ArabWIC Tech talks is a series of online webinars around technology-related topics presented by industry and academia experts, organized and managed by the program committee of Arab Women in Computing (ArabWIC). This video is the recording of the second ArabWIC Tech Talk about the Grace Hopper Celebration for Women in Computing (GHC) occurring on a yearly basis and considered as the largest gathering for women technologists worldwide. This tech talk features representatives of ArabWIC and ABI (Anita Borg Institute) who have participated to GHC 2015 and who will be sharing with us their experience, feedback and tips about how to be part of the next GHC! Meet our guests: 1. Jody Mahoney, Senior Vice President, Business Development at Anita Borg Institute 2. Prof. Sana Odeh: Clinical professor at NYU and NYUAD, Founder and chair of ArabWIC 3. Dr. Kaoutar El Maghraoui, Research Scientist at IBM T.J Watson Research Center, ArabWIC co-chair 4. Dr. Manar Abu Taleb, Professor at University of Sharjah, ArabWIC UAE 5. Houda Chakiri, Founder and CEO of Enhanced Technologies, ArabWIC Morocco 6. Alaa Shaheen, Software Engineer and Tech Entrepreneur, ArabWIC Palestine 7. Fatima Djoudjou, Software Engineer, ArabWIC Algeria 8. Yasmin Elnoamany, PhD candidate at Old Dominion University, ArabWIC Social Media

1. ArabWIC Tech Talks:
About Grace Hopper Conference 2015
Ghida Ibrahim
ArabWIC Program Committee

2. Agenda
• History and Impact of GHC
• GHC 2015 overview
• ArabWIC participation in GHC 2015
• Stories from GHC 2015
• Overview of GHC 2016 and GHC for the Arab
World
• Q&A

3. Speakers
Jody Mahoney
SVP, business development at Anita
Borg Institute
Sana Odeh
Professor of Computer Science at NYU
and NYUAD, ArabWIC Founder & Chair
Kaoutar El Maghraoui
Research Scientist at IBM T.J.
Watson Research Center,
ArabWIC co-chair
Houda Chakiri
Founder and CEO at
Enhanced
Technologies
Manar Abu Talib
Professor of Computer
Science at University of
Sharjah
Alaa Shaheen
Software Engineer and
Mobile Developer
Yasmin Elnoamany
PhD candidate at Old
Dominion University
Fatima Djoudjou
Software Engineer

4. History and Impact of the Grace Hopper
Conference
Jody Mahoney (Anita Borg Institute)
ABI Website: http://anitaborg.org/
ABI Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anitaborginstitute

5. Arab Women in Computing
ArabWIC
Participation at the GHC 2015
Professor Sana Odeh (sana@nyu.edu)
ArabWIC Email: info@arabwic.org
ArabWIC Website: www.arabwic.org
ArabWIC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arabwic.org
ArabWIC Twitter: @ArabWIC, #arabwic
ArabWIC Instagram: #ArabWIC

6. ArabWIC at a Glance

7. Mission & Structure
 Support, inspire, retain, encourage collaboration among, increase visibility of and help
elevate the status of Arab women in computing from the various
computing/technology sectors (academia, industry and entrepreneurship), and allow
them to achieve their career goals.
• Create linkage with international women-in-CS organizations.
• 17 Chapters in 17 Arab Countries:

8. ArabWIC Leadership
ArabWIC is proud to have more than 100 impressive leaders leading
17 chapters in 17 Arab countries and many committees such as
mentoring, social media, web site, publications, conference,
research, scholarship and fundraising.
We also have more than 1200 members from all over the world and

9. Affiliations & Partnerships
• We are proud for ArabWIC is an official chapter of the Anita Borg
Institute for Women and Technology (Systers)
www.anitaborg.org
• ArabWIC is affiliated and supported by:

10. ArabWIC at GHC 2015

11. ArabWIC at the GHC Conference
We very delighted to arrange for the ArabWIC QCRI Scholarship sending 7
Arab Women in tech to GHC for the past two years (A partnership
between QCRI, Anita Borg and ArabWIC)
We thank QCRI for funding these scholarships!

12. ArabWIC at the GHC Conference
ArabWIC QCRI Scholarship sending 7 Arab Women in tech to GHC!
Thanks for QCRI for funding us!

13. ArabWIC at the GHC Conference
ArabWIC Reception at the GHC 2015 funded by the QCRI. More than 100
people attended. Big success!

14. ArabWIC at the GHC Conference

15. ArabWIC at the GHC Conference

16. ArabWIC at the GHC Conference
ArabWIC took part of panel on Building Communities at the GHC 2015!
Complete events: http://arabwic.org/grace-hopper-celebration/

17. ArabWIC at the GHC Conference
ArabWIC proud of our Co-Chair Kaoutar for being elected co-chair of GHC
2016!

18. Ongoing Projects:
ArabWIC Annual Conference 2017
– We are delighted to announce that our next conference will be in
• Morocco, Rebat on the 5,6, and 7 of July, 2017
• This will be in collaboration with Anita Borg to be the first GHC in the
Arab World!
• It would be led by Arab Morocco Chapter and ArabWIC leaders

19. Research on Arab Women in Computing!
• We need you all to participate on our Arab Women In Technology
• research (all sectors):
• Please fill out the Survey(Arabic, French and English:
http://bit.ly/1jK6H6V
• Encourage all of your friends/colleagues/organizations to fill it out
• This study will remain strictly anonymous.
You are invited to participate in a research study titled Arab Women in Computing/IT Survey, coordinated by
Professor Sana Odeh from NYU New York and Abu Dhabi, and in collaboration with Arab Women in Computing
(ArabWIC).
Our study is about women who are currently studying and or working in Computing and/or IT related fields. From
this survey, we are interested in learning more about the experiences of women in these fields in the Arab world:
how they came to these fields, what has been their experience in both the academic and professional sphere and
how do they view their future career trajectories. In addition, we are interested in learning about how women
balance personal and professional aspirations and responsibilities.
This study will remain strictly anonymous.
You are selected because you are a female who is currently or formerly a student, employee, or an entrepreneur in
computing or IT-related field, or someone who left the technology field after studying or working. We would like to
ask 15-20 minutes of your time to complete our anonymous survey. Here is the link: http://bit.ly/1jK6H6V

20. Thank you for the QCRI for funding our presence at GHC during the past two
years!
Thanks for Anita Borg for their support.
Make sure to participate in the GHC next year in 2016 by submitting research papers,
workshops, panels, and also applying for scholarships. We will post more info on our
website about how to participate.
Please join us and become one of the ArabWIC amazing leaders to change the world!
ArabWIC Email: info@arabwic.org
ArabWIC Website: www.arabwic.org
ArabWIC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arabwic.org
ArabWIC Twitter: @ArabWIC, #arabwic
ArabWIC Instagram: #ArabWIC

21. Stories from GHC 2015

22. Mrs Houda Chakiri, CEO & Founder
Enhanced Technologies

23. The Main thing that I learned at
GHC 2015
• Women can be good as researchers, scientists,
entrepreneurs, high level executives no matter
their age, nationality or religion/ethnicity is…
• The barriers are more social and psychological
but not at all biological…

24. Session/talk I enjoyed the most
• All the session/ talks were outstanding, what I
enjoyed the most :
– Megan Smith, the U.S. Chief Technology Officer &
Assistant to the president
– Manuela M. Veloso Professor in computer science
at Carnegie Mellon University

26. Main change incorporated in my
daily life as a woman in
computing after attending GHC
• Putting more effort on
communication packages
for my company
• Encouraging parents to
orient their children to
science and especially
computing
– Organized hour of code
event for kindergarten
students

27. Alaa Shaheen
Software
Engineer at
Progineer
Technologies,
ArabWIC
Palestine

28.  We are no different, ARAB
Women have a lot of
experiences and opportunities.
 Persistence: follow on your
dream to the last minute.
 Networking: with women from
all backgrounds and positions!
 Competency: don’t be afraid to
compete globally.

29.  Keynotes: Megan Smith , Susan
Wojcicki, Hilary Mason
 ArabWIC Reception
 Career Booth: meeting
companies, participating in
code challenges, learn new
coding techniques.
 HCI sessions
 Sessions for Career: where
there are 15 minutes
mentoring talks, about
technical interviews, moving
between different positions,
etc.
 Sessions about HCI and UX

30. Learning
Giving

31. ArabWIC Tech Talk: Grace
Hopper Conference 2015
Yasmin
AlNoamany
PhD candidate at Old Dominion University
ArabWIC Social Media Committee
12/19/15
For more information about GHC15:
http://ws-dl.blogspot.com/2015/10/2015-10-21-grace-hopper-

32. What I have learned from GHC
2015
• It is our time to lead
• In the 21th century, it
is equally foundational
to learn how algorithm
work or how the
internet works”

33. The main change incorporated in my
daily life as a WIC after attending GHC
• “The future is on us,
because if not us then
who? when, if not now?
"if people just sat back 11
year ago, GHC would not
be 12,000 today!”

34. The talk I enjoyed the most
• I enjoyed all the
keynotes and every
minute I spent in
GHC 15
For more informatin about GHC15: http://ws-dl.blogspot.com/2015/10/2015-10-21-grace-
hopper-celebration-of.html

46. Last year was one
This year is four
Next year?

48. GHC 2016
ArabWIC Conference 2017
Kaoutar El Maghraoui

49. GHC 2015: A Summary
• In 2015:
– 200+ Sessions (not including
lunches and receptions)
– 1377 submissions
– ~700 Speakers
– 168 Poster Presenters
– ~12000 attendees
49 12/2015

50. GHC 2015 Tracks
• Variety of Tracks
– Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, GFX (Graphics), Human
Computer Interactions (HCI), Software Engineering,
Productization, Open Source, Internet of Things
(IoT)/Emerging Tech, Security/Privacy, Career
• The tracks were organized in clusters. A Cluster may
contain multiple tracks that cover similar topics
50 12/2015

51. GHC 2016
• The great GHC tradition continues…
• We are expecting more growth in the number
of attendees
• The CFP will be open late January – stay
tuned!
• Location: Houston, TX
• Will be planning a webinar to prepare
ArabWIC members for high quality GHC
submissions before the GHC deadline.
51 12/2015

52. GHC 2015 Keynotes
• Strong lineup of inspirational and
influential keynotes
– Hilary Mason, Founder and CEO at Fast Forward
Labs
– Sheryl Sandberg, COO at Facebook
– Susan Wojcicki - CEO of YouTube
– Moira Forbes, Executive Vice President, Forbes
– Hadi Partovi, CEO and Cofounder at Code.org
(on the Hour of Code)
– Manuela Veloso, CS Professor, Carnegie Mellon
University, on Robotics as a Part of Society
– Miral Kotb, Founder of iLuminate
52 12/2015

53. My Role as a GHC General Co-Chair in 2016
• Attend GHC Planning kickoff (decide on theme,
tracks, ideas for keynotes, track co-chairs).
• Assist with any problem tracks.
• Attend Load Balancing Meeting in May.
• Help assist with recruiting track co-chairs
• Provide input for mini-plenaries
• Program 2-3 tracks with acceptances from co-chairs
• Develop and document processes to streamline the
CFP review process and increase the quality of
submissions
• Attend monthly calls for GHC Updates and discussion
53 12/2015

54. Upcoming ArabWIC Conference 2017
• Location: Rabat, Morocco
• Date: July 5-7
• Planning underway led by
ArabWIC Moroccan
Chapter
– Will be the GHC of the
Arab world partnering
with ABI and ACM
– A planning committee has
been formed and will start
bi-weekly meetings in
January 2016
– Fundraising for the
conference is a crucial
activity in 2016
54 12/2015

55. Great Memories from ArabWIC at GHC 2015
55 12/2015

56. Great Memories from ArabWIC at GHC 2015
56 12/2015

57. Thank You!
ArabWIC Email: info@arabwic.org
ArabWIC Website: www.arabwic.org
ArabWIC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arabwic.org
ArabWIC Twitter: @ArabWIC, #arabwic
ArabWIC Instagram: #ArabWIC