorship period in the host company. During these three weeks there was a schedule where we can choose among a big number of cultural and professional non-official events where we expanded our vision and enjoyed the beauty of the bay area nature. The last week of the program was a conclusion in Washington DC where we had meetings with representatives from the department of the states and the White house. The most inspiring part to me was meeting and listening to Dr. Mary Ellen Weber; a consultant with Steller Technologies and a former NASA Astronaut.For all Women in STEM who are interested to apply, Techwomen 2017 application opens 15 November, go to the website to see the conditions on how to apply:

www.techwomen.org

Jordan Team- First week-Cultural kickoff at Twitter

First week-Action plan workshop at Yahoo 

First week-Leadership workshop at LinkedIn

What is silicon valley ?

Before the program I thought that silicon valley is a big park where all tech- companies are distributed all around. But when the program started and Techwomen introduced us to the bay area, I discovered the truth. Silicon valley is a symbolic name for the southern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area, in the northern part of the U.S. state of California. And I discovered that people there travel from one city to another in order to go to certain companies
I will share with you this documentary video on YouTube about silicon valley, at the end of the video I quoted the below inspirational words:

 “Silicon valley is not just a place, it’s a state of mind. You feel it talking to people, sitting in a café looking into someone’s eyes. You know you can trust them. You know you can make it happen. The energy you get is limitless. But the true secret is that whenever you go, you can bring the silicon valley spirit with you , its energy is contagious and will never leave you. You don’t have to be there to build something meaningful. You don’t have to be there to be successful. The real silicon valley is something inside you. If you start shaping your behavior, if you start to be open & helpful, if you start thinking big, you will influence those who surround you. Welcome behind the senses of silicon valley, welcome to the mindset that allows you to change the world “

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=5nDpbMeN9ls

What is Techwomen and prior to the beginning of an amazing Journey

Two weeks ago I returned back from USA after spending 6 weeks there. I was selected in the Techwomen program 2016. Techwomen is an amazing program, it is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The program goal is to empower, connect and support the next generation of women leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) from Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East by providing them the access and opportunity needed to advance their careers, pursue their dreams, and inspire women and girls in their communities. So basically this year we were 87 amazing Techwomen emerging leaders and we were hosted in 37 companies in Silicon Valley.

I don’t remember exactly the real first time that I heard about the program. But last year, a fellow Techwomen 2015 her name is Afnan Saqr shared her experience with us through a presentation as we are both members in the same organization called JCI.

While I was preparing for this trip, I was feeling sacred emotions. Two years ago, I made a visualization video(I learned this from a personal development coach) putting in it all that I am dreaming to have or achieve in my life, I watched it daily for a few months and forgot about it. Four of my intentions included: Having an international experience, visiting Silicon Valley, visiting San Francisco and visiting Disney Land, and you know what, they are all coming true after two years. I wasn’t even aware that Silicon Valley, San Francisco and Disney land are all in California!

I am so grateful for this opportunity, while just filling he application I became more motivated, focused and got more clear vision to my professional life.

My first international experience was last year, when I visited Malta as part of an exchange program invited by JCI Malta as I am a member in the Junior Chamber International known as JCI in Jordan. The program name was “Small talk” and it’s aim was to increase cultural dialogue and to discuss refugees issues. We met delegates from UK, Estonia, Morocco, Italy and Malta. It was the first time where I noticed that we are all the same as human beings, I experienced how it feels like being part of a big international family, and was thrilled to repeat such experience with those amazing women around the world, those emerging leaders who are making and going to make the world better place to live. You know what?  by uniting this way we are making the world more peaceful ! Yes more peaceful , because when we discover how similar we are regardless of how we look or what we believe and when only one rule gathers us which is the rule of love, all other barriers disappear and we are spreading this mindset when we get back to all those around us.

I am lucky that in the same year, I visited two important techno hubs, last March I visited Dubai Silicon Oasis, and after 6 months I am in Silicon Valley, this classy savvy techno world capital city. I am always amazed how technology changed and can change how we live, communicate and experience life and I am thrilled by the endless number of ideas that can be implemented to achieve such things.

Before applying to the program I reached to a point where I was questioning my direction in life, now I am sure that technology is my way. Even if I will work with any other thing, technology should be a vital part of it. I asked myself why? And I think being passionate about technology is being passionate about creativity, innovation and new things all the time. Maybe this has a relation with my interest in Lego and puzzles when I was a child. What I love about technology is that I don’t like doing things in conventional way, I love creativity, innovation and new things, and technology offers all of this and more.

 So this is an introduction, wait my coming posts sharing my amazing experience, my beautiful Techwomen experience. You can call me now a Tech-traveler!
This is the website for Techwomen:
https://www.techwomen.org/

This is me when I visited Adobe office in San Francisco. I was hosted at Adobe. I will talk about this more in my coming posts.