Get To Know: The Girls Behind MDN
Join us in our continued mission to increase diversity and promote the incredible efforts of Women in Tech, both in and out of MDN in our new campaign, IGNITE: Inclusive Girls Nurturing Innovation Technology!
We did a short QnA with some of the girls in our team. Here are their answers!
Cindy Tang: People and Culture Member
Why did you choose the field you're in? 🤖 👩💻
It's a field that challenges me in trying to create innovative solutions to challenges
What is one thing you wish you learnt before coming to uni? 🎓📚🏫 😊😔
Engineering is hard.
Biggest challenge of studying/entering into a male dominated field? 👩💻 👩💻👖
Walking into G02 at Woodside and trying to find a table not male dominated 😅
Who do you most admire in your field? 🔝 ❤️🤝
Every First Year Engineering Lecturer 🤞
Biggest goal for the next 5 years? 💭
Be able to do/make something that will have even the tiniest impact on something or someone
If you could be one ✨ Disney ✨ character who would you be? 🧚♀️ 🐉 🔮 👗🐭💫
Hei Hei
Favourite part about MDN? 😍 🥰
How everyone is so dedicated to the team
Chloe K: Deep Learning Engineer
Why did you choose the field you're in? 🤖 👩💻
I love building things. I've always been driven to be the creator, not just a consumer, of the technologies we use daily. My second choice for studies was actually fine arts!
What is one thing you wish you learnt before coming to uni? 🎓📚🏫 😊😔
Being passionate is incredibly cool. Embrace being a nerd when it comes to your studies, extracurricular activities, or hobbies. My curiosity and interest are what have landed me so many opportunities. Also don't be scared of technical roles, be it in internships, student teams, or clubs. Everyone starts somewhere and when you are a student you should always be learning anyway!
Celebrity you most identify with? 🌟🕶️
Faye Wongg
Biggest challenge of studying/entering into a male dominated field? 👩💻 👩💻👖
Definitely the ease of making friends and casually networking. I noticed my male peers seemed to form connections, bond, and seize opportunities much quicker than I could. It took me longer to carve out my niche in this field because of that. However, the girlfriends I've made are incredibly supportive, and we've ended up helping each other out even more as a result.
Who do you most admire in your field? 🔝 ❤️🤝
Fei-Fei Li, a pioneer in computer vision advancements.
Biggest goal for the next 5 years? 💭
To become a role model that young girls mention as their inspiration for diving into Computer Science.
If you could be one ✨ Disney ✨ character who would you be? 🧚♀️ 🐉 🔮 👗🐭💫
Raya!
Favourite part about MDN? 😍 🥰
The people! We are a team with an incredibly multidisciplinary background. There is such a wealth of knowledge and experience to be tapped into, and it's as easy as starting a conversation with fellow members at events. One of my close friends Nyan is the person who taught me machine learning, and we met through MDN last year.
Amaris: Publications Officer
Why did you choose the field you're in? 🤖 👩💻
CS is a field of opportunities!
What is one thing you wish you learnt before coming to uni? 🎓📚🏫 😊😔
Make a good timetable
Celebrity you most identify with? 🌟🕶️
Beyonce!! We're both hard workers (except I can't sing)
Who do you most admire in your field? 🔝 ❤️🤝
My fellow CS girlies
Biggest goal for the next 5 years? 💭
Secure an internship or two
If you could be one ✨ Disney ✨ character who would you be? 🧚♀️ 🐉 🔮 👗🐭💫
Mulan fr
Favourite part about MDN? 😍 🥰
The Marketing team ofc
Abi: Design Coordinator
Why did you choose the field you're in? 🤖 👩💻
I originally only wanted to design, but a lot of my family around me encouraged me to pair it with the IT course so I became a women in STEM 😎😎
What is one thing you wish you learnt before coming to uni? 🎓📚🏫 😊😔
Not to be scared to do what you want and just go for it!
Biggest challenge of studying/entering into a male dominated field? 👩💻 👩💻👖
Making sure your voice is heard and not being afraid to say your own opinions
Biggest goal for the next 5 years? 💭
Having a good work life balance 💖
If you could be one ✨ Disney ✨ character who would you be? 🧚♀️ 🐉 🔮 👗🐭💫
Baymax 🤍
Favourite part about MDN? 😍 🥰
The marketing team ofc 🥰
Keren: Technical Project Lead (HPC)
Why did you choose the field you're in? 🤖 👩💻
I really enjoy it. No other reason required. My parents but worked in the IT field for a bit many years ago, so they gave me some old programming manual when I was about year 9. I found the content really interesting (although I didn't read more than a chapter), so I started teaching myself through online short courses/YouTube and doing little projects which kickstarted me in programming. My degree is actually Biomedical Engineering for devices, but I loved programming and algorithms stuff so much, I decided to continue my passion by joining MDN!
What is one thing you wish you learnt before coming to uni? 🎓📚🏫 😊😔
How to make friends at uni. Unfortunately, I'm afraid this is a skill many of you are going to have to learn at uni by being at uni. There was definitely a time where I almost pretty much gave up. It took some more time, and eventually things worked themselves out. So, for those feeling the same as I did, keep trying and keep faith!
Celebrity you most identify with? 🌟🕶️
Not sure. If there's one that's just living their life, doing what makes them happy, I identify with that one.
Biggest challenge of studying/entering into a male dominated field? 👩💻 👩💻👖
I think coming straight out of high school, the biggest challenge of entering a male-dominated field is being confident that you're in the right place. Since coming to uni, I've realised that isolation is hugely shared experience for other girls I've met studying 'hardcore' STEM subjects. It is just difficult, especially when the people we perhaps most identified with, (i.e. the other women in our lives and many of the women that we meet in our day-to-day lives) have gone onto female dominated fields. Like for me, all my school friends ended up in either nursing or hospitality. It was often really isolating being the tech nerd of the group, through VCE and in my first year of uni. I've found it really important that I've since made friends and connections (both female and male) who are in a similar field to myself and are really supportive of, respectful of and can relate to what I do. If you can find those kinds of people and bring them into your life, it really doesn't matter so much what your field throws at you because you have these wonderful people to tell you YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE and you know what? They're right.
Who do you most admire in your field? 🔝 ❤️🤝
My Dad. He's hasn't been in any STEM field for more than ten years, but when I showed an interest in STEM, he was really supportive and encouraging. At my school, (it was a very small school) I was the only person who studied Physics, Chemistry or Specialist Math, and it wasn't easy to believe that I wouldn't continue to be alone when I reached uni, especially going into a male dominated field like Eng and Comp Sci. My Dad was the one who pushed me to continue with my passions and reassured me that I would be OK, and that I would meet people who shared my interests, instead of following on with my school friends into something I didn't truly vibe with. VCE was a rough and isolating two years, but with his support I pushed through. Now I'm doing my dream degree, working on a project with MDN that I'm loving, and I've found people I really vibe with who share my enthusiasm for tech. No regrets! (Just clarifying, by no means advocating just ditching all your arts/med friends)
Biggest goal for the next 5 years? 💭
If I could keep doing something similar to what I'm doing at MDN, I'd be living the dream 😎
If you could be one ✨ Disney ✨ character who would you be? 🧚♀️ 🐉 🔮 👗🐭💫
Sleeping Beauty. My number one interest is coding, but sleeping is pretty up there too.
Favourite part about MDN? 😍 🥰
The diversity of projects at MDN is incredible, there are so many! I was really excited when the project I'm working on came up because it perfectly aligns with what I want to do later in life, and I get to work with people who also think this kind of stuff is really cool!
Regina L: Marketing Co-Manager
Why did you choose the field you're in? 🤖 👩💻
I've always loved problem solving and wanted more exposure into a field full of possibilities so I chose IT and Arts keeps me grounded as an ABC wanting to connect back to her roots
What is one thing you wish you learnt before coming to uni? 🎓📚🏫 😊😔
How to budget efficiently and meal prep
Celebrity you most identify with? 🌟🕶️
Kermit
Biggest challenge of studying/entering into a male dominated field? 👩💻 👩💻👖
The intimidation and doubt that comes with being in that type of space. It can feel challenging to navigate a space where the default assumption is that you don't belong. But I’ve met incredible peers along the way and they keep me inspired and grounded. Find these people that remind you of your worth, you are definitely not alone.
Who do you most admire in your field? 🔝 ❤️🤝
Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Girls Who Code
Biggest goal for the next 5 years? 💭
Become a celebrity... Idk I didn't think I'd make it this far🧚♀️
If you could be one ✨ Disney ✨ character who would you be? 🧚♀️ 🐉 🔮 👗🐭💫
Olaf! ☃️I like warm hugs
Favourite part about MDN? 😍 🥰
Incredibly grateful for all the amazing people I’ve met along the way including the lovely Marketing team. The overall team dynamics are amazing and everyone's so dedicated to their craft
Audrey: Design Coordinator
Why did you choose the field you're in? 🤖 👩💻
I was going to do Mechatronics Engineering because coding and building things seemed cool but decided I didn’t enjoy the struggle of trying to decipher mechanical diagrams and ~kinematics~ and chose Software Engineering instead!
What is one thing you wish you learnt before coming to uni? 🎓📚🏫 😊😔
Probably how to drive… 🚗
Celebrity you most identify with? 🌟🕶️
MDN Marketing Manager Regina Lu
Biggest challenge of studying/entering into a male dominated field? 👩💻 👩💻👖
Imposter syndrome :( It’s so easy to feel like you’re in the wrong place or that you're behind everyone else but you just need to go and find the right people who will truly support you and remind you of just how capable you really are 🤍.
Who do you most admire in your field? 🔝 ❤️🤝
All the girlies in tech! (especially all the lovely co-tutors I’ve been able to teach along side)
Biggest goal for the next 5 years? 💭
To continue encouraging and supporting my fellow girls in IT to continue pursing a career in tech :) I’d like to believe that I can make a difference by promoting diversity in IT.
Favourite part about MDN? 😍 🥰
The girlies and the vibes! (and all the amazing people I’ve met here 🤍)
Olivia Pepe: Law & Ethics Co-Manager, Marketing Co-Manager
Why did you choose the field you're in? 🤖 👩💻
I've always had an interest in problem solving and collaborating with others and thought I would get the best of both worlds with Law & Engineering!
What is one thing you wish you learnt before coming to uni? 🎓📚🏫 😊😔
What "lost on campus" is…
Celebrity you most identify with? 🌟🕶️
Phil Dunphy (I wish....a girl can dream)
Biggest challenge of studying/entering into a male dominated field? 👩💻 👩💻👖
To avoid being intimidated and feeling as though you are in the wrong degree just because you can't see as many girls doing it.
Who do you most admire in your field? 🔝 ❤️🤝
Dr Elizabeth Sironic - aka Lizi 🥰(a true #womeninstem & queen of civil engineering)
Biggest goal for the next 5 years? 💭
To be able to chuckle a little looking back on my 2024 self and say "wow she's come so far"
If you could be one ✨ Disney ✨ character who would you be? 🧚♀️ 🐉 🔮 👗🐭💫
Winnie the Pooh! - his laidback lifestyle seems most ideal not to mention the honeyyyy
Favourite part about MDN? 😍 🥰
The team banter! Everyone is down for a laugh but also so inclusive and always going above and beyond to show support and encouragement :)
