How To Make the Most of Your Grace Hopper Celebration Experience

Whether you’ve been before or are going for the first time, follow these tips to get the most out of GHC 23.

Sep. 21, 2023 | By Lauren Kolodrubetz and Michelle Webb

We are ecstatic to bring our level-up lab, “Discover and Build Your Personal Brand,” to the stage at Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC), along with our colleagues Ebony Smith, Teresa Truong and Jaime Winkel. GHC is the largest gathering of women and nonbinary technologists. There will be 30,000 participants, 400-plus speakers and 350-plus sessions this year. Sound overwhelming? It can be. That’s why we wanted to share tips we’ve acquired in previous years.

Prepping for GHC 23

1. Download the GHC 23 app. This comes in especially handy when you’re planning which sessions you want to attend, wanting to know who’s speaking or needing a map of the convention.
2. Wear comfortable shoes. There are a lot of sessions. And you may be speed-walking from one building to another to catch the next one. The last thing you want is fatigued feet!
3. Pick your must-see sessions and get in line EARLY. Prioritize the sessions you are most excited about and arrive at the meeting place 30 minutes early. Sessions fill up fast, and they are first come, first serve!
4. Plan your schedule in advance. We recommend mapping out your day the night before. Leave some time in between to make it to your next session, and have backups ready in case your first choice is full.
5. Fuel up with snacks and water. The speakers at GHC have prolific material to share, and you may be so busy taking notes that you forget to eat! Sometimes, GHC provides snacks between sessions, but remember to plan a lunch break for yourself. Even though there are lots of food vendors, the lines can get long.
6. Introduce yourself to attendees and speakers. This is a great networking opportunity! Don’t forget to connect with others on LinkedIn.

Are you as excited as we are? We can’t wait to see you there! See below to learn more about our “Discover and Build Your Personal Brand” workshop happening on Friday, September 29, from 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

If you are a business leader interested in learning how to build diverse and inclusive workforces and workplaces, we’d love to connect with you! 

If you are a job seeker, please email mdsdeliveryteam@teksystems.com with your resume, location and preferred job title so we can connect.

TEKsystems Presents: “Discover and Build Your Personal Brand”

At TEKsystems, we have a deep history of focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and we are grateful to be part of a culture that fosters a sense of belonging. As women in the IT industry, we know firsthand that it’s not easy being in a male-dominated field. Organizations like AnitaB.org are working tirelessly to change that, but we all have work ahead of us. As the executive director of employee experience and the executive director of marketplace diversity solutions, we live and breathe workplace equity and talent development. It’s our job to figure out how people can show up as their best selves every day.

What You Will Gain From the TEKsystems’ Level-Up Lab

How do the people who know you best describe you? How do YOU describe yourself? What are your most deeply held values? Why does personal brand matter?

This 60-minute workshop will help you realize your full potential as you explore how your strengths can grow your career and deepen personal and professional relationships. Through thoughtful, hands-on exercises and interactive discussion, you will build an authentic personal brand description and tagline that you will be proud to share with the world.

When we aren’t showing up in an authentic way, we’re typically trying to fit in, which means that we don’t necessarily feel like we’re part of the group. Our goal is to empower women to feel comfortable showing up authentically no matter where they work or what they do.